How windy is Livingston, really? (Missoula, Great Falls: crime, houses, buy)

[SgtJack]

(This is my first post, please be gentle - I'm not entirely clear on how to use the forums.)

For some background info: my wife, daughter and I live in Utah and I'm being considered for positions in Livingston and Huson. I'm not familiar with either location but have been reading up on this site and others. I understand that Livingston is known for its wind. My wife doesn't like wind but I think it's fun (probably because she has hair and I don't...). How often does it get windy? And how windy is windy?

I was reading another thread that indicated that Livingston has serious drug problems, especially for a small town. Truth?

If I were to live in Bozeman (heard it's expensive there) and commute to Livingston (to avoid the wind), would that be a reasonable thing to do?


What about Huson? I haven't been able to find much, if anything, about it yet. Admittedly, though, I haven't looked as hard at Huson as I have at Livingston, but any information would be much appreciated.


What about schools in either area? Good, bad, other?


Thanks so much for reading - I look forward to reading your responses!

[happiness is]

Livingston is windy. Almost all the time.

Some people do live in Bozeman and commute to Livingston. There are also Livingston
residents who commute to jobs in Bozeman. The Interstate goes over a mountain
pass, and bad winter weather conditions can cause icy roads, but it is plowed. The wind can also
be hazardous to driving. I had part of my car blown off driving through the wind near Livingston.
It can knock over high profile vehicles like vans and semi trucks. People here learn to live with it and just pay attention to weather and traffic alerts.

Definitely visit and spend some days there and in Bozeman before deciding on a move.
Prices in Bozeman have come down since the recession started.

Public schools in Montana are good schools in general.

There's not much in Huson. It's pretty much just the edge of Missoula. There are lots of threads here on Missoula you can search.

Hope that helps.

[Mt-7]

It is really, really windy...

[MTSilvertip]

The wind is a constant factor in Livingston, quiet days stand out as there is always at least a breeze.

The reason for the wind is a combination of environmental and geological features.
The Yellowstone Plateau is pretty high, and cool, the open prarie to the east is warm, in between is the Paradise Valley.

The warm air rises from the prarie and creates a vacuum pulling the cooler heavier air from the plateau through the valley which acts as a wind tunnel and focuses and condenses the air so a 5 MPH breeze at Gardiner will be at 70+ mph when it hits Livingston.

Semi trucks and high profile vehicles are routinely re routed through town as the Highway can be closed at any time for high winds.

Now, that being said, because of the altitude, the density of the air is much less than sea level, so while 60 MPH winds could be considered hurricane force in Florida, in Livingston it is an inconvenience.

The winter of 2010-2011 the wind held constant for a week at 70 MPH and drifted snow over houses, blocked roads, and was a general nusiance, but the damage to structures was actually pretty minimal as those are not uncommon occurances.

It is a beautiful place, there are drugs in the area, but a lot of that is in part that Bozeman is close and has the college. It was called "Little Chicago" for a while because of the combination of wind and drugs after the BN Shops closed and all that was left for people were retirees and pushers, but that has changed somewhat and I don't belive the drugs are worse than any other college town.

The grade schools are good, the high school has had some problems, but there is an active address of the problems, and the news has been fairly good in the past year or so, so progress is being made.

I used to drive over the Bozeman Pass to work, and would not reccomend it unless you are prepared for it. My brother still goes over the pass every day, but he drives a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup with agressive tires and always has double rigged chains.

I wouldn't let the wind stop me from living there if I had a good job, the crime isn't that bad and the schools are better than most of the country.

I would check the place out before moving to form my own opinions though.

My family has lived in the area since the late 1800's, and it hasn't hurt us any.

[SgtJack]

Thanks for the responses! Very helpful!

[WyoEagle]

I grew up in Livingston and I can say that while the wind is bad you really do get used to it. If you buy a house don't buy on the edge of town or out in the country and you will get some reprieve but it will be there. One perk to the wind in the winter is that it can bring in a chinook which melts the snow away quickly. As a product of their school system I can say that they are pretty good. There seem to be a lot of pot smokers in Livingston but that's really about it for drugs. People do like to drink, but the town actually has a fun nightlife for the size town it is. It is a good mix of poor, middle class, and pretentious rich people and so stays pretty interesting. Summers are a blast with the Yellowstone River to float (not a thrill seeker river but fun), Summer Fest, the Fourth of July, and the tourists are fun as well. I always make it back to Livingston on the Fourth of July as there is nowhere I would want to spend that holiday. Winters are pretty quiet.

I would give Bozeman a pass altogether. I lived there as a college student and was glad to see that place through my rear view mirror. Even though it is a college town I found it to be very anti-student and the landlords are terrible. The cost of living is high and I found many of the people to some of the most pretentious I've seen anywhere I have lived.

[Threerun]

Don't spit into the wind otherwise you're likely to lose an eye.

[ursa22]

The one time editor (maybe still is) of Outside Magazine and author, Tim Cahill, wrote a piece entitled "Ill Wind at Poison Creek" in his book "Jaguars Ripped My Flesh". The piece is about the wind in the environs of Livingston and its effect on domestic relations. Specifically, Cahill attributes an incidence of domestic violence to the incessant, nerve wracking, crazy-making wind.

[magoomafoo]

I honestly don't think Livingston is any more windy than say Great Falls. Having spent considerable time in both places, I cannot see a difference. With that being said...My personal opinion of Livingston is not a good one. I see it as a "status" town. By that I mean if you don't have the biggest, newest truck, the most expensive horse trailer and a $15,000 horse, you don't count. If you aren't a "cowboy" you don't count. Don't even think about moving in the vicinity of Livingston if you are "pro-wolf". You will get eaten alive as the locals have been fighting the wolves for the future of their families for years now.

[NYMTman]

Livingston gets wind and Bozeman gets heavy snow. I'd rather live in Bozeman but for reasons other than the (lack of) wind. You should get a feel for both towns before picking one.