Missoula Warning (Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena: condo, new home, neighborhood)

[RARL]

I know there has already been comments on small surrounding areas to live close to Missoula, but my questions is small towns around 6,000 population with their own town high school. I have 3 kids and my kids have always went to smaller schools, high school size around 600 students, could anyone out there steer me towards a town close to Missoula with smaller school sizes, also being a nice small town and a reasonable communte around 20 min. or less to Missoula for my husbands work.

[Joe Doer]

Check out Frenchtown. Good people, close to Missoula, good schools.

The down side to the whole area is summers are normally fire season and the valley has all the smoke from the surrounding area funneled into it. This summer was unusually fire-free, so not much smoke.

[grizzfan]

Check out Florence-Carlton, Victor, Stevensville and Hamilton.

[RARL]

Thanks to both of you!! The suggestions are exactly what we are looking for! I am going to do more research on each community if there is any other information you have on these towns please let me know.
Thanks again!!

[gvgranny]

Oh my. Many of the posts on this site are good, some are funny, others informative, but why is it necessary to be meanspirited? As a frequent visitor to Missoula since our son attended the U of MT and to see the granddaughters over the past 15 years, I have come to love and appreciate Missoula and its people. I don't understand the comments about the diversity and all those liberals. Why would diversity ever be a negative? And here's my understanding of the term liberal: people who stand for progress, reform, maximum individual freedom; people who support civil liberties, acceptance, compassion for ALL people, protection of constitutional rights; people who are favorable to representational government; people who are (trying to be) free from prejudice or bigotry; folks who are generous and favor protection of our environment and hold compassionate foreign and domestic policies and want diplomacy instead of war. WHEW! Anyway, I don't understand all the rage. I think many Missoulians probably are liberals. Some are not. Some are rich (some from CA, sure), many are just making ends meet. There are trust-fund babies, and there are folks from lots of other places. There are hunters and those who hate it. There are professionals and people with service jobs. There are definitely tree-huggers, and others who are definitely not. There are people who go to church and those who don't. Those who get involved and those who keep to themselves. Despite a comment on another post, there are lots of (terrific) kids and pretty good schools. Like any town or city, there are gay people, single people, families, bigots, drunks, druggies, nutty people, educated and uneducated, happy, sad, etc. All of which make for an interesting mix. And, from my own observations, I have never met an unfriendly person in Missoula.

When Obama visited Montana during the primaries, there was a cute joke that when he left the state the minority population dropped by half! This is almost true, but when my husband and I are there (we're an interracial couple) nobody bats an eye. This is the ONLY place in all the places we've lived (midwest, east coast, south and now AZ) and all the places we've visited (all over the U.S.) that we've NEVER had as much as a sideways glance (and believe me, especially in the midwest, there have been some ugly comments, incidents and even violence).

There are very few places with perfect weather, but at least it's seldom bitter cold in the winter. Sometimes lots of snow, sometimes dreary (probably my biggest complaint) and lately there have been some really hot days in the summer. But all easy enough to deal with.

Like any other good place, things grow and change. It's a fact of life, and most learn to live with it, make the best of it and sometimes even appreciate (some of) it. The great thing about Missoula, if all that growth gets to you, is that there are so many recreational opportunities nearby. There's no need to travel days or even many hours to get to a quiet peaceful place to play, hike, relax. And, if you're lucky enough to take a longer vacation, you're a reasonable drive to Seattle, Portland, the beautiful coast, ski resorts and on and on. Plus, Missoula has a nice little airport and a bus depot.

The point of all this (I'm getting there!) for those inquiring whether they could be happy in Missoula -- how could you not? It's a beautiful, friendly place with lots of activities (and phooey on the guy who made derogatory remarks about the carrousel) and funky, fun, nice, caring people.

[Gman2007]

Originally Posted by gvgranny

And here's my understanding of the term liberal: people who stand for progress, reform, maximum individual freedom; people who support civil liberties, acceptance, compassion for ALL people, protection of constitutional rights; people who are favorable to representational government; people who are (trying to be) free from prejudice or bigotry; folks who are generous and favor protection of our environment and hold compassionate foreign and domestic policies and want diplomacy instead of war. WHEW!

Whew is right! Or maybe Phoo-ey.... Sorry, couldn't resist.. guess my understanding of the term "liberal" is slightly different from this. But hey, a friendly forum as it is, I'll refrain.

[magoomafoo]

I live in Lincoln, 89 miles from Missoula (zoo town) as we call it. To go shopping, we have Great Falls, 90 miles to the east, Helena 50 miles to the south and Missoula. While Missoula has the best shopping choices, it is a total zoo. By lunchtime, I am usually so exasperated by the traffic and amount of people, I want to go home. Helena is starting to get that way too. From what I here, some construction companies are packing up there because there is no more land to buy to build houses. Helena may be booming but it is getting to be one of those places I dread going to, just like Missoula.

[BennyPhoenix]

gvgranny,
The definition of liberal is basically individual freedom, unfortunately 99% of todays so called liberals dont live by that definition.
You talk about compassion. That is fine and dandy, but todays liberals want to force people to be compassionate to causes/ideas they might feel different about. My individual liberty should keep you from forcing me to accept ideas/causes I disagree with, but today's liberal wants the force of government to force me to accept leftist ideas. If you keep the government out of everybody's business then you can be as compassionate as you want to anybody you want to.
Gay marriage is a classic example: If the govt wasn't involved in marriage then the left wouldn't be able to get so huffy about this. Marriage is not the govts business.

[FlorenceCarltonGRAD70]

Yes people take over. I moved to CA due to a job transfer, then to the foothills out of the valley to a small area. It is now becoming like the city. So what I have found is a way to avoid the traffic by time, and still live in an area that is much like MT, only not as cold, and not a much snow. We only have about 5 feet at the most. Never below zero and just as pretty. Good luck with finding paradise.

Originally Posted by outahereee

Okay! Let me start by saying I am not looking to try to stop people from moving here but, rather, inform others of my experience. I am one of those guys that grew up in a small mountain town that was invaded by out-of-staters and decided to move to Missoula thinking Montana couldn't possibly be too crowded. I was wrong! I have seen nothing but traffic and urban sprawl since I have lived here and now it is time for me to leave. There are traffic jams on the east side by the University, traffic downtown, traffic west to Russel and Reserve Street and all the way to the town of Lolo on Highway 93. That's like 20 miles of traffic! Additionally, I have seen development occur at breakneck speed, reaching the foothills and currently expanding up the mountains (ie. Mansion Heights). I know, I know it is all relative. And for those moving from large cities you will think you are in paradise, but for those looking for the paradise they lost, you might be disappointed.

[Kristynwy]

Originally Posted by FlorenceCarltonGRAD70

Yes people take over. I moved to CA due to a job transfer, then to the foothills out of the valley to a small area. It is now becoming like the city. So what I have found is a way to avoid the traffic by time, and still live in an area that is much like MT, only not as cold, and not a much snow. We only have about 5 feet at the most. Never below zero and just as pretty. Good luck with finding paradise.

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