Browning (Missoula, Great Falls, Whitefish: for sale, apartment, rentals)

[MantonAuthor]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.
I am currently writing a novel that takes place in Browning. I have never been there but have done a lot of research on the area but this forum is the first opportunity for me to get some first-hand knowledge. I'm glad I "stumbled" onto this site! I have to say I was discouraged to hear all the negative stuff when I first started reading the posts but was very encouraged by what MontanaMiss, Northmtgal, anad MHT had to say. Every place has good and bad qualities. I live in a very small town in Northern California. Before coming to this area, I lived an hour north of San Francisco where there's redwood forests, rolling hills, wineries, and vineyards. A very lovely place that everyone and their uncle wants to move to - and they have been! I was born and raised in this area but chose to move because of the traffic, high cost of living, etc. We found a place further north in the mountains, shaded by tall pines, and 1/2 hour from a large town. It's a very desirable place if one does not mind traveling a bit to do their main shopping or work. After two years we moved to our current home in Manton where there is no gas station, a very small school, one church, one bar, the local diner is in a trailer, and there's alot of alcohol and drug abuse. Before moving here I looked at Manton as a less than desirable place to live. Now that I'm here I absolutely love it!
I would appreciate more feedback on Browning and the surrounding area. If anyone is interested, post a reply then perhaps we can correspond by email.

Linda
www.freewebs.com/lindastrawn

[lorelei2873]

If people don't want to believe that Browning has a larger than average share of problems, I encourage you to "take it from the horse's mouth." Here's a link to the Blackfeet Youth Development program that highlights Browning's issues:
http://www.blackfeetyouthdevelopment.org/aboutus.html

Some highlights:

*1 in 3 addicted to drugs or alcohol
*70% unemployment
*Only 37% have a high school diploma
*25% have no form of transportation; this is a remote area!
*Average tribal member on the reservation survives on way less than $10,000 per year.

Read the link for more info. They problably have nice folks, but I don't think you can really overstate the socio-economic problems.

[MantonAuthor]

I didn't go to the website that lorelei mentioned but the highlights were enough to make me say a big "AMEN" to mcdoerr's post on page 3. America is blessed because we do support a lot of causes overseas but I feel the same way, we need to help those in our own backyard. I'm sure there are many programs to address these needs but they seem to get overshadowed by the ones designed to help other countries. I also have a deep love and respect for our Native American neighbors. I love researching their culture and history. The Maidu Indians of California play a huge part in my first book. I'm am working on a second book that, as I mentioned earlier, centers around the Blackfeet Reservation.
Virginiagirl, I wish you all the best in your relocation to Browning. I would love to hear your thoughts about the area after you are there! God bless!!!

[Reziac]

The $10,000 year income is a little deceptive because most reservations provide free housing, free medical, etc. to tribal members. You can do pretty durn well on $10k/year if you don't have rent or a mortgage to support.

Unfortunately, if you have a drug or booze habit, that'll suck it up real fast.

BTW, I am not really pro-gambling, and I don't know what the sentiments are right now in MT, but tribes elsewhere that have been allowed to suck money out of whites-who-are-poor-at-math have made a total turnaround, and now have the money to fight their own social battles, and pay well for any help they need. Any money they can generate for themselves is that much less tax money thrown down the black hole of welfare and poverty, so even tho gambling has its own problems (and addicts), I think offers a net gain. And remember, casinos *hire* a lot of help.

Otherwise the same money goes down to Stateline, Nevada when people feel the urge; might as well keep it at home.

[Francesann]

Browning, MT has windstorms so much I believe cows fly there. It was not a place that Indians chose to live, it was a calvery officer that started the town. It has one store-IGA which is very expensive, one bank-Native American Bank, Ben Franklin, Bingo Hall, Casino.

Most of the pople living there are Blackfeet and if you do not work for the Tribal Government, Indian Health Service or the BIA, you need to be very creative with financing. Currently they are having a major discussion concerning law & order.

The brightest spot in Browning is the Blackfeet Community College. Unemployment rates are very high and you should have a job contract in hand before you go there. Housing is difficult to find and there is very little available for rent or purchase. If you have a job, there might be housing available in East Glacier, but Cut Bank is off the Reservation and has more businesses and houses. Check out the Glacier Reporter on-line and there are links for Cut Bank and Valier.

[Reziac]

IGA used to be the low-priced market. Is it just the back-of-beyond location, or has the "Independent Grocers Association" been sucked up by some corporation while I wasn't looking?

What happened to the cottage industries that someone tried to get going in Browning, like the pencil factory? Not that this sort of thing ever makes much of an economic or social impact, but I gather that at the time (ca.1980) it was more than what they had before.

BTW the College's website is here: http://www.bfcc.org
It looks like a nice campus, designed to fit into the area. Nothing listed under Employment, but I did discover there that they could stand to have a more experienced webmaster (lots of problems, largely due to malformed links).

[RideLikeTheWind]

Thanks JoeJoeMan !
I actually was nervous to here from you at first because I can feel your anger sometimes on the forum. However, the past year here makes me feel like you. People come out not to enjoy ( in my opinion ) but to scape off all vegatation and build there McMansions, haul there toys out with them and then allow their kids ride there dirt bikes 60 miles per hour up and down you road ( and sometimes past you while riding your horse ) Most have NO appreciation for the rural lifestyle. Like you posted once, " If it werent for the mountains ". We did look at Bitterroot and ran from that area ! We found a small cabin that we can afford for now to get away from all this to fly fish and ride as much as possible for now. If it gets built up there, hopefully we can move ahead of the crowd again. But, thanks so much for your reply. I really do share your frustration

[genielamp]

You guys all missed something here. The thread started out with people delivering some harsh reviews of Browning. Then a few others chimed in and reminded us that the people in Browning may be poor, but the are rich in spirit and that is what matters most. They revere their elders, will take care of friends in need, and have done their best in the face of economic hardship and a harsh physical environment.

This was a great turn around to the discussion, and a valuable lesson- but the thread has once again turned into a generic discussion about newcomers, money, and a few peoples' philosophies about what is good for Montana, etc.. and we even dipped into the job performance of Alan Greenspan for a minute there.

My point is, pay attention to the good stuff-

jm

[Quistoman]

WOW I see a lot of "lets be frank" posts but everyones skirting around the issue and trying to be politically correct. Ill be frank, If you're white you dont want to live there, why? Because of the racism some of the indians have against whites.
There someone said it. I have family that are indian and did live there and they dont care if they ever go back. As a woman you might not have any issues but any man, white man that walks into a bar in browning is either a fool or suicidal, guess my point is if you want to be harassed and fear for the safety of your family browning is a great place to live. Its not a nice place to live for anyone white, indian, black, green, etc.

Just so I dont get a bunch of OMG you racist posts Id like to be clear and say I know most indians are not racist and wont do or say anything racist but that doesn’t stop the percentage of them that are willing to hurt you and in browning that percentage is high enough it be a serious threat. My family is large and over half of them are native americans, I love most of them with all my heart (some of them I dont know and some I just dont like, but not because of race) and I have nothing bad to say about anyone just because of there skin tone.
However, reservations are full of pain, anger and broken promises so its not hard to understand how a white guy can become a focal point and a outlet and I would not live there reguardless of what race I belong(ed) to.

[Gulskjegg]

Id have to agree, Browning is tragic. Its dirty, poorly laid out, and suffering from severe cultural breakdown. There are lots of decent Blackfeet folk, but the kids are naturally belligerant. Who wouldnt be, given the treatment the Natives have suffered for how many hundred years.

That being said, Cut Bank is worse, as the locals will do all they possibly can to force anyone not "from these parts" right back out of town. Thats why you dont see many Blackfeet in Cut Bank. They are set upon by the demon posessed locals and persuaded to pack up and head out.