Bozeman, Montana

History

Early history

For many years, indigenous people of the United States, including the Shoshone, Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Flathead, Crow and Sioux traveled through the area, called the "Valley of the Flowers". The Gallatin Valley in particular, in which Bozeman is located, was primarily within the territory of the Crow people. The founder John Bozeman was very pivotal in the forming what is today known as Bozeman. He was in the area around the time of the gold rush. He was also killed in a mysterious way. He and one of his friends were hiking to a neighboring town when Blackfeet attacked and killed Bozeman.

19th century

William Clark visited the area in July 1806 as he traveled east from Three Forks along the Gallatin River. The party camped 3 mi east of what is now Bozeman, at the mouth of Kelly Canyon. The journal entries from Clark's party briefly describe the future city's location.

John Bozeman

In 1863, John Bozeman, a pioneer and frontiersman from Pickens County, Georgia, along with a partner named John Jacob, opened the Bozeman Trail, a new northern trail off the Oregon Trail leading to the mining town of Virginia City through the Gallatin Valley and the future location of the city of Bozeman.

John Bozeman, with Daniel Rouse and William Beall, platted the town in August 1864, stating "standing right in the gate of the mountains ready to swallow up all tenderfeet that would reach the territory from the east, with their golden fleeces to be taken care of." Red Cloud's War closed the Bozeman Trail in 1868, but the town's fertile land still attracted permanent settlers.

Nelson Story

In 1866, Nelson Story, a successful Virginia City, Montana, gold miner originally from Ohio, entered the cattle business. Story braved the hostile Bozeman Trail to successfully drive some 1,000 head of longhorn cattle into Paradise Valley just east of Bozeman. Eluding the U.S. Army, who tried to turn Story back to protect the drive from hostile Indigenous Americans, Story's cattle formed one of the earliest significant herds in Montana's cattle industry. Story established a sizable ranch in the Paradise Valley and holdings in the Gallatin Valley. He later donated land to the state for the establishment of Montana State University.

Fort Ellis

Fort Ellis was established in 1867 by Captain R. S. LaMotte and two companies of the 2nd Cavalry, after the murder of John Bozeman near the mouth of Mission Creek on Yellowstone River, and considerable political disturbance in the area led local settlers and miners to feel a need for added protection. The fort, named for Gettysburg casualty Colonel Augustus Van Horne Ellis, was decommissioned in 1886 and few remnants are left at the actual site, now occupied by the Fort Ellis Experimental Station of Montana State University. In addition to Fort Ellis, a short-lived fort, Fort Elizabeth Meagher (also simply known as Fort Meagher), was established in 1867 by volunteer militiamen. This fort was located 8 mi east of town on Rocky Creek.

Other

In 1864, W.W. Alderson described Gallatin County as "one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys the eye ever beheld, abounding in springs of clear water." Many tended to agree, and Bozeman quickly garnered the nickname of "The Egypt" of Montana.

After incorporation, the first issue of the weekly Avant Courier newspaper, the precursor of today's Bozeman Chronicle, was published in Bozeman on September 13, 1871.

Bozeman's main cemetery, Sunset Hills Cemetery, was given to the city in 1872 when the English lawyer and philanthropist William Henry Blackmore purchased the land after his wife Mary Blackmore died of pneumonia in Bozeman in July 1872.

The first library in Bozeman was formed by the Young Men's Library Association in a room above a drugstore in 1872. It later moved to the mayor's office and was taken over by the city in 1890. The first Grange meeting in Montana Territory was held in Bozeman in 1873. The Northern Pacific Railway reached Bozeman from the east in 1883. By 1900, Bozeman's population had reached 3,500.

In 1892, the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries established a fish hatchery on Bridger Creek at the entrance to Bridger Canyon. The fourth oldest fish hatchery in the United States, the facility ceased to be primarily a hatchery in 1966 and became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Bozeman National Fish Hatchery, later a fish technology and fish health center. The Center receives approximately 5,000 visitors a year observing biologists working on diet testing, feed manufacturing technology, fish diseases, brood stock development and improvement of water quality.

Bozeman was home to early minor league baseball. In 1892, Bozeman fielded a team in the Class B level Montana State League. In 1909, the Bozeman Irrigators played as members of the Class D level Inter-Mountain League. Both leagues disbanded.

Montana State University was established in 1893 as the state's land-grant college, then named the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. By the 1920s, the institution was known as Montana State College, and in 1965 it became Montana State University.

20th century

Bozeman's first high school, the Gallatin Valley High School, was built on West Main Street in 1902. Later known as Willson School, named for notable Bozeman architect Fred Fielding Willson, son of Lester S. Willson, the building still stands today and functions as administrative offices for the Bozeman School District.

In the early 20th century, over 17000 acre of the Gallatin Valley were planted in edible peas harvested for both canning and seed. The area was once known as the "Sweet Pea capital of the nation" referencing the prolific edible pea crop. To promote the area and celebrate its prosperity, local business owners began a "Sweet Pea Carnival" that included a parade and queen contest. The annual event lasted from 1906 to 1916. Promoters used the inedible but fragrant and colorful sweet pea flower as an emblem of the celebration. In 1977 the "Sweet Pea" concept was revived as an arts festival rather than a harvest celebration, growing into a three-day event that is one of the largest festivals in Montana.

The first federal building and Post Office was built in 1915. Many years later, while unused, it became a film location, along with downtown Bozeman, in A River Runs Through It (1992) by Robert Redford, starring Brad Pitt. It is now used by HRDC, a community organization.

In 1986, the 60 acre site of the Idaho Pole Co. on Rouse Avenue was designated a Superfund site and placed on the National Priorities List. Idaho Pole treated wood products with creosote and pentachlorophenol on the site between 1945 and 1997.

The Museum of the Rockies was created in 1957 as the gift from Butte physician Caroline McGill and is a part of Montana State University and an affiliate institution of the Smithsonian. It is Montana's premier natural and cultural history museum and houses permanent exhibits on dinosaurs, geology and Montana history, as well as a planetarium and a living history farm. Paleontologist Jack Horner was the museum's first curator of paleontology and brought national notice to the museum for his fossil discoveries in the 1980s.

21st century

From a rank of sixth in the early 1980s, Bozeman has grown to become the fourth largest city in Montana.

Growth in the Gallatin Valley prompted the Gallatin Airport Authority in 2009 to expand the Gallatin Field Airport with two new gates, an expanded passenger screening area, and a third baggage carousel. Subsequently, Gallatin Field was renamed Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Bozeman has been one of Montana's fastest growing cities from 1990 into the new millennium, currently growing at a fluctuating rate of 2–3% annually.

In 2009, a natural gas explosion on the 200 block of East Main Street destroyed five buildings housing several businesses including Boodles restaurant and the Montana Trails Gallery. The explosion, caused by a separation in an underground gas line, killed a 36-year-old gallery employee and the resulting fire burned for more than a day.

That same year, city officials were criticized for requesting job applicants provide their user names and passwords to social networking sites.

In 2021, it was reported that median home price in Bozeman were about 75% above the national median, while the median household income was 25% below the national median.

Geography

Bozeman is located at an elevation of 4820 ft. The Bridger Mountains are to the north-northeast, the Tobacco Root Mountains to the west-southwest, the Big Belt Mountains and Horseshoe Hills to the northwest, the Hyalite Peaks of the northern Gallatin Range to the south and the Spanish Peaks of the northern Madison Range to the south-southwest. Bozeman is east of the continental divide, and Interstate 90 passes through the city. It is 84 mi east of Butte, 125 mi west of Billings, and 93 mi north of Yellowstone National Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.15 sqmi, of which 19.12 sqmi is land and 0.03 sqmi is water.

Climate

Bozeman experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) as it is located in a more humid microclimate setting. Bozeman and the surrounding area receive significantly higher rainfall than much of the central and eastern parts of the state, up to 24 in of precipitation annually vis-à-vis the 8 to common throughout much of Montana east of the Continental Divide. Combined with fertile soils, this means plant growth is relatively lush. This undoubtedly contributed to the Gallatin Valley's early nickname as the "Valley of the Flowers," as well as the establishment of Montana State University, the state's agricultural college, in the city. Bozeman has cold, snowy winters and relatively warm summers, though due to high elevation, temperature changes from day to night can be significant. The highest temperature ever recorded in Bozeman was 105 F on July 31, 1892. The lowest recorded temperature, -46 F, occurred in 1957 and also 1983.

In 2019, Bozeman experienced unusually warm and dry temperatures during the month of December. Montana State University campus reported a daily average of 0.2 in of precipitation for the month, some of the lowest numbers seen in over 120 years. Montana State University also recorded just over 3 in of snowfall during December, the second lowest snowfall ever recorded. Additionally, maximum temperatures were 2 F-change warmer and lowest temperatures were 6 F-change above typical standards in previous Decembers. December 2023 has also been unusually warm and dry, in line with the country as a whole.

| Jan record high F = 65 | Feb record high F = 64 | Mar record high F = 75 | Apr record high F = 83 | May record high F = 91 | Jun record high F = 96 | Jul record high F = 105 | Aug record high F = 100 | Sep record high F = 99 | Oct record high F = 88 | Nov record high F = 73 | Dec record high F = 64 | year record high F = | Jan avg record high F = 51.6 | Feb avg record high F = 54.0 | Mar avg record high F = 63.7 | Apr avg record high F = 74.0 | May avg record high F = 79.8 | Jun avg record high F = 87.8 | Jul avg record high F = 93.2 | Aug avg record high F = 92.6 | Sep avg record high F = 87.7 | Oct avg record high F = 77.3 | Nov avg record high F = 62.4 | Dec avg record high F = 51.8 | year avg record high F = 94.8 | Jan avg record low F = -10.3 | Feb avg record low F = -5.9 | Mar avg record low F = 3.0 | Apr avg record low F = 16.1 | May avg record low F = 26.3 | Jun avg record low F = 33.2 | Jul avg record low F = 41.6 | Aug avg record low F = 38.9 | Sep avg record low F = 29.5 | Oct avg record low F = 13.9 | Nov avg record low F = -0.4 | Dec avg record low F = -9.0 | year avg record low F = -18.7 | Jan record low F = -45 | Feb record low F = -43 | Mar record low F = -29 | Apr record low F = -10 | May record low F = 16 | Jun record low F = 26 | Jul record low F = 32 | Aug record low F = 26 | Sep record low F = 12 | Oct record low F = -10 | Nov record low F = -26 | Dec record low F = -46 | year record low F = | Jan snow depth inch = 11.8 | Feb snow depth inch = 11.9 | Mar snow depth inch = 9.5 | Apr snow depth inch = 4.2 | May snow depth inch = 1.0 | Jun snow depth inch = .2 | Jul snow depth inch = 0 | Aug snow depth inch = 0 | Sep snow depth inch = 0 | Oct snow depth inch = 2.3 | Nov snow depth inch = 6.5 | Dec snow depth inch = 10.8 | year snow depth inch = 15.4

Demographics

|align-fn=center U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 53,293 people and 22,041 households in the city. The population density of the city was 2587.2 PD/sqmi, a substantial increase since the 2010 census.

The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% White, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, 1.1% American Indian, and 0.6% African American. 5.6% of residents identified two or more races.

Of the 22,041 households in the city, each household has on average 2.24 people.

13.2% of Bozeman's population is under 18 years of age, and 10.7% of the population is over 65 years of age. 97.8% of the city's population, at or over the age of 25, has graduated high school or higher, and 64.2% of the population have attained at least a bachelor's degree. The gender makeup of the city is 53% male and 47% female.

The median income household income of the city was $74,113. The median per-capita income was $45,037. 14.7% of the population fell below the poverty line.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 37,280 people, 15,775 households, and 6,900 families residing in the city. The population density was 1949.8 PD/sqmi. There were 17,464 housing units at an average density of 913.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 0.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 15,775 households, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 27.2 years. 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 28.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 16.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.6% male and 47.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,509 people, 10,877 households, and 5,014 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,183.8 PD/sqmi. There were 11,577 housing units at an average density of 919.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.73% White, 0.33% African American, 1.24% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

There were 10,877 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.0% under the age of 18, 33.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,156, and the median income for a family was $41,723. Males had a median income of $28,794 versus $20,743 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,104. About 9.2% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Bozeman's top employers include Bozeman Health, Montana State University, Simms Fishing Products and Mystery Ranch as well as at least two dozen high-tech companies engaged in research or production of lasers and other optical equipment, over a dozen bio-tech companies, and several large software companies. Nationally known companies based in Bozeman include ILX Lightwave (an MKS/Newport company), Quantel USA, RightNow Technologies, Snowflake Inc., Schedulicity, Workiva, onX and Simms Fishing Products. Notable non-profit organizations based in Bozeman include the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and Eagle Mount.

Arts and culture

Points of interest

Museums and gardens:

• American Computer Museum
• Gallatin Historical Society-The Pioneer Museum
• Montana Arboretum and Gardens
• Museum of the Rockies
• Story Mansion

Libraries

• Bozeman Public Library
• Renne Library, Montana State University

Other:

• BZN International Film Festival
• Gibson Guitar Factory
• Sweet Pea-A Festival of the ArtsFestival held annually since 1977. The Sweet Pea Carnival was first established in 1906.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Technology Center, established 1892
• Last Best Comedy Club

Recreation

The Bozeman area is noted for outdoor recreation, particularly skiing.

• East Gallatin Recreation Area
• Bridger Bowl Ski Area is located on the northeast face of the Bridger Mountains, utilizing state and federal land. Bridger Bowl was Bozeman's first ski area and opened to the public in 1955.
• Big Sky Ski Resort is reached via the Gallatin Canyon and is 40 mi south of Bozeman. The resort has grown considerably since 1973 into a residential community and major winter tourist destination, described as one of the best in the nation.

Government

Bozeman became an incorporated Montana city in April 1883 and adopted a city council form of government. Currently, the City of Bozeman uses a city commission/city manager form of government which the citizens adopted on January 1, 1922 with an elected Municipal Judge. The City Commission is chaired by an elected Mayor. These three entities form the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

Each city election the voters select a mayor at large. The elected mayor serves as Deputy Mayor for the first two years of their term, then Mayor for the balance of their term.

Education

Public

Bozeman Public Schools has two components: Bozeman Elementary School District and Bozeman High School District. Belgrade Public Schools has two components: Belgrade Elementary School District and Belgrade High School District. Almost all of Bozeman is in Bozeman Elementary School District and Bozeman High School District. A small piece extends into Belgrade Elementary School District and Belgrade High School District.

• The Bozeman Public School District operates two high schoolsBozeman High School and Gallatin High School; two middle schoolsChief Joseph Middle School and Sacajawea Middle School; and eight elementary schoolsEmily Dickinson Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Hyalite Elementary School, Irving Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Meadowlark Elementary School, Morning Star Elementary School, and Whittier Elementary School.
• The district also operates the Bridger Alternative Program as a branch campus of Bozeman High School to serve "at-risk" secondary students.
• The former Emerson Elementary School is now a cultural community center. Willson School, originally a high school, then a middle school, then the base for an alternative high school, is still owned by the school district and houses a number of school district offices.

Private

• Headwaters Academy near the campus of Montana State University is a co-educational middle school (grades6 through 8).
• Petra Academy is a co-educational school (gradespre-k through 12) affiliated with Protestant teachings.
• Heritage Christian School located off Durston Rd is a co-educational school (grades Pre-k through 12).

Post-secondary

• Bozeman is home to Montana State University, the state's largest university and the flagship campus of the Montana State University System. MSU set a new fall enrollment record in the fall of 2024, at a total of 17,144 students on campus.

Media

Newspapers and magazines

• Bozeman Avant Courierpublished 1871–1905
• The Republican-courierpublished 1905–1913
• The Bozeman Courierpublisher 1919–1954
• Bozeman Daily Chronicle

AM radio

• KBOZ 1090, (Talk/Personality), Reier Broadcasting Company
• KOBB 1230, (sports talk), Reier Broadcasting Company
• KPRK AM 1340, (News/Talk), Townsquare Media
• KMMS 1450, (News/Talk), Townsquare Media
• KYWL AM 1490, (Active Rock)

FM radio

• KGLT 91.9, (Variety), Montana State University

• KMMS-FM 94.7, (Adult Album), Townsquare Media

• KISN 96.7, (Top 40 (CHR)), Townsquare Media

• KXLB 100.7, (Country music), Townsquare Media

• KBMC (FM) 102.1, (Variety), Montana State University-Billings

• KZMY 103.5, (Hot Adult Contemporary), Townsquare Media

• KBZM 104.7, (Classic Rock), Orion Media LLC

• KKQX 105.7, (Classic Rock), Orion Media LLC

• KSCY 106.9, (Country music), Orion Media LLC

• KOZB 97.5, (Active rock), Desert Mountain Broadcasting Company

• KBOZ-FM 99.9, (Soft oldie), Desert Mountain Broadcasting Company

• KOBB-FM 93.7, (Classic Hits), Desert Mountain Broadcasting Company

Television

• KDBZ-CD 6 NBC, Sinclair Broadcast Group
• KBZK 7 CBS, E. W. Scripps Company
• KUSM 9 PBS, Montana State University
• KWYB-LD 28-1 ABC, Cowles Company (LP relay from Butte)
• KWYB-LD 28-2 FOX

Filming location

Movies filmed in Bozeman include:

• The Wildest Dream
• A River Runs Through It
• A Plumm Summer
• Amazing Grace and Chuck

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways include:

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 191
• Montana Highway 86
• Montana Highway 84

Freight rail service is provided by Montana Rail Link, a privately held Class II railroad that connects Spokane, Washington, with Huntley, Montana. The city was last served by passenger rail in 1979 by the North Coast Hiawatha at Bozeman Depot.

The Gallatin Big Sky Transportation District has operated the Skyline bus service, a zero-fare public bus system with six routes, since 2006.

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport serves travelers to Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park.

Fire department

The Bozeman Fire Department is a full-time career fire department. There are currently 47 uniformed firefighters at three stations, four engines (one reserve), a ladder truck, a Battalion Chief's truck, two brush trucks, a HazMat unit, and two Medic Units. The Bozeman Fire Department responded to approximately 5,000 emergency calls in 2020.

Notable people

The following individuals are either notable current or former residents of Bozeman (R), were born or raised in Bozeman in their early years (B), or otherwise have a significant connection to the history of the Bozeman area (C).

Sports personalities:

• Conrad Anker, mountaineer C
• Brock Coyle, linebacker for San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks B
• Will Dissly, tight end for Seattle Seahawks B
• Jeff Fisher, Head Coach for Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams R
• Nikki Kimball, distance runner R
• Dane Fletcher, linebacker for New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers B
• Alex Lowe, ice-climber and alpinist R
• Darren Main, yoga instructor R
• Mike McLeod, former NFL safety B
• Heather McPhie, freestyle skier, member of 2010 US Olympic team B
• Phil Olsen, former National Football League lineman R
• Willie Saunders, Bozeman-born Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey, won U.S. Triple Crown B
• Jan Stenerud, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame, AFL and NFL placekicker for Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings; winner of Super Bowl IV R
• Kevin Sweeney, former quarterback for Dallas Cowboys B
• Tejay van Garderen, professional cyclist R

Military and pioneers:

• Travis Atkins, Medal of Honor recipient R
• John Bozeman, pioneer and founder of the Bozeman Trail C
• Henry Comstock, a discoverer of Comstock Lode died (suicide) in Bozeman on September 29, 1870 C
• Gustavus Cheyney Doane, member of Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition 1870 and buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bozeman
• Nelson Story, prominent cattleman and merchant in Bozeman's early years R
• Lester S. Willson, prominent merchant in Bozeman's early years R

Arts, culture and entertainment:

• Kris Atteberry, MLB broadcaster, one of only two Montanans to call an MLB game B
• Brannon Braga, writer and producer of Star Trek television shows and films B
• Deborah Butterfield, sculptor known for use of horses in artwork R
• Gary Cooper, film actor, attended Gallatin Valley High School in Bozeman R
• Glenn Close, American actress R
• Daniella Deutscher, actress B
• Pablo Elvira, opera singer R
• Landon Jones, journalist and author R
• Taylor Kitsch Actor
• Donna Kelley, former CNN anchor and current KBZK anchor. R
• Jane Lawrence, actress and opera singer B
• Jason Lytle, lead singer of Modesto band, Grandaddy; solo artist R
• Julian MacKay, ballet dancer B
• Ben Mikaelsen, author R
• Christopher Parkening, guitarist, fly casting champion R
• David Quammen, long-time columnist for Outside magazine, and author R
• Steven Rinella, American outdoorsman, conservationist, writer, and television personality
• Albert, Alfred and Chris Schlechten multi-generation family of photographers noted for portraiture and images of Yellowstone National Park and the Gallatin Valley. R, R, B
• James Willard Schultz, author and Glacier National Park explorer, lived in Bozeman 1928–1929 with partner Jessica McDonald, professor at Montana State; R Schultz's papers are archived at Montana State Burlingame Special Collections Library.
• Michael Spears, actor R
• Eddie Spears, actor R
• Julia Thorne, writer and ex-wife of 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry R
• Kathy Tyers, writer, particularly known for contribution to Star Wars series R
• Peter Voulkos, ceramic artist B
• Sarah Vowell, author, regular on This American Life, voice actress from The Incredibles, B
• Dave Walker, musician R

Science and academia:

• Loren Acton, astronaut and physicist R
• Sidney M. Cadwell, discoverer of anti-oxidants for rubber, made first scientific study of rubber's fatigue behavior. B
• Don G. Despain, botanist, ecologist, and fire behavior specialist R
• Christopher Langan, scientist, was born in San Francisco but grew up mostly in Bozeman
• Diana L. Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion at Harvard University B
• Dr. James A. Henshall, first superintendent of Bozeman Fish Technology Center C
• Alice Haskins, government botanist and professor R
• Jack Horner, preeminent paleontologist upon whom main character, Dr. Alan Grant, in book and film Jurassic Park was patterned R
• Dale W. Jorgenson, Harvard University professor and economist B
• Robert M. Pirsig, author and past instructor of English and rhetoric at Montana State University R
• Ann Linnea Sandberg, immunologist R

Politics, government and business:

• Brooke D. Anderson, former Ambassador to the United Nations
• Les AuCoin, former U.S. congressman from Oregon R
• John Bohlinger, Lieutenant Governor of Montana B
• Dorothy Bradley, former state legislator, congressional and gubernatorial candidate R
• Will Brooke, former chief of staff of Conrad Burns R
• Steve Daines, entrepreneur, business leader and Montana's current senior Senator R
• Zales Ecton, former U.S. senator from Montana B
• Greg Gianforte, Governor of Montana, former US Representative in Montana's at-large congressional district R
• Charles S. Hartman, United States Congressman from Montana R
• Christopher Hedrick, entrepreneur and international development expert R
• Stan Jones, Libertarian Party candidate for Montana governor and United States Senator R
• Vanessa Kerry, daughter of politician John Kerry R
• Michael McFaul, former United States Ambassador to Russia R
• Scott Sales, former Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives R
• Raymond Strother, Democratic political consultant R
• Sidney Runyan Thomas, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit B
• Ted Turner, entrepreneur (Ted's Montana Grill) and founder of cable television empires including CNN and TBS R
• Ryan Zinke, U.S. representative for Montana B

Philanthropy:

• Greg Mortenson, humanitarian and founder of the Central Asia Institute R

Religion:

• Elizabeth Clare Prophet, co-founder of Church Universal and Triumphant R

Architecture:

• Fred F. Willson, designed many notable buildings in Bozeman between 1902 and 1956. R

In popular culture

In the film Star Trek: First Contact, Bozeman was the launch site of the first warp-capable starship and location of first contact with the Vulcans on April 5, 2063. The animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks features "Historic Bozeman" in Episode 1 of Season 3, revisiting some plot points from First Contact.

In Episode 11 of Season 3 of The Big Bang Theory, The Bozeman Reaction, Sheldon briefly considers moving to Bozeman after his apartment gets robbed.

The members of the noise rock group Steel Pole Bath Tub are originally from Bozeman.

The Bozeman area is one of the settings in Robert Pirsig's novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

References

References

1. Shelly, Nora. (January 10, 2024). "New year, new mayor: Cunningham, Morrison and Madgic sworn into office".
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas".
4. {{cite gnis
5. {{GNIS. 2409889
6. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Archived copy".
8. "CENSUS 2010 - STATE and COUNTY POPULATION SUMMARY".
9. Smith, Phyllis. (1996). "Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. A History". Falcon Press Publishers.
10. "Lewis and Clark, Bozeman and the Museum of the Rockies". Travel Montana.
11. Freeman, Cortlandt L.. (1988). "The Growing Up Years The First 100 Years of Bozeman as an Incorporated City from 1883 to 1983". Montana Centennial Commission Gallatin County Historical Society.
12. Kennedy, Michael S.. (1964). "Cowboys and Cattlemen-A Roundup from Montana The Magazine of Western History". Hastings House Publishing.
13. Wellman, Paul I.. (1939). "The Trampling Herd". J. B. Lippincott & Co..
14. Smith, Phyllis. (1996). "Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. A History". Falcon Press Publishers.
15. {{cite gnis
16. Siebel, Dennis. (1996). "Fort Ellis, Montana Territory (1867–1886) – The Fort That Guarded Bozeman". Gallatin County Historical Association.
17. {{cite gnis
18. (October 9, 2021). "Bozeman Montana History".
19. Putnam, James Bruce. (1988). "The Evolution of a Frontier Town: Bozeman, Montana and Its Search For Economic Stability 1864–1887". Montana Centennial Commission Gallatin County Historical Society.
20. Thomas B. Brook. "Thomas Brook Photographs Collection 771 – Montana State University Libraries".
21. Freeman, Cortlandt L.. (1988). "The Growing Up Years The First 100 Years of Bozeman as an Incorporated City from 1883 to 1983". Montana Centennial Commission Gallatin County Historical Society.
22. Smith, Phyllis. (1996). "Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley. A History". Falcon Press Publishers.
23. Mulvaney, Tom. (2009). "Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley". Arcadia Publishing.
24. "Fish Technology Center-Outreach". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
25. "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish Technology Center". Montana River Action.
26. "1909 Inter-Mountain League".
27. "Montana State University History". Montana State History.
28. Jenks, Jim. (2007). "A Guide to Historic Bozeman". Montana Historical Society Press.
29. Jenks, Jim. (2007). "A Guide to Historic Bozeman". Montana Historical Society Press.
30. Hurlbut, Brian. (2009). "Insiders' Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton". Globe Pequot.
31. "Superfund Program-Idaho Pole Co.". Environmental Protection Agency.
32. (August 5, 2005). "Museum of the Rockies to become Smithsonian affiliate". Helena Independent Record.
33. "Archived copy".
34. "Bozeman (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov.
35. (August 9, 2009). "Airport Expansion Ramping Up-October 28, 2009". Bozeman Chronicle.
36. Bacaj, Jason. (December 9, 2011). "Gallatin Airport Authority approves airport name change". Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
37. "U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: Bozeman city, Montana". United States Census Bureau.
38. Staff, Beacon. (2009-03-13). "Broken Natural Gas Line Caused Bozeman Explosion".
39. Broxton, Deion. (2019-03-05). "Deadly Bozeman explosion remembered, 10 years later".
40. Gouras, Matt. (June 19, 2009). "Montana City Asks Job Applicants For Facebook passwords". HuffPost.
41. (March 15, 2021). "Bozeman Housing Market Gentrified by Remote Workers".
42. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
43. "Bozeman Series". National Cooperative Soil Survey.
44. "Montana State University History". Montana State University.
45. (January 7, 2020). "Warm, dry December caps unusually cool, wet 2019".
46. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service.
47. (June 13, 2023). "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau.
48. Moffatt, Riley. ''Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990''. [[Lanham, Maryland. Lanham]]: Scarecrow, 1996, 128.
49. [[United States Census Bureau]]. "Census of Population and Housing".
50. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
51. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
52. "Top Employers in Bozeman, Montana".
53. "Montana Optics-Related Companies".
54. "High-tech clusters spur growth in western Montana". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
55. "Tech Companies in Bozeman, Montana".
56. "Gallatin Historical SocietyThe Pioneer Museum". Gallatin Historical Society.
57. "Story Mansion History". Friends of the Story Mansion.
58. "Bozeman Public Library".
59. "Montana State University Libraries".
60. "About". Bozeman Film Celebration.
61. "Sweet Pea-History".
62. Smith, Phyllis. (1997). "Sweet Pea Days: A History". Gallatin County Historical Society.
63. "16 things you need to know before you come to Bozeman".
64. "Bridger Bowl Association".
65. Jenks, Jim. (2007). "A Guide to Historic Bozeman". Montana Historical Society Press.
66. "This State Has One Of The Best Ski Resorts In The U.S.".
67. Freeman, Cortlandt L.. (1988). "The Growing Up Years The First 100 Years of Bozeman as an Incorporated City from 1883 to 1983". Montana Centennial Commission Gallatin County Historical Society.
68. Freeman, Cortlandt L.. (1988). "The Growing Up Years The First 100 Years of Bozeman as an Incorporated City from 1883 to 1983". Montana Centennial Commission Gallatin County Historical Society.
69. "Bozeman City Government". City of Bozeman.
70. "City Commission". City of Bozeman.
71. (March 13, 2024). "Directory of Montana Schools". [[Montana Office of Public Instruction]].
72. (March 13, 2024). "Directory of Montana Schools". [[Montana Office of Public Instruction]].
73. (March 14, 2024). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gallatin County, MT". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
74. "Bozeman School District-Our Schools".
75. "Bozeman School District-High Schools".
76. "Montana State enrolls over 17,000 students and sets records for graduation and student retention".
77. "About Bozeman Avant Courier". Library of Congress.
78. "About The Republican Courier". Library of Congress.
79. "About The Bozeman Courier". Library of Congress.
80. "Radio Stations near the city of Bozeman MT". OnTheRadio.net.
81. "Butte-Bozeman TV Stations". Station Index-The Broadcasting Website.
82. "The Wildest Dream". MoviesPlanet.
83. "Movies made in Montana". MontanaKids.com.
84. "Streamline".
85. "Streamline Bus Bozeman Montana – Catch the Current – A Program of HRDC".
86. "Skyline bus service schedule between Bozeman and Big Sky announced". Montana State University News Service.
87. "Montana Bus Stops".
88. "Bozeman Fire Department". City of Bozeman.
89. Lamothe, Dan. (March 27, 2019). "Soldier's posthumous Medal of Honor highlights the Pentagon's struggles to fully recognize valor in combat". Houston Chronicle.
90. Stout, Tom. (1921). "History of Montana". American Historical Society.
91. "Gary Cooper-Cool Montana Stories". Montanakids.com.
92. "Author Ben Mikaelsen".
93. "Photo Archives – Museum of the Rockies".
94. Hanna, Warren L.. (1986). "The Life and Times of James Willard Schultz (Apikuni)". University of Oklahoma Press.
95. "Collection 10 – James Willard Schultz Papers, 1867–1969". MSU Libraries.
96. "Native Stars - the Spears Brothers".
97. "Sarah Vowell". transom.org.
98. (October 7, 2002). "Sarah Vowell-Author of The Partly Cloudy Patriot talks with Robert Birnbaum". identitytheory.com.
99. "MSU PHYSICS FACULTY – LOREN ACTON". montana.edu.
100. (1938). "Biographies". [[Smith College]].
101. (1913). "List of members of the American Phytopathological Society". Phytopathology.
102. (April 22, 2009). "Ex-lawmaker Dorothy Bradley named to NorthWestern boardPosted on April 22".
103. "Raymond Strother: Political Strategist/Author (1940)". [[Museum of the Gulf Coast]].
104. "Turner Enterprises, Ranches FAQ".
105. (June 26, 2009). ""Ted Turner grand marshal of Livingston parade"".
106. "ZINKE, Ryan".
107. Kisthart, Molly. (April 5, 2022). "What to see in Bozeman after making first contact".
108. "Big Bang Theory Transcripts".
109. "Robert M. Pirsig´s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and the term ´Chautauqua´".