Community

Missoula is a vibrant community with great diversity providing many opportunities for new businesses, families, and individuals seeking to experience the Montana quality of life.

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, Missoula is one of the West’s most sophisticated smaller cities. Industries that support  Missoula include: professional business and financial services, healthcare, trade, government, construction and real estate. Missoula is also home to the University of Montana which was founded  in 1893. Since then, students  have been provided with a high-quality, well- rounded education and training for professional careers in the University’s three colleges – arts and sciences, forestry and conservation, and technology – and six schools – journalism, law, business, education, pharmacy and the fine arts.

Located  at the heart of western Montana’s  stunning natural landscape,  UM is a magnet not only for top-notch teachers  and researchers, but also for students from across the country and around  the globe. A city within a city – with its own eateries, stores, medical facilities, banking and postal services, and zip code – UM has an increasingly diverse population and rich culture.

In 2010, Missoula was selected as one of the ‘100 Best Communities for Young People’ which is a competition that honors outstanding efforts on behalf of young people by multiple sectors of communities.  In cities, suburbs, small towns and counties across the country, this annual competition is leading communities to assess their efforts, work more effectively together for young people and share best practices.

Missoula is one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in part because of its Flagship Program,  which brings community resources and activities on site to the schools to provide safe and healthy activities for youth during non-school hours. Supported by local government, area business and schools, it helped over 2,000 students  participate and partner with 48 community groups in a large number of activities such as community service and tutoring.

Missoula is also home to western Montana’s  largest indoor shopping mall, national  discount and department stores and dozens of interesting  and unique downtown stores and boutiques.  The downtown is Missoula’s newest and fastest growing shopping district and a great showcase of Missoula.

Our town offers a wide range of medical services. As the major medical hub between Minneapolis  and Seattle, Missoula has over 9,700 people working in the health services industry who are committed  to keeping Missoulians in top physical shape. There are two major medical centers in Missoula: Community Medical Group and Providence Medical Group.

Missoula boasts a variety of outdoor pursuits from hiking a nearby mountain or river trail to golfing one of the many convenient  courses. There’s something to do outdoors all year long. Skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, river rafting, mountain biking and wildlife viewing are just some of the many things you can do outside.