Bozeman is located in south central Montana in the Gallatin Valley, originally known as "The Valley of the Flowers" by Native Americans. To the northeast are the Bridger Mountains, to the south are the Hyalites, to the west are the Tobacco Roots, and to the southwest are the Spanish Peaks. Ninety miles south of Bozeman is Yellowstone National Park.
Bozeman has a population of around thirty-thousand, a metropolis by Montana standards. It has a vibrant downtown with mainly local stores. Agriculture is still the main industry, but more and more residents are involved in the service industry and in high tech. Bozeman is a college town, and the university lends it a more cultural and intellectual demeanor than most Montana cities.
Founded in 1893, Montana State University was originally a land-grant college named the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. Today, with around 11,000 undergraduate students and 1500 graduate students, it is a vibrant educational and research institution specializing in agriculture, architecture, education, engineering, health and human development, and nursing. The Museum of the Rockies, a division of MSU, has remarkable collections in western history, Native American artifacts, photography, and textiles, but it is most famous for its work in paleontology. It is home to the world's largest tyrannosaurus rex skull. The paleontology exhibits are always changing as the museum's researchers, including Dr. Jack Horner, make new discoveries.
For most residents, the best part of living in Bozeman is the proximity to the outdoors. Thirty minutes up Bridger Canyon brings you to Bridger Bowl, an exceptional alpine ski center, and Bohart Ranch, a cross-country ski center with some of the best groomed trails in the country. Summers, residents spend their time rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, canoeing and backpacking.