bozeman: The Heroic Story Behind Chief Joseph Highway - 01/16/17 04:54 PM
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, also known as Wyoming Highway 296, is a beautiful drive through the Absaroka Mountains and Dead Indian Pass. It’s about a 46-mile drive in northern Park County, and is certainly worth a cruise for a weekend trip. However, this highway is more than just some scenic road, it has a great story behind its name.
 
Fleeing several hundred U.S. army soldiers led by General Howard during the Nez Perce War in 1877, Chief Joseph bravely led 700 men, women, and children on this road through Yellowstone Park and into the Absaroka Mountains. General Samuel D. Sturgis and 600 … (0 comments)

bozeman: The Interesting History Behind Bozeman Street Names - 01/13/17 09:27 AM
Established in peak times of the Gold Rush, Bozeman, Montana has an interesting background with some extraordinary founders. Much of Bozeman’s roads were named in honor of individuals who were monumental to the town’s success.
 
Here are few meaningful road names in Bozeman with an interesting history.
 
Bozeman Avenue
The city founder, John Bozeman, left his family behind to travel west in his quest for gold. He failed to find gold, so he took on a different venture—trail blazing. He guided wagon trains on the Bozeman Trail to Virginia City. Mr. Bozeman was a risk-taking gambling man. He embraced the dangers of breaking treaties … (1 comments)

bozeman: Affordable Condos Coming To Bozeman - 10/27/16 09:54 AM
While housing prices are on the rise, affordable housing in Bozeman is running scarce. Lower class families and individuals are being pushed further out of city limits as these housing options become limited. Countering this issue, the Talbach House project is providing Bozeman with a three-story condo building in a great location of a quickly developing area of the city.
The most appealing aspect of these condos is that their affordable price would not be sacrificing quality. Bitnar Architects have designed these condos with a high-end interior and European-inspired elements, such as large windows. One bedroom units will hold 625-square-feet, starting at $172,000.
Other … (0 comments)

bozeman: Montana State and Bozeman Business Win $4.5 Million Navy Contract - 06/27/16 03:10 AM

 
The US Navy has turned to Montana State University and Bozeman’s S2 corporation to help design new technology for diagnosing and detecting potential threats across the world.
The Navy has given MSU’s Spectrum Lab and S2 Corporation a $4.5 million contract to develop new sensors to improve the Navy’s intelligence and awareness. The university and corporation were chosen based on their marked improvement over current technology. According to the CEO of S2 corporation, current sensors see only about 1 percent of a possible spectrum whereas technology they have developed in Bozeman sees more than 100 times that.
The Navy has given S2 and … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman Montana Will Have Second High School - 06/16/16 01:14 AM

 
Make some room Bozeman High School—it looks like you will have some company soon in Bozeman, Montana. The phrase now feels much more real, thanks to a 6-1 vote by the Bozeman School Board to build an entirely new, 9 -12 high school in Bozeman Montana. Bozeman has been one of the fastest growing small towns in Western United States.
Bozeman High School currently has 2,000 students but has been expanding year over year. By 2020, the date a new high school should be opened, that enrollment will reach 2,400, hence the split.
The Bozeman School Board, as well as its high school … (0 comments)

bozeman: New Phone Application Will Map Bozeman Montana Trails - 06/13/16 03:03 AM

As the outdoors continue to bring more and more people to Bozeman, Montana, the city has put a bit of organization back into nature. One of Bozeman’s biggest attractions is its 80 mile, in and around town trail system. Bozeman continually updates and improves its trails, knowing they are one of the main attractors to local residents. The trail is used by adults, children, runners, walkers and bikers. Whether for exercise or for travel, the trails have become a part of Bozeman’s outdoor culture.
Starting sometime this year, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust and the City of Bozeman will create a new … (0 comments)

bozeman: New Pathway Planned For Bridger Canyon Hikers and Bikers - 06/09/16 03:18 AM

The “M” Trail and the Drinking Horse Trail attract a host of daily hikers, trail runners, bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Bridger Canyon Road is also one of the more beautiful and fun biking roads in the area. As the area’s popularity has increased, Bridger Canyon road has seen a lot of pedestrian and recreational traffic.
Currently, only a small shoulder exists for people who want to get to the trail heads without having to drive. Using a previously passed bond, the city will construct a new pathway from Bozeman that will go to both the "M" and Drinking Horse Trails. The … (0 comments)

bozeman: Gallatin County Real Estate Update - Single Family Home April 2016 - 06/08/16 03:03 AM

This month, we will compare single family home sales in the Gallatin Valley through April 2016 to last year’s home sales and help reveal trends in the market. Here are a few stats:
2016 sales are currently projected to drop by 21.62% (1,485 in 2015, 388 through April, projected to 1,164 sales in 2016) Dollar volume is projected to drop by 24.05% ($663,572,593 in 2015, $167,993,026 through April, projected to 503,979,078 in 2016) Currently, homes are moving slightly faster than last year, staying on the market 2.06% shorter than 2015 (97 days on the market in 2015, 95 days on the … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman Montana Company Wins Award from US Department of Commerce - 05/25/16 03:34 AM

The U.S. Department of Commerce rewards companies across the nation for making a substantial contribution to the expansion of US exports.
The “E” award, created by President John F. Kennedy, is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive from the department.  
Simms Fishing Products from Bozeman, Montana received the award in mid-May, showing the company’s growth and its consistency in delivering top quality goods.
The awardees this year contributed $2.23 trillion dollars worth of goods and services in 2015. These companies also provided 11.5 million jobs that were supported by exports.
Bozeman becomes more worldly each and every day. Business is not limited … (0 comments)

bozeman: Old Bozeman K- Mart to Be Demolished for New Development - 05/18/16 03:15 AM

The building that housed the Kmart in Bozeman will be demolished. Bozeman’s planning office approved a demolition permit this week as city officials continue to try to attract new development, both commercial and residential, in Bozeman’s Midtown district.
Kmart closed in Bozeman in 2014 due to financial struggles from the national brand. The land under the building was rezoned in early May by the Bozeman City Commission in an attempt to spur more business development in the area.
The demolition permit has approved tearing the building down to its concrete slab. Workers will remove the building material and then fence the remaining site … (0 comments)

bozeman: Study Suggests Bozeman Bring Back Paid Parking - 05/13/16 01:39 AM

A studied performed by Oregon based Rick Williams Consulting suggested that Bozeman Montana update its plans for managing parking in its downtown district. Parking demand has increased in Downtown Bozeman, the city’s historic district, due to new development and new visitor’s being attracted to the area.
Bozeman will need to develop a strategy for parking along Main Street and the rest of downtown if it wants to keep the area a convenient place to eat, shop and find entertainment.
As Bozeman grows, existing parking lots might be used for infill development. A precedent has already been set in Midtown Bozeman to favor commercial … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman Will Pay 7.5 Million to Settle Landfill Suit - 05/10/16 03:41 AM

A settlement has been reached between the City of Bozeman and disgruntled residents in Bridger Creek Phase 3. The lawsuit, filed by 22 property owners in the neighborhood, came in reaction to the discovery of gases leaking into homes from the nearby landfill.
Bozeman City Commissioners approved to settle with the home owners for $7.5 million. The settlement will also wipe any liability from the City of Bozeman, minus a few outstanding lawsuits also affiliated with the landfill leak. Taxpayers will pay $750,000 for the case, while 2.5 million will be paid by Golf Course Partners (developers of nearby Bridger Creek Golf … (0 comments)

bozeman: New Runway and New Airline Coming to Bozeman/Yellowstone Airport - 05/04/16 03:32 AM

Bozeman will be the first airport in Montana to officially service American Airline flights. Starting in June, the airline will start servicing a direct flight from Bozeman, Montana to Dallas, Texas. Based on how the experiment goes, American Airlines hopes to expand into other Montana cities, as well as increase Bozeman’s travel options. Bozeman's airport had more than a million visitors last year.
By adding an entirely new airline with additional direct flight options will increase a traveler’s ability to get to Bozeman. Bozeman’s tourism industry has lead to many visitors becoming permanent residents. Yellowstone has broken its visitor record in subsequent … (0 comments)

bozeman: Montana State helps Bozeman Update Historic Home List - 04/28/16 02:47 AM

Montana State University architecture students helped survey Bozeman’s historic district and Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, inputting and updating the city’s historic homes in the area.  Students looked at over 500 homes and structures nearby campus and then logged their findings to help Bozeman determine what changes, if any, they will make to Bozeman’s historic district regulations.
Currently, the historic district and the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District both require residents to file for certificates of appropriateness when renovating their home, particularly its exterior. Rising home prices, a booming economy and bureaucratic slow down have lead City Commissioners to OK plans to revise the … (0 comments)

bozeman: Northwestern Energy and Bozeman Green Light Solar Project - 04/27/16 02:41 AM

Bozeman will begin providing solar power to residents on the grid, thanks to an agreement between the city, Northwestern Energy and a local solar panel company in Bozeman. Ideally, the project will help pave the way for additional solar projects, helping lower utility costs in Bozeman for all residents.
Bozeman will donate land along Frontage Road between Bozeman and Belgrade for the new solar project. Northwestern Energy will invest up to $1 Million for the project, which they will use to research the advantages and pitfalls of potential future projects. As the project is primarily research based, Northwestern customers will not see … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman, Belgrade and Gallatin to Coordinate Land Planning Efforts - 04/14/16 03:18 AM

The Gallatin County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a new committee designed to improve coordination between Bozeman, Belgrade and Gallatin County planners. The Bozeman City Commission and the Belgrade City Council are planning on approving similar measures in the coming weeks.
The new committee has been approved to help the whole valley better address the rapid growth seen in the area in the past few years. Both Bozeman and Belgrade real estate markets have been extremely fast paced and new residents come almost daily to Bozeman or Belgrade.
Currently, incorporated cities like Bozeman and Belgrade are responsible for planning and development within their … (0 comments)

bozeman: Gallatin Valley Single Family Home Sales Through February 2016 - 04/13/16 02:37 AM

This month, we will compare the first two months of single family home sales in 2015 to the first two months in 2016. Here are some statistics:
Total home sales decreased by 15.98% in January and February this year. (253 sold in Quarter 1 of 2015, 169 through February 2015. 142 sold through February 2016.) Total dollar volume decreased by 6.90% in January and February this year. ($104,984,245 in Quarter 1 of 2015, $69,989,501 through February 2015. $65,158,535 through February 2016.) Homes have spent 13.91% less time on the market this year. (115 days on the market in Quarter 1 of … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman Schools Look Into Additional High School Expansion Plan - 04/11/16 03:06 AM

 
The Bozeman School District has delayed a vote to narrow Bozeman High’s expansion plan in light of a new hybrid plan raised in late March. Officials had been wrestling between two high school expansion plans, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. The third plan, if accepted, would try to lower the drawbacks seen in previous plans.
Bozeman had been debating two expansion plans. In the first idea, Bozeman would build a new, fully separated high school. The new school would operate as a separate entity from BHS. This expansion plan would follow the model set by towns in Montana who already … (0 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman to Update Historic District Regulations in Future - 04/08/16 02:25 AM

The Bozeman City Commission approved a plan to adjust Bozeman’s Historic District Regulations in the future. However, the city will not remove any existing rules until a new system has been put into place.
Since 1991, Bozeman has used a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, or NCOD, to regulate where and how residents can update historically significant buildings. Because the district represents Bozeman’s approximate boundary in 1957, many buildings have historical significance to the city and contribute character and cultural significance to Bozeman.
However, in the attempt to preserve history, some regulations might be seen as bureaucratic by some. For example, every homeowner within … (1 comments)

bozeman: Bozeman Book Mobile Ready to Roll - 03/28/16 04:00 AM

 
The Bozeman Public Library has officially raised enough money to purchase their Book Mobile, a mobile library designed to bring library amenities to all Bozeman residents.
The library purchased the mobile libray for $320,000. Originally, the library had hoped to raise $600,000 for costs. The library has raised $400,000, with extras going towards an endowment designed to maintain the vehicle. They received a $300,000 dollar donation in mid 2015. However, $600,000 will eventually be needed to stay within budget. The Book mobile will be 40 feet long, come with solar panels and will be handicap accessible. It will also have wi-fi, allowing … (0 comments)