The Bozeman Area

Welcome to Bozeman, Montana. Nestled in the Gallatin Valley and surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains, Bozeman lies just north of the 45th line of latitude -- halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

The city was established by John Marion Bozeman in 1864 and is the county seat of Gallatin County in southwest Montana. The most recent Census estimate states Bozeman is home to 53,293 people, and the county boasts 118,960 residents.

Much of the county is fertile farm fields; however, top industry employers are government; trade, transportation and utilities; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality.

Bozeman is home to Montana State University-Bozeman, which enrolled 16,841 students in 2021, 53% of whom were Montana residents. One of the area's largest employers, the university provides jobs to more than 3,400 permanent faculty and staff in addition to about 815 graduate teaching and research assistants.

Bozeman Deaconess Hospital is one of the largest private employers in Bozeman, employing more than 2,400 people, and is the primary hospital in Gallatin County.

Montana has an income tax that is progressive, similar to the federal personal income tax, and a property tax that is based on an assessed value (except for agricultural land). As of yet, the state has no sales tax, although some resort areas and hotels assess a bed tax.

Bozeman is about 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park, which lures millions of visitors each year (4,860,537 in 2021). Additionally, Bozeman attracts thousands of visitors every year who enjoy skiing, fishing, hunting and a variety of other recreational activities. The local airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, has been the busiest Montana airport since 2013 and reported 2,020,628 passengers 2021.

Bozeman enjoys a dry climate with lots of sunshine year-round. The average length of the growing season is 107 days, with the last killing frost at the end of May and the first killing frost in mid-September. High temperatures range from 35 in January to 83 in July. One-third of the annual precipitation of 16.23 inches falls during May and June, and the average snowfall is 50 inches.

Surrounding communities include Amsterdam/Churchill, 23 miles away; Belgrade, 9 miles away; Big Sky, 42 miles away; Gallatin Gateway, 13 miles away; Livingston, 26 miles away; Manhattan, 17 miles away; and Three Forks, 30 miles away.