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• Click here for the South Hills Neighborhood Blog.

Missoula Demographics: Economic Characteristics
employment status, commuting to work, occupation, industry, class of worker, income, poverty level

Missoula Demographics: Housing Characteristics
housing occupancy, units in structure, year structure built, rooms, owner vs. renter, vehicles available, house heating fuel, home value, monthly owner costs, gross rent

Missoula Demographics: American Community Survey
sex, age, race

• Find a Home in Missoula
• Find a REALTOR® in Missoula
• Find a Church in Missoula
• Find a Veterinarian in Missoula
• Missoula Public Library
• “Uncover Missoula” – Annual Guide to Western Montana

• Route 1 Downtown / University / Community Hospital
• Route 2 Target / Southgate Mall
• Route 3 Northside
• Route 4 East Broadway Park and Ride / East Missoula / Bonner
• Route 5 Rattlesnake
• Route 6 Higgins / Dornblaser / Opportunity Resources / Southgate Mall
• Route 7 Downtown / Southgate Mall / Wal-Mart
• Route 8 Adams Center / 5th / 6th / Southgate Mall
• Route 9 Target Range / Community Hospital
• Route 10 Mullan Rd / El Mar / Smurfit Stone / Airport
• Route 11 N Reserve St / Expressway / Airport
• Route 12 Downtown / University / Dornblaser / South Hills

Mountain Line Saturday Schedules:

• Route 1 Downtown / University / Community Hospital
• Route 2 Target / Southgate Mall
• Route 3 Northside
• Route 4 East Broadway Park and Ride / East Missoula / Bonner
• Route 5 Rattlesnake
• Route 6 Higgins / Dornblaser / Opportunity Resources / Southgate Mall
• Route 7 Downtown / Southgate Mall / Wal-Mart
• Route 8 Adams Center / 5th / 6th / Southgate Mall
• Route 9 Target Range / Community Hospital
• Route 10 No Saturday Service
• Route 11 No Saturday Service
• Route 12 Downtown / University / Dornblaser / South Hills

• Downtown Missoula Interactive Map

• MCPS School Boundaries Map
• MCPS Walk to School Maps
• University of Montana Interactive Map

• Missoula City Fact Sheet
• Missoula County Fact Sheet
• Missoula County Census Info
• Missoula Community Profile (Missoula Area Economic Development Corp)
• MOR 2009 Missoula Housing Report
• City Comparison Search

• Montana Outdoor Trail Maps
• Hiking – Missoula Trail Guide

• Missoula County Property Information Map
• City of Missoula Maps

For additional information on Learning Resources, go to Make It Missoula

For more information about recreation in Missoula, visit Make It Missoula

 A Carousel for Missoula showcases the musical lure and the artistry of its hand-carved and painted horses, a true testament to Missoula’s celebration of community and culture.

For more information on Missoula’s Arts and Culture, go to Make It Missoula

• Click here for the University Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Target Range Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the South 39th Street Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Rose Park Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Riverfront Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Rattlesnake Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Northside-Westside Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Mullan Road Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Miller Creek Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Lewis & Clark Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Blog.

• Click here for the Grant Creek Neighborhood Blog.

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• Click here for the Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood Blog

• Click here for the Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood Blog.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

• Click here for the River Road Neighborhood Blog

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

• Click here for the East Missoula Neighborhood Blog

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

The Little White Schoolhouse is as much a part of the Target Range Neighborhood as is the Bitterroot River. It is one of the oldest schools in Montana and was used as a school from 1893 up until the 1990′s. In front of the schoolhouse stands a stately cottonwood, about 86 feet tall. It’s the only remaining tree from a much larger grove that once shaded the school grounds and is more than 100 years old. Sadly the tree isn’t fairing well and the neighborhood is preparing to say its goodbyes to this landmark. Read more about the schoolhouse and the tree here.

During prohibition, an alleged speakeasy called the Pepperpot existed in the old Kelly family home (as in Kelly island). Rumor had it that soldiers from Fort Missoula would truck the illicit alcohol under crates of strawberries, feigning a very special delivery indeed. Today the house is still known as the Pepperpot and Target Range history groups are working on gathering the facts and the legends surrounding the neighborhood’s underground past. Read more about other historical landmarks in the Target Range Neighborhood here.

Target Range’s rural respite remains fairly peaceful, although the neighborhood picks up when the school bells ring. Of course foot traffic increases during the Missoula Marathon too, but other than that it’s pretty quiet. Target Range neighbors happily share in their good fortune of living extremely close to the convergence of the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. They even have their own access point to Kelly Island. Kids here grow up learning about the natural world that resides right in their own backyard. Neighbors can also cross the historic one-lane bridge to get to the Blue Mountain Recreation Area. This is a well-used system of trails that is extremely popular for off-leash dog walking. Birdwatchers and nature lovers in the area will be amazed by the 80-acre Tower Street Open Space Park. This land was placed under protection as part of Missoula’s open space effort in 2001 to preserve the riparian area along the Clark Fork, which is rich with cottonwood, aspen, and willows, and provides bird and wildlife habitat. To preserve the agricultural heritage of the area, some residents are involved with Land Link Montana. This organization works to make viable the prospects of farming and ranching for the next generation in order to continue the legacy of a successful agricultural industry within the state.

The sporting life plays a big role in the Target Range Neighborhood. Many anglers and hunters enjoy the proximity of the rivers and the public hunting lands nearby. For organized athletics, Target Range is a destination, particularly for aspiring major leaguers taking to the diamond at the Westside Little League fields and the American Legion fields near Spurgin Park. Horse enthusiasts can ride at the 100-acre Missoula Equestrian Park on 42nd Street. Run by the Missoula Horsemen’s Council, the park is a non-profit organization with trails, a track, facilities for jumping, and several arenas for riding instruction, practice, and events. The Park even offers a class in backcountry riding for those who like to explore Montana’s wilderness on horseback.

The Target Range Homeowners Association has achieved many improvements to the area, including the installation of a trail system paralleling South Avenue and the restoration of the McClay Bridge – that one-lane crossing traversing the Bitterroot River leading to Blue Mountain. They are also working toward the structural restoration of The Little White School House, formerly the Target Range School. The building still stands, but is in need of repair to be used as a community center and museum. Keeping this piece of history in the neighborhood is crucial to preserving the heritage of Target Range. In fact, another association project is dedicated to gathering historical information and memorabilia of the neighborhood. This includes the history of Target Range’s dairies, information on the old neighborhood families, as well as menus from long ago local restaurants. Another major project that is coming to fruition is the establishment of a farmers’ market at the current Target Range School. There are several large production gardens in the neighborhood including the community gardens on Spurgin and several that are cultivated by Missoula’s Hmong community. Residents of the Target Range Neighborhood now won’t have far to travel for fresh produce and flowers. With all of the activity, the association does an excellent job of keeping residents up to date via their online newsletter, the Target Ranger.

There is quite a lot of hard work that goes into preserving a neighborhood’s character. Target Range residents love their lifestyle and are determined to maintain it. Although it may seem spread out with miles of farm road and acres of land, this is a closely-knit community with common goals and a clear vision.

• N/A

Area Transportation:

• The Target Range Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 9.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.
• Target Range Elementary (Public)

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE: May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Target Range Neighborhood Advocate:

• N/A

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Just across the Missoula city border is a large, historically rural neighborhood where large farm and ranch properties meld with more densely constructed residential homes. Even in these more traditional neighborhoods there is a real sense of country living that is attractive and unique to the Target Range Neighborhood. With very few commercial businesses in the neighborhood, traffic is fairly light. The main transactions that are taking place out this way occur at Dale’s Dairy, the market and local landmark famous for its giant cow out front. You may even encounter a tractor or two on the country roads. Horses graze in pastoral fields. Residents work in their gardens. Weathered, yet stately barns are still in use. Morning lawn mowers move in contrast to farm-scale tillers. Kids play little league, learn to ride Western, and have open land, riverfront, and mountain hideaways as their own playground. In the Target Range Neighborhood, there is a wonderful mix of preservation and appreciation for a collective country life that’s not too far from the rest of Missoula, but still maintains its rural sensibility.

Because it’s known as the South Hills to most, people often forget that the proper name for the 6,000-foot “hill” is actually Mount Dean Stone. But who is Dean Stone – an early rancher, a local climber? The man who has a mountain named after him actually staked his claim to fame in the writing business of all places. Dean Stone was one of the earliest editors of the Missoulian and the first Dean of the University of Montana School of Journalism. Today, in addition to one of Missoula’s most noticeable geographic features, an annual lecture series sponsored by the Missoulian is also named for Dean Stone.

Ranches and farms, particularly in western Montana, may be privately owned land, but the benefit they offer to all is the preservation of open space. Longtime landowners in the South Hills, the Rimels, Lines, and the Hayden family wished to protect the open space that supports wildlife, uninterrupted views, and their own way of life from future development, so that’s exactly what they did. In conjunction with Five Valleys Land Trust and through the City of Missoula Open Space Bond, the families jointly provided 1,000 plus acres into an easement that will be left untouched in perpetuity. Read more about this important initiative here.

If you drive west on 39th Street, you will pass many homes and businesses, built in the architectural styles of our modern era. But there is one structure that stands out as a throwback to an earlier time. A large red barn sits on the corner of 39th and Gharrett and serves as an unofficial gateway into the South Hills Neighborhood. It also serves as a reminder to those who live and visit here that this is part of Missoula’s farming and ranching heritage. There are several ranches still in operation in the South Hills – the Line and the Rimel ranches among them. These family names are woven throughout Missoula history, a part of the rich tapestry of this city. Their large land holdings and active participation in preserving Missoula’s open spaces has helped protect portions of the South Hills from development. Wildlife and native flora remain untouched in these protected areas even in this rather large neighborhood. This feature is something all neighbors can take pride in.

Trails connect neighbors with the open land. The Ravenwood Trail links Gharrett and Meadowwood Lane, leading walkers under the canopy of tall ponderosa pines. Hawthorns, willows, and aspen also grace the landscape. Of course, whitetail deer are a common sight throughout the neighborhood, but birders can also look for mountain grouse, Hungarian partridge, or the often-elusive sign of springtime in the Rockies – a mountain bluebird. South Hills neighbors pitch in to clean up, maintain, and improve the trails that are such an integral part of their hilltop community.

For more spirited competition, there is a disc golf course located at the top of Gharrett. Events at Chief Charlo Elementary School also bring neighbors together. The school sits atop an open precipice offering some of the best views in the neighborhood, which hopefully aren’t too distracting for the students. The school is named for the Salish leader, Chief Charlo, who is best known for his brave resistance to forced relocation from the Bitterroot Valley to Montana’s Flathead Valley in the late 1800s. In the winter months when they’re not in school, the South Hills is a child’s wonderland for sledding. Even after Gharrett Street, one of Missoula’s favorite sledding hills, was paved, kids in the South Hills have plenty of downhill areas to run speed trials.  Golfing residents also live between two of Missoula’s golf courses – Highlands and Linda Vista. Of course their prime location near Russell, Reserve, and 39th Streets at the bottom of the hill provides easy routes to almost anything in town or outdoor recreation options outside of Missoula as well.

The vantage point of the South Hills makes it an ideal place for those who enjoy the breathing room and a feeling of being just a little bit closer to that big Montana sky. Establishing a good balance between neighborhood and nature, the South Hills rise to meet the diverse interests of its residents.

• N/A

  Area Transportation:

• The South Hills Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 12.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

Relocation Guide
Properties for Sale
NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

South Hills Neighborhood Advocate:

Judy Gudgel – judy.gudgel@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

The elevation gain on Missoula’s south side is a distinguishing geographic border separating the Missoula Valley from the Bitterroot Valley. Residents of the South Hills Neighborhood have the advantage of living upon the hillside with views of both Missoula and the jagged and dramatic peaks of the Bitterroots as well. Although locals call it a hill, South Hills residents themselves are on a mountain that climbs to a good 6,000 feet at its tree topped summit. You’ll also hear the area referred to as Moose Can Gully, a name with several different interpretations behind it. Up here, there’s a definite line where residential development stops and open space begins. Historically, these hills were dedicated to the agricultural trade with excellent sunshine and moisture from a mix of weather systems colliding between the two valleys. And well before that, these hills were the shallows of Glacial Lake Missoula that created the flat valley below. Today, South Hills neighbors are happily above water, enjoying the hallmark sunshine and expansive views, as well as the convenience of having everything Missoula has to offer on the valley floor.

The Southgate Triangle Neighborhood was also once part of the Jefferson Grade School neighborhood. The school itself is no longer used for elementary students, but Missoula Public Schools still makes use of the structure. It is now the Jefferson Fine Arts Building and houses several public school musical programs. It is an incredible asset to the schools to have this separate space dedicated to fine arts. And it just may have something to do with Missoula’s distinction as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education.

To channel that artistic energy even further, the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood has joined forces with the South 39th Street Neighborhood to take part in a citywide effort to beautify traffic signal boxes. Artists throughout Missoula were selected to transfer their creativity to what may be among the most mundane staples of our infrastructure – the signal boxes for traffic lights. These utilitarian features often go unnoticed, but by bringing Missoula-themed artistry to them, public works become public art. Read more about the project here.

In the midst of the commercial center near the Southgate Mall, there are residential enclaves that exist at a peaceful, slower pace, despite their proximity to the popular western Montana shopping center. The slanted streets make for safe neighborhoods with low traffic flow. Within the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood there are several green space areas with efforts underway to enhance them even further. Boyd Park is expanding its playground and installing a covered picnic structure. There is also McLeod Park on Kent Avenue, with basketball courts and an open play area. Bellevue Park, located near the Bellevue neighborhood, serves as an ideal gathering space for many of the nearby residents. Smaller triangular patches of land also exist in this neighborhood. That’s simply the nature of the unusual street layout. Neighbors have made an effort to landscape some of these spaces that are too small to build on or to convert to a full-scale park. These small spots of beauty add to the unique shape of the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood.

There was a time when very little existed in the Triangle except the shape itself, which is formed by the railroad tracks and Brooks. Today, Missoula’s trail system parallels the railroad tracks, making it easy and safe for walkers and bikers to get downtown or to the University. Before there was much on this side of town, there was still a recreational outlet for Missoula’s golf community at the Missoula Country Club. The club’s private 18-hole championship golf course is very close to the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood and continues to support a large membership within the community. The convenient access to all of Missoula’s recreation opportunities, most notably Highway 93 to the Bitterroot Valley, makes the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood a good jumping off point for outdoor activity.

The neighborhood also offers a major destination to Missoula and western Montana. Shoppers descend upon the Southgate Mall at all times of the year. Christmas, of course, brings Santa to the mall and is a particularly busy season. Easter is hopping too, especially when the Easter Bunny makes an appearance for photo ops with the kids. One day out of the year though, the mall gets even more attention from people who aren’t even setting foot inside. The City of Missoula fireworks display on the Fourth of July is hosted annually at the Southgate Mall and can be seen from miles around. In addition to lighting up the night, the event includes music and other entertainment, like the Silvertip Skydivers. Other events hosted by the mall include art shows for school children, a monthly Kids Klub offering a free craft and creativity program, and even classic car expos and a pet parade.

Missoula is a highly involved community with many strong non-profit organizations. Interestingly enough three of them are located within the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood. The Missoula YMCA has brought families together for decades. Kids participate in YMCA basketball and soccer programs and many residents are members of the Y’s fitness center. The headquarters for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Missoula is also in the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood. Many Missoulians participate in this program to offer guidance and mentoring to youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsors an annual bowl-a-thon that is always a pin-tumbling good time. Another wonderful organization headquartered here is Opportunity Resources Corporate Offices on Russell Street. Opportunity Resources seeks to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities, particularly by providing employment and housing as well as other support including recreation, art, transportation, nursing, and personal care.

So if you were to have the birds’ eye view of this oddly shaped neighborhood, you probably wouldn’t see all of the different features it offers. Those who live here on the ground know that no matter how you look at the neighborhood, you always get a good angle.

• Southgate Triangle Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Southgate Triangle Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 6, Mountain Line Route 7, and Mountain Line Route 12.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Southgate Triangle Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Judy Gudgel – judy.gudgel@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Not to be confused with the other famous geographical triangle, the Southgate Triangle Neighborhood is central to most of Missoula so you’ll never feel lost. Nor will you be at a loss for things to do. There is a little of everything in this neighborhood, from brick homes built in the 1960′s on larger lots to craftsman and bungalow styles built in the 1930′s and 40′s along Brooks Street. There are also commercial businesses. Most notably of course is the Southgate Mall. This triangular neighborhood is a result of Missoula’s strange and intriguing historical layout and the Bitterroot Spur Railroad tracks that run through the area. You can have the quiet comfort of a residential street yet still easily get where you need to be almost anywhere in town. If you prefer to bike or walk, you can access Missoula’s trail system quickly as well. And the diversity of the population from students to retirees means you’re sure to find commonality with your neighbors and fellow Missoulians.

Missoula is a nostalgic town with its traditions as touchstones. One of those traditions is eating at Ruby’s Café on Regent Street in the Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood. Right out of the 1950s, Ruby’s is a streamlined, classic diner. The signature comfort food menu has served Missoula a slice of history along with a side of hash browns while other newer businesses have cropped up around it. It remains a local institution.

Fort Missoula has more than territorial Montana history. The Fort’s past is dotted with some unusual occurrences. In the late 1800s the bicycle was coming into fashion in the United States. The U.S. military picked up on this trend and at Fort Missoula the first bicycle corps was established. The 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps was made up of eight black enlisted men who trained in formation on the military-issued bikes. In 1897, the Corps made a historic journey from Missoula to St. Louis, Missouri some 1,900 miles away. They completed the trek in 41 days, but opted to return by rail rather than pedaling. Read more about Fort Missoula’s Black Bicycle Corps here.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

The Franklin part of this neighborhood gets its name from the Franklin School, one of Missoula’s oldest operating elementary schools. This two-story brick structure was built in 1916. Having seen almost a century of students, it is integral to the city’s heritage. The nearby Franklin Park welcomes throngs of children and their families throughout the year. It boasts one of Missoula’s popular spraygrounds with water play equipment to keep kids cool in the summer. The neighborhood hosts an annual picnic in the park and impromptu gatherings are happening all of the time. Just off 8th Street, the neighborhood came together to create a native plant pocket park where once there was a weed patch. The park now attracts birds, butterflies, and curious onlookers.

There is a real roll-up-your-sleeves attitude here. Active neighbors are working diligently with the city to bring comprehensive sidewalks, curbs, and gutters into the neighborhood. The process is still under way, but the persistence has helped secure grants for neighbors that cannot afford to install sidewalks in front of their properties to be able to do so. Sidewalks contribute to a more connected fabric of community, where kids can safely ride their bikes and walk to school and neighbors can meet and greet one another in the common space. The sidewalk effort is also part of a larger movement in Montana and the nation, the Safe Routes to School program, which is supported by the Montana Department of Transportation, Missoula Bicycle/Pedestrian Office, and the Missoula Public Schools. Another project that has contributed to the movement is the landscaping and improvements made to the one-lane bridge going over the irrigation canal that many kids in the neighborhood cross to get to school. Better visibility and aesthetics help with safety and add beautification for all neighbors to enjoy. Franklin to the Fort neighbors also have the good fortune of accessing Missoula’s trail system to ride or walk downtown or to the University. One-way streets on 5th and 6th make coming and going from the University incredibly easy to negotiate. These transportation enhancements are a tangible extension of the front porch idea of bringing people together.

Now onto the Fort part of the neighborhood. Fort Missoula is at the heart of the city’s history. Established in 1877, more than a decade before Montana gained statehood, the Fort stood as a permanent military post to provide protection for local citizens and settlers from potential conflict with western Montana’s Indian tribes. It was built as an open fort construction, as opposed to being surrounded by walls as was the case with many other forts in the west. This perhaps made it less a symbol of defensiveness and Missoula experienced less animosity between settlers and American Indians than other parts of the state. Today Fort Missoula is a large common area with multiple uses. The past is well preserved at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and 13 historical structures on the Fort’s 32 acres. Many of the buildings along the old Officer’s Row are on the National Register of Historic Places and quite a few are currently inhabited by Missoula’s largest employer, the U.S. Forest Service. Most Missoulians know that the Fort is where you go to get your $5.00 permit to cut down a Christmas tree in the Lolo National Forest. The Northern Rockies Heritage Center, known as Heritage Hall, is also a popular event space with high ceilings, large windows, and a beautiful wooden floor making it a stunning setting for weddings at the Fort.

The Fort is also a place for recreation. Missoula Parks and Recreation maintains  soccer fields as well as a baseball diamond. A gravel walking trail connects the various fields and there is a small playground for children on the premises. The Missoula Batting Cages are located on Fort Missoula Road for hitters to perfect their swings come baseball season. Just south of the Fort is another venue for swinging, although golfers at Larchmont Golf Course are looking for that long drive as opposed to the line drive. In addition to other regular events, Fort Missoula hosts an all-day Fourth of July celebration starting with a pancake breakfast and musical entertainment.

The area between Reserve Street and the Fort is considered a health care corridor for Missoula. Community Medical Center and other physicians’ offices are located here. The Village Senior Residence is just next door to the hospital as well. Ronald McDonald House, Watson Children’s Shelter, and Mountain Home Montana, a residence for young mothers and their children, can be found here too. To fulfill its mission to provide a safe place for children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment, Watson Children’s Shelter is in the process of building a second residential structure and raises funds each year with its extremely popular Bike for Shelter event, which is well attended by many Missoulians. Whether for recreation, celebration, or just good hard work, neighbors and other Missoulians intersect in the diverse and active Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

• Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood Council

 Area Transportation:

• The Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 2

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

•  Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale 
  Note:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Franklin to the Fort Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Anne Jablonski – annej@windermere.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

This neighborhood extends west of Russell all the way to historic Fort Missoula on the west side of Reserve Street. It’s an eclectic mix of homes and commercial businesses. The inclusion of the Fort adds an important element of history as well as open space for recreation.  Talk about a neighborhood that bands together for the common good. Franklin to the Fort neighbors work toward bringing many civic improvements to this constantly progressing neighborhood – most notably a major sidewalk connection project. Families in the area have also made a concerted effort to conform the neighborhood to provide safer routes to school. These projects are helping to transition Franklin to the Fort to an even more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Neighbors come together on beautification and green space projects, while also maintaining the local and well-used Franklin Park. From digging in the dirt in common spaces to working toward making the streets more bike, foot, and stroller friendly, you’ll find that the connections run deep in this busy and vibrant neighborhood.

At the bottom of the hillside on SW Higgins, The Gibson Mansion Bed and Breakfast is a wonderful example of the masterful designs of Missoula’s visionary architect, A.J. Gibson. Built for the Peterson family, the mansion is in the Queen Anne style with both Roman and Georgian Revival elements. It was moved in 1979 to its current location where it has been lovingly restored to its early 1900s splendor. Gibson designed over 150 structures in the Missoula area, including the Missoula County Courthouse and Main Hall on UM’s campus. His distinct style was examined and chronicled by UM art history and art criticism professor Hipólito Rafael Chacón in his book, The Original Man: The Life and Work of Montana Architect A.J. Gibson. The book evolved into a traveling exhibit that was on display throughout the state. Read more about Chacón’s project here.

Not necessarily one for the history books, there was a strange, yet highly anticipated, winter tradition that for many years Farviews/Pattee Canyon neighbors waited for with glee. It wasn’t the first snowfall or the opening of the sledding hill, but something a bit more unusual. Every year a woman living in the rural ranch homestead at the top of Whitaker Road would allow the water from her well pump to freeze into a giant ice sculpture. Kids particularly would come from throughout the neighborhood to see just how the abstract work of temporary art would turn out.

The area that is categorized as the Farviews is very open, hence the expansive north facing views of the entire city of Missoula and the mountains beyond. Just east of these relatively traditional enclaves is the sparsely populated, wild narrows of Pattee Canyon. While many Missoulians flock to the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area for play, not as many live here. Those who do are happily secluded in the pine trees with dramatic topography carved by Pattee Creek itself. Close proximity to the canyon’s trail system is a definite benefit of living here. There’s no loading up the car. You can just get on your bike and go. The bike and hiking trails are turned over to the silent movement of cross-country skiers when the first good snow blankets the forest. Under the canopy of pine, skiers find themselves in an enchanted winter wonderland that goes on for miles, yet is just minutes from Higgins. Another popular trail starts on the south end of Mount Sentinel in the Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood and makes a quick, steep climb up the face. It’s a relatively short, but brutal, first ascent which then levels out for a northern approach to the “M” above the University of Montana campus. The trail also forks east toward Pattee Canyon. Wear sunscreen on this hike – there are no shade trees, but there are views for miles. There is another lesser-known trail system that winds throughout the Farviews as well.

While this neighborhood is among the largest collection of hillside dwellings in Missoula, it still maintains plenty of open space. Above the more densely populated areas of the Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood there are several farms and ranches bordered by Plum Creek and Forest Service land rising up to the summit of Mount Dean Stone. Within the neighborhood there are several parks, including the aptly named High Park off Simons Drive and the smaller Whitaker Park that includes basketball courts and horseshoe pits. Players can attempt to avoid the tree hazards at the Pattee Canyon Disc Golf Course, nationally recognized by the Professional Disc Golf Association. And of course, if you head up Ben Hogan Drive you’ll see ranch land and a giant ham radio antennae on your right and the Highlands Golf Course on your left. If you’ve never played on a hilltop course, the beautiful surroundings may be a little distracting to your game, but you’re sure to return for another tee time.

Golfers, neighbors, and other Missoulians have long made the journey up Ben Hogan Drive to The Keep Restaurant. Diners may choose between the warm and inviting interior dining room or a more casual meal on the patio. The Mansion, a restaurant that once stood in the exact foundation of The Keep, is the namesake for the Mansion Heights section of this neighborhood. In 1992, The Mansion burned to the ground, much to the sadness of the city. The Keep was rebuilt in The Mansion’s exact foundation and has been operating in the same footprint ever since. The original mansion belonged to railroad magnate Thomas Greenough and resided in the Rattlesnake Valley. The home was moved to its hill top location in 1964 with the construction of I-90. Some have reported that the unsettling movement of the home stirred up ghost activity from the spirit of Thomas’ daughter, Edith Greenough.

Of course it goes without saying that there will be stories and speculation about the house on the hill, but Farviews/Pattee Canyon neighbors all share this hillside – the views, the stories, the avoidance of the local deer, and the sense of community.

• Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood Council 

Area Transportation:

• The Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 12

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from adjoining neighborhoods

Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Tory Dailey – tory@montana.com

Missoula’s layout makes a dramatic shift upward above South Higgins Avenue as road grades change and climb and houses dot the hillside. This is the appropriately named Farviews/Pattee Canyon Neighborhood, which at night, appears as hundreds of twinkling lights from the Missoula Valley floor. The homes are a mix of styles, some close together with sloping yards, and some farther up, on larger acreage lots or even hillside ranch land. The elevation of this whole neighborhood proves to be a welcome challenge for hikers and mountain bikers. There are even some brave runners who train for hills in these parts. The vast, steeply pitched terrain also makes for great golfing. Being above town doesn’t seem to affect the connection residents have with the rest of the community. The University, downtown, and the southern and western parts of town are readily accessible from here and many residents are active in the neighborhood as well as the community as a whole. They may have a different vantage point, but Farviews/Pattee Canyon neighbors share in the view of Missoula as an ideal place to live.

Missoula children today owe a great deal of gratitude to University neighbor Rosie Buzzas, a well-known advocate of education within the Missoula community and founder of the Flagship Program. For 30 years she has been the backbone of the program that provides education activities for thousands of local students during non-school hours. Read more about Flagship and Buzzas’ contribution to the Missoula community here.

The University Neighborhood is a place of varying perspectives and it all just depends on how you look at it. One of the more unusual ways is quite literally from above. The Missoula Hang Gliders’ Association has been launching flights from atop Mount Sentinel for over three decades with a brief hiatus in 2007 due to safety concerns with airline flight patterns. The colorful gliders can be seen soaring over the University Neighborhood in the summer months and often land on the University Golf Course across South Avenue. Read more about the flights of fancy taking place above the neighborhood here.

You don’t have to be a student to take part in the college experience. In fact, you don’t even need a car or RV to tailgate. Walk to and from the game and fire up your own grill at halftime. From home, you’ll still be able to hear the roar of the fans at Washington Grizzly Stadium, the seventh largest city in Montana on football Saturdays with upwards of 25,000 fans. If you’re not into waving a foam finger, raising your hand in class might be your thing. UM offers many continuing education classes, including the increasingly popular MOLLI program for students over 50. There are also plentiful attractions for just about everyone, including kids’ events and summer programs, special exhibits at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture, theatrical productions at the Masquer Theatre, and concerts at the University Theater, UC, and the Adams Center. In 2006, the Rolling Stones performed to a sold out crowd in the football stadium.

Campus itself is extremely recreation friendly. Bikes and skateboards intermingle with pedestrians. Just behind the historic Prescott House on Campus Drive, Missoulians and visitors from all over can access the popular trail to the “M” on Mount Sentinel. The “M” trail’s 11 switchbacks leading to the white stone “M” were constructed by UM’s Forestry Club students in 1908. One University Neighborhood resident has even been spotted riding a unicycle down the switchbacks of the “M” Trail. Just off campus, outdoor activity abounds. The Riverfront Trail intersects with the pedestrian bridge on the north side of campus. Nearby on Jacobs Island is the Missoula Bark Park, where dog owners can unleash their hounds and let them swim in the river, run the trails, and meet and greet other dogs. The trail is also a major transportation artery for University residents to access the Clark Fork Market under the Higgins Street Bridge, Caras Park, McCormick Park, and the ball fields.

On the south side of the University Neighborhood, residents flock to Bonner Park, a sprawling green space covering two full neighborhood blocks. Large shade trees create a cool respite for picnickers and audiences of the weekly Wednesday summertime  concerts in the park’s band shell. Playtime in the park is for everyone – there’s a baseball diamond, volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. Griz basketball players have even been known to start a pick up game on the park’s basketball court. Kids can cool off in the splash deck, complete with sprinkler fountains and squirt guns. In addition, Missoula’s REALTOR®  community helped fund the construction of a play structure for special needs children in Bonner Park.

The university isn’t the only school in this neighborhood. Missoula’s oldest high school, Hellgate High is also located here. Hellgate brings students from throughout Missoula and adds another youthful element to the area. Often you will see Hellgate football and soccer players practicing in the fields along the river or the cross country team out for a run in the neighborhood.

Because of its central locale, the University Neighborhood is within walking distance of many Missoula mainstays, including the Hip Strip and downtown. Mountain Line operates a free old-fashioned wood-paneled trolley that picks folks up at Dornblaser Field and gives them an open-air lift to the Farmers’ Market during the growing season. While the neighborhood itself is primarily residential, there are some commercial businesses within its boundaries. Breakfast at Food for Thought on Arthur is a student and neighbor favorite. Along the east side of Higgins, Ear Candy is among Missoula’s best places for vintage vinyl. Edge of the World also sells great wax of the snowboarding variety. The nearby historic Roxy Theater plays host to the annual International Wildlife Film Festival every year as well as other cinema and theatrical productions.

While living so close to a major college campus has its distinct challenges, like traffic and parking during the semesters, the energy of the university more than makes up for it. Whether it’s the annual University Neighborhood ice cream social on University Avenue in the summer or the grand Christmas bizarre at the Episcopal Church in the winter, neighbors gather year-round to share in the community that they love.

• University Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The University Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 8.
• Free Park and Ride Shuttle service runs from East Broadway and South Avenue to the University during Fall and Spring semesters.
• The Riverfront Trail and pedestrian bridges intersect the campus on the north side.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Rattlesnake Neighborhood Liaison:

• Judy Wahlberg – cme2buy@aol.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

In addition to being the setting of “A River Runs Through It,” Missoula is known nationally as the home of the University of Montana. Tailgating for Griz home football games is a Saturday tradition in the fall, as are springtime days of sun illuminating the newly greened trees. Throughout the year, the university brings in cultural events, historic exhibits, major entertainment, and world-class athletics. UM also brings a diverse population to this Northern Rocky Mountain town. Among the beautiful tree-lined streets of the University Neighborhood, residents are happy to share their home with the city’s center of activity. Longtime residents, families, professors, and students inhabit the blocks around the campus proper. It is truly a melting pot of the community. The proximity to UM’s activities is a definite benefit to these neighbors. From evening lectures to concerts to basketball games, if you’re looking for something to do it’s all right there. There’s an open-minded attitude among the neighborhood.  Perhaps it’s all of the higher learning taking place nearby, but the inquisitive nature permeates. And each new season brings fresh delight and a different energy to the neighborhood, from the colorful autumn foliage to the peaceful snow swirls of winter.

Walt Perry’s Farm, which neighborhood kids called “Perry’s Field,” is now the current home of Meadow Hill School. Residents who have lived in the South 39th Street Neighborhood since childhood remember his menagerie of farm animals and the endless hours spent exploring the field, which was also used as a short cut up to Moose Can Gully.

Within squawk box distance to the South 39th Street Neighborhood, the Western Montana Fair is the one-stop showcase of regional food, civic engagement, culture, and entertainment in the summer. In 2009, one of the many exhibitions at the fair was called “Recipes from Missoula’s Past.” Bringing back the nostalgia of Missoula’s flavors of historical significance included resurrecting the recipe for Bug’s BBQ sauce. This popular gathering place for grilled meats was a hotspot for residents of the South 39th Street Neighborhood.

For your average active Missoulian, South 39th is a base camp providing routes to both recreation and relaxation. You can spend the morning riding your bike up Pattee Canyon nearby and the afternoon indulging in a pedicure at one of several salons on 39th Street. You can take the kids to Splash Montana in Playfair Park or you can watch the ducks splash in the Duck Pond near Albertson’s. In the summertime neighbors will congregate to watch the annual city fireworks display at Southgate Mall to the north or listen for the announcer counting down a rodeo rider’s seconds on the buckin’ bronc at the Western Montana Fairgrounds. In the winter, you can bundle up for a Missoula Maulers hockey game at Glacier Ice Rink or drive back up to Pattee Canyon Recreation Area, this time with the cross country skis in tow. And of course, if golf is your sport, you can easily be the first at the tee box at Linda Vista, Highlands, University, or Larchmont golf courses, all within swinging distance. For children and families, the Missoula YMCA on Russell is a great place to stay fit and join in team sports. There are also several options for daycare in the neighborhood and even a place for pets that may get lonely during the workday or need a place to stay while you’re on vacation. Ready Pet Go is touted as a reliable and caring pet sitter.

Several enhancements in the neighborhood have brought the community together including the expansion of the local fire station and the construction of the new Safeway. Because this area is part of the Pattee Creek drainage, there are many irrigation canals flowing through the neighborhood, which can be used to water lawns and gardens in the summer months. These small waterways are also a fun place for kids to test toy boats and other floatie toys. Small parks and the larger Wapikiya Park behind the neighborhood of the same name provide a place for picnics and play. Wapikiya includes baseball diamonds and basketball courts as well as playground equipment. Unofficially dubbed “cattail park,” the small wetland area behind Noon’s convenience store at the corner of 39th and Russell is an unusual yet pleasant place to hear a cacophony of birdsong while you’re filling up the car on your way to work.  In the summer an old-fashioned ice cream truck parks at the corner of 39th and Russell on the north side of the street. One of their specialties is a true Montana original – the huckleberry sundae.

Rainbow Stables on Rainbow Drive is an equestrian facility that pre-dates the influx of housing in this area. In fact, it’s hard to believe that within the last 50-60 years, 39th Street was still a gravel road. Wildlife is not uncommon in this once rural neighborhood. Ducks from the nearby pond behind Pattee Creek Market and Albertson’s often march along the sidewalks or float in the irrigation canals. Deer are abundant as well and motorists should remain alert even in this busy area. Raccoons and even a rock chuck, which has since been relocated, have been spotted here. It’s definitely worth exploring the residential areas off the beaten path of 39th Street to get a feel for this growing and well-situated neighborhood.

• South 39th Street Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The South 39th Street Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 6.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

South 39th Street Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Judy Gudgel - judy.gudgel@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

It’s not inaccurate to say that the South 39th Street Neighborhood is in the right place, all of the time. Minutes from local grocery stores, movie theaters, schools, and the mall, everything you need is at your fingertips. Pleasantly located in the southwest corner of town, 39th Street’s landscaped center boulevard is also a thoroughfare to the recreation gateway down Highway 93 into the Bitterroot Valley. Head the other direction and you’ll be in Pattee Canyon in just a few minutes. There are also small patches of wildness in this neighborhood, including a great place to bird watch in an unlikely spot just behind a local convenience store. These are the treasures one can expect even in the more populated parts of Missoula. South 39th is also centrally located to half of Missoula’s golf courses as well as ice-skating, hockey, soccer, and baseball. The level landscape, sidewalks, and bike lanes make this major roadway friendly to the cyclists and walkers sharing the road with motorists. Yards, whether large or small, are a place for residents to enjoy the beautiful Missoula weather and see one another passing by. From young families to students to long-time residents, a diverse mix of people live here, which offers so much to so many calling this neighborhood home. 

In Missoula some family names span history. Since its settlement, Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes has been a family place. One of the oldest families living and working in the neighborhood has ties back to Missoula’s historic Greek community. In the late 1800s European immigrants made their way to Missoula to work on the railroad. A small Greek population made its way to Missoula as well. While many left after the work was complete, some stayed. Among them were Jim and Sam Caras, founders of Garden City Floral. Today, the Caras family is still in the gardening business with Caras Nursery and has risen to civic prominence sharing their last name with one of Missoula’s main attractions, Caras Park. Read more about Missoula’s early Greek history by clicking here.

In just the last 30 years, another population now calls Missoula home. The Hmong community brings a rich and distinctive culture to the city. Many Hmong came to America from Laos after the Vietnam War and settled throughout the states. Missoula’s Hmong community is a tightly knit group known for growing some of the region’s finest produce and flowers, with farms in and around the Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood. Much of their bounty can be purchased at Missoula’s Saturday morning farmers’ markets. 

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

You can really get a feel for the small town Missoula once was when you’re in the Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood. Reserve Street was a rural road and most properties were measured in multiple acres. And this wasn’t that long ago. You’ll still experience an agrarian approach to life here. Sunlight is in surplus in this flat area along the Clark Fork corridor. The ground is fertile for beautiful residential gardens and larger operations. Benson’s Farm was started by Otto Benson and is still owned and operated by his grandson. This family farm and nursery is beloved by the Missoula community. Particularly popular around October 31, claiming your perfect pumpkin at Benson’s is a Halloween tradition. Turner Farms on 7th Street raises more than natural produce. They have turkeys, chickens, and farm-fresh eggs too. Garden City Harvest’s River Road Community Garden is in the process of expanding its volunteer-operated plots near the Clark Fork. On the west side of Reserve Street, Caras Nursery is a staple for the Missoula gardener with its magical greenhouses and gardens. Just walking through will inspire you to flex your green thumb. Christmas at Caras is another enchanting experience, with trees, greenery, and festive décor. Another nursery famous for its holiday spirit is the Pink Grizzly. Christmas wreaths are its specialty and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. They also bring flash to the Fourth of July with a seasonal fireworks stand.

Whether its growing season or not, there are plenty of other pastimes in the Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood. One of Missoula’s newest parks was spurred on by the River Road Community. Missoula Parks and Recreation is developing Lafray Park and soon will have new playground equipment. Active neighborhood involvement in this new green space even extends to the neighborhood volunteers who will be putting together the playground themselves. Even if you’ve been out of school for a while, you can still learn something new. Classes at the Emma Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center on Curtis offer everything from boot camp to QuickBooks classes. Nearby Westside Lanes and Fun Center draws families, friends, and serious bowlers to wear brightly colored shoes and show off their pin-tumbling skills. Residents also gather as they have since 1911 at the Orchard Homes Country Life Center on the corner of Seventh and Reserve, which hosts a variety of regular events including a weekday farmers’ market that many Missoulians may not know about.

The Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood is a place where local commerce thrives. Some of Missoula’s favorite businesses do quite well here. The Good Food Store bustles with activity every day of the week on the corner of Russell and 3rd Street. Along with natural foods and home necessities, the store offers regular cooking classes like cake decorating and sushi rolling. Nearby, Missoulians can enjoy a meticulously crafted pint of beer at Bayern Brewing on Wyoming Street. Owned and operated by Bavarian transplant Jürgen Knöller, Bayern has been the only German brewery in the Rocky Mountains for over two decades and follows the strict brewing protocol of the German Law of Purity established in 1516. The taproom is open daily and the summer draws crowds to the outdoor beer garden with Friday night bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad served out on the patio. In addition to its Fourth Street retail bakery, Le Petit Outre recently located its bulk bakery to the Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood, where some of Missoula’s favorite breads, like Birdman Bread, rise to the occasion for delivery to local groceries and restaurants.  And for those handymen and women involved in home improvement, Home ReSource has established its new dwelling on Wyoming Street.  Home ReSource takes in and re-sells salvaged building materials, keeping them out of the landfill and giving them new life in new homes. Home and community are the life of this neighborhood, so grounded in its rural connection between people and the land. This link continues into the present and future growth of the Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

• River Road Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The River Road Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 9.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  Note:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Jay Getz - jay.getz@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

It wasn’t that long ago that this neighborhood was more apple trees than front yards, but today’s Emma Dickinson/Orchard Homes Neighborhood still bears the fruit of a neighborhood with rural appeal. The Clark Fork River runs along the north side of this sun-drenched swath of land where large commercial businesses exist along with homes and family farms. This is still a growing community, in more ways than one. If you were ever wondering where some of the food and flowers at Missoula’s farmers’ markets come from, you don’t even have to look outside of town. Much of the bounty is grown here. And if you’re going places, getting to downtown, the University, Southgate Mall, and Missoula’s two hospitals is a breeze. Entryways to the Riverfront Trail system are located near this neighborhood, so biking and walking are viable transportation options. Some neighbors may live in the same house they grew up in. Others may be young families new to Missoula. Some still live on large acreage, vestiges of the orchard days. Others live in higher density areas closer to their neighbors. This is a neighborhood that blooms with diversity, blossoms with possibility, and lives on because of its strong roots.

Reclamation and renovation of existing structures are a big part of the Northside-Westside neighborhood’s growth. Across the street from the Zoo City Arts Community Center is the Stensrud Building, a meticulously restored building used for exhibits, events, and gathering space, that just a few years ago might have been slated for the wrecking ball. A “Show Me” Missourian turned Missoulian, Mark Kersting, took on the restoration project and developed the Stensrud into a beautiful community space. Read more about Kersting and his project here.

The Northside-Westside Neighborhood is part of Missoula’s oldest collection of neighborhoods, which also includes part of the downtown residential area. Most of the original residents worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad, industries associated with the railroad, or nearby St. Patrick Hospital. The decline of the railroad, the construction of Interstate 90, the subsequent closure of another major employer, Garden City Brewery, in the 1960s, and then the discontinuation of Amtrak service to Missoula in 1970 dealt a series of blows to this strong working class neighborhood over a period of decades. Despite the hardships, the Northside-Westside Neighborhood has maintained its historic ties and engrained work ethic to this day. While its engine is no longer the railroad, its driving force is building a strong community.

Living here, you’re just a short walk or bike ride to the Farmers’ Market or Caras Park. However, many residents have their own gardens or cultivate a plot in the Northside Community Garden, which is managed by Garden City Harvest, on the corner of Cooley and Holmes.  On a Saturday summer night, you could certainly head downtown to take in a show, but you could just as easily walk to the old Whittier School on Worden for the Missoula Outdoor Cinema. Albertson’s and the Orange Street Food Farm are fairly close, but you can shop locally at the Missoula Community Food Co-op on Burns Street. The Co-op is one of only three all-working-member-run models of its kind in the United States. And of course, you can always hop on the highway and head to Reserve Street to hit the chain hardware stores if you need to buy a rototiller. However, as a member of the Missoula Urban Demonstration (MUD) Project located on Phillips Street, you can borrow or “check out” a rototiller from the Tool Library and put the money saved to other home improvement projects.

That’s the beauty of the Northside-Westside. Residents develop and embrace alternative options close to home. There’s a bootstrap-inspired creativity that pushes residents to not simply come up with out-of-the-box ideas, but to actually see them to completion. There are so many examples on the Northside-Westside that one may wonder if ingenuity is “in the water.” The growing art colony on North First Street has taken old mercantile and warehouse buildings from the railroad heyday and converted them into places of inspiration. The Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC) is one such place where artists and students of all ages can come together in a shared space to appreciate and practice their craft. Around the holidays, the ZACC hosts the Missoula Made Fair where local artists sell their wares to promote locally-made gifts under the tree. The Made Fair makes a come back in Caras Park in the summer as well. Several other galleries line the block, including the Gold Dust Art Gallery. And just down from the ZACC, the Northside Kettlehouse Brewery is practicing the artistry of beer brewing in a new facility dedicated to its canning endeavor. The large taproom space pays homage to the neighborhood’s railroad history, with high ceilings, exposed steel beams, and a railcar bar front. The bar top is a quirky salvage item – the bowling lane flooring from the demolition of Liberty Lanes bowling alley. Art and collaboration co-exist in an even more unexpected habitat as you head farther west. The Clay Studio of Missoula on Hawthorne is the city’s comprehensive ceramic center. Nearby, the Ceretana Studios and Gallery may appear to be an old grain elevator on Sherwood Street, but this collective space is an imaginative gem in this industrial section just off the tracks.

While much of the Northside-Westside Neighborhood development is restoring existing structures, some new projects have emerged harkening back to the style and history of the neighborhood’s roots. HomeWORD, an organization committed to providing affordable residential opportunities built sustainably, constructed The Gold Dust Apartments on First Street using hands-on volunteer help. This building, complete with a rooftop garden, fits with the surroundings, while also showcasing how a new idea can be integrated into an existing community. Beyond the residential blocks, neighbors also enjoy the wilder side of Missoula. The Northside Greenway allows for easy bike access to downtown and the Riverfront Trail. Bikers and hikers can also access the North Hills trails in the Rattlesnake from North Second Street, which intersects with Greenough Drive. In a place where restoration is recreation, the Northside-Westside is built firmly on its unique aesthetic.

• Northside-Westside Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Northside-Westside Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 3.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE: May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Northside-Westside Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• K.D. Dickinson - kdrae52@msn.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Within easy walking and biking distance from downtown and quick access to I-90 from Orange Street, the Northside-Westside Neighborhood moves from urban living into that traditional neighborhood appeal. This section of Missoula was developed early when the mills and the railroad were thriving. In fact, Montana Rail Link’s line bisects the neighborhood, yet the Northside and Westside are connected by both the Scott Street Bridge and the pedestrian bridge.  Actually, the connection runs much deeper than that. While many new residents have moved into the neighborhood, particularly first-time homebuyers and young families, a large majority of the neighbors planted their roots here decades ago. The ties to this hardworking area remain strong, evidenced by the heavy involvement of the community in neighborhood projects and prosperity. Many of the homes here have front porches and people tend to use them. They know and take care of one another in the Northside-Westside neighborhood. They pitch in when a job needs doing and celebrate a job well done. Because of this hands-on approach, the Northside-Westside Neighborhood is known for a do-it-yourself mentality and a sustainable approach to home improvement. Creating beauty at home extends into the neighborhood’s burgeoning art community as well. Efficient and eclectic use of space and passionate neighbors makes the Northside-Westside Neighborhood truly one of a kind.

Upper Miller Creek residents, the city, and the county have come together to give one of the neighborhood’s wild residents a more permanent place to call home, at least during the winter. A resident elk herd has used a portion of the Spooner Ranch to move from the Bitterroot Valley to the north during their winter migration. Working with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the ranch’s owners and the city and county of Missoula have set aside a 207-acre sanctuary protecting a favorite winter range for the 200-plus elk. To learn more about Miller Creek’s elk haven, click here.

The Miller Creek name has taken on a new meaning for music fans in the Northwest. The Missoula-based band, Miller Creek, rocks shows locally and throughout the region. Find out more about Miller Creek here.

Miller Creek is a family place with children’s activities centered around the Cold Springs Elementary School. The original school was built in 1930 and is named for the natural springs that flow just three blocks away. There is a community spirit that energizes the school’s activities and many come out to share their support, particularly at the annual Fall Carnival. Winter brings a tradition that has thrived since the first Miller Creek kid received his first wooden toboggan. Tearing down the fresh blanket of snow on Rainbow Park’s sledding hill is the best way to officially ring in winter in Miller Creek. And when the snow cover begins to dwindle and birds start to chirp again, the annual Nicole Court Easter Egg Hunt welcomes in the springtime. The sun shines longer and the warming earth gives way to green sprouts, then full-fledged plants in many a Miller Creek garden. After that final school bell rings signaling summertime, kids flock to the nearby Spray Park in Linda Vista’s Marilyn Park to cool off from a day of adventure. These parks, officially called “spraygrounds,” are Missoula Parks and Recreation’s effort to keep kids cool in the city’s parks. The spray features are like built-in water guns with on/off sensors that kids can activate. Water treatment, filtration, and the park’s construction on a drained surface make for endless fun for kids while also conserving water.

The Missoula community shares in the recreation activities available in Miller Creek, including access to the Lolo National Forest. Snowmobile and cross-country ski trails are readily accessible and many Missoulians make it a tradition to bundle up and pack in hot cocoa as they search the area for their Christmas trees. In the summer, these trails give over to hikers and mountain bikers. It’s also no surprise to see families and fishermen congregating in the summer and spring on the Bitterroot River beach off Oral Zumwalt Way, just upstream from the confluence with the Clark Fork. Golfers also migrate toward Miller Creek with the first signs of spring. The Linda Vista Golf Course is a beautifully situated nine-hole executive course open to the public.

This is simply how living here is. Residents of Miller Creek live in contentment, surrounded by a rural way of life with fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and winter recreation all nearby. The long-time Miller Creek residents remember the area as less of a neighborhood and more of a collection of farms and ranches surrounded by wilderness. Today you can still experience much of that same feel.

• Miller Creek Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Miller Creek Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 12.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE: May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Miller Creek Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Laura Branson – laurabranson@windermere.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

On the southwestern corner of Missoula, there is a hidden neighborhood tucked behind the commercial intersection of Reserve Street and Highway 93. Drive up a steady draw and parking lots immediately give way to thick vegetation, hearty growth that comes almost up to the road. Every so often, through the leaves and pine needles, you’ll see a driveway or a mailbox. You’ll encounter a fork in the road. Take a right where the trees break and sunshine illuminates horse meadows and large plots of land. You are heading into Linda Vista. Some homes are spread out like miniature farmsteads, but there are also more densely built neighborhoods. Views extend south into the breathtaking Bitterroot Valley. Keep moving upwards and you’ll find yourself at the Maloney Ranch. If you choose to take the left fork and head into Lower Miller Creek, the wooded wilds persist and will lead you to Forest Service recreation land.  Other surprises await you in this neighborhood including kids’ activities, recreation, and a popular golf course. There is something truly special and intimate about this haven beyond the boundaries of Missoula as you may know it. Ranch and country homes complement traditional residential comforts. Neighborhood takes on a different form, yet the Missoula community is alive and well in Miller Creek.

The College of Technology has taken a new look at traditional school lunch. Students in the culinary arts program can practice their skills and serve their creations to the community at large in the Hunter Dining Room located in the COT Administration Building on South Avenue. Find out more about the varying lunch menu offerings and hours here.

Beyond the flashing lights of the Midway, and the temptations of the food booths, there is an authentic charm that echoes through the structures of the Western Montana Fairgrounds. The year could be 1955 or 2005, as you peruse the prize-winning livestock or the showcased local businesses and political candidates in the commercial building. There is history in these whitewashed walls. Although it may not be the bold and sweeping kind, it’s nestled in that important part of all Missoulians, somewhere between fond memory and nostalgia. Efforts are being made to preserve this history by placing the fairgrounds on the National Register of Historic Places. Read more about these efforts here.

Playfair Park and the summertime favorite, Splash Montana, draw adults and kids alike. Playfair’s tennis courts are almost always full and the soccer fields are bustling every day of the week with either youth leagues or adult enthusiasts still looking for a kick. And you can’t miss the colorful tower of waterslides rising above Splash Montana. This newly constructed outdoor water park is managed by Missoula Parks and Recreation and is a landmark for the southeast side of town. In addition to the slides, Splash boasts a relaxing lazy river pool, a shallow area with fantastical play structures for young children, and lap lanes for the serious swimmers.

Near Sentinel High School is Spartan Park, named for the high school’s mascot, with more playing fields and an outdoor track. There are also a couple of lesser-known treasures in the Lewis & Clark neighborhood, including the peaceful duck pond by the Albertson’s on Southwest Higgins. This wetlands area has been preserved among commercial businesses and is home to feathered friends and those with fins too. Neighbors also frequent Lester Park. At one time Pattee Creek flowed by this neighborhood park. The creek is central Missoula’s last truly wild trout stream and contains genetically pure Westslope cutthroats, one of Montana’s native trout species. Restoration efforts are still underway to extend this habitat from Pattee Canyon into town.

Lewis & Clark Elementary has several projects that spark learning beyond the classroom. The Outdoor Discovery Core is a hands-on natural studies area, which includes a water-wise native plant garden, a rock garden, and bird habitats for students to study and understand Montana’s natural plants, geological features, and wildlife in their own backyards. In addition, students raised money and built the Peace Path on the school grounds. Over 700 river rocks were collected on which children wrote their own messages of peace to be viewed by those on the path. Although not directly in the neighborhood, Lewis & Clark residents tend to a community garden plot nearby in the University area. Additional learning opportunities abound at The University of Montana-College of Technology near Sentinel High School on South Avenue. The COT, for short, offers classes ranging from computer technology to radiology to the culinary arts.

Just west of the COT, Lewis & Clark neighbors are within easy walking distance of the Western Montana Fairgrounds, which is currently under consideration for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Every August, fair week delivers the sounds of the rodeo and the smells of the indulgent summer fair food, including the famous Tater Pig or the Viking, a regally named meatball on a stick, sold by The Sons of Norway. Even in the winter months, the fairgrounds are hopping at Glacier Ice Rink, home of the Missoula Maulers hockey team. The ice rink is open for public skating and recreational hockey leagues as well. The fairgrounds have been a central gathering place in Missoula since the turn of the century – the 20th century that is.

In addition to being a family-centric neighborhood, Lewis & Clark is also conveniently close to several businesses, including two grocery stores. A local favorite is Pattee Creek Market, which is known for it’s excellent seafood selection and natural foods. Of course, after a long day of yard work or splashing in the pool, the Dairy Queen in the nearby Rose Park Neighborhood attracts quite a few neighbors. Many residents participate in their own commercial endeavors in the form of garage sales on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the summer and fall. Some folks find themselves in a continuous buying and selling cycle with other neighbors and might see the same items for sale rotating around the neighborhood. The neighborhood also hosts an annual block party to bring families together to celebrate.

Nearby, residents can cross Higgins and easily walk the “back way” up Mount Sentinel, entering at the south trailhead. Further east, they can bike, hike, and cross-country ski in the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area.

• Lewis & Clark Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Lewis & Clark Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 6.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:   May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Lewis & Clark Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Germaine Haberman – germaine.haberman@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

In this kid-friendly and family-oriented neighborhood, it’s no wonder Lewis & Clark Elementary School is the central hub. In fact, much of the immediate recreation was built around the school, including tennis courts, playgrounds, and several soccer fields. Sidewalks connect the variety of homes in this traditional 1950′s and 60′s neighborhood. Everyone seems to be out for a walk. Mixing, mingling, and the occasional leash entanglement just happen as neighbors congregate to enjoy the sunny Montana skies. New parents with their strollers pass older couples who raised their own families in this neighborhood. There’s a strong pride in the primarily owner-occupied homes with families tending to their gardens, landscaping the front walkways, and working on general upkeep. It’s less of a competition and more of a social event to wave a gardening-gloved hand at a neighbor across the way and share a common sentiment in these parts, “Nice day, isn’t it?”

Missoula continues to pay tribute to its formative leaders today. If you walk along the Clark Fork near the white-tented pavilion of Caras Park, make sure you stop to watch kayakers and even surfers practice on Brennan’s Wave. Built as a memorial to world-class kayaker and Missoulian Brennan Guth who died in a boating accident in 2001, the Class 2 white water wave is almost always in use. Paddlers and boarders alike put on quite the performance. Find out more about how Brennan’s Wave came to be by clicking here.

The Heart of Missoula represents the city’s active life quite well. In 2009, Runners’ World magazine declared the Missoula Marathon the best overall marathon in its Readers’ Choice Marathon Guide for 2010. This major undertaking was hatched by Run Wild Missoula, an enthusiastic and growing running organization, often found either setting out or coming back from a run at downtown Missoula’s Runner’s Edge retail store. The marathon, a dream for many years, became a reality in July of 2007. The full marathon starts in Frenchtown and winds its way back into Missoula through the western part of the city. Runners hit the final stretch by crossing the Clark Fork River on the Higgins Avenue Bridge and finish triumphantly in front of the Wilma Theatre. Because of the national exposure, this event is sure to bring more and more visitors to the Heart of Missoula and beyond.

A life of interaction is what you’ll find in the Heart of Missoula. With virtually every option for transportation easily accessible, including several rickshaw services on weekend nights, residents rarely need to drive. Getting out of the car means bustling sidewalks and face-to-face interaction with neighbors and visitors. If walking for its own sake isn’t enough, you can learn as you go on the self-guided Historic Walking Tour of downtown or the Public Art Tour.

For those who live here, downtown becomes an extension of home. The Historic Wilma Theater, which also offers condos and short-term and vacation rental properties, is a living room for cinema. The Catalyst Café & Espresso, Break Espresso, Liquid Planet, or any of the other caffeine dispensaries feel like your kitchen. The Missoula Farmers’ Market and the Clark Fork River Market are your gardens. The Missoula Saturday Market, better known as The People’s Market, could be your closet and jewelry box. Heart of Missoulians also benefit from expanded assets that they don’t necessarily have at home. This includes the thousands of books in the Missoula Public Library and walls adorned with fine art at the Missoula Art Museum (MAM) – both of which are free to the public.

Opportunities for families are brimming in downtown Missoula, and the beauty is, they can be found so close together. If you walk west on Front Street from Higgins you’ll find yourself at the Missoula Children’s Museum filled with interactive exhibits specially designed for that childlike curiosity. From here, walk towards the river and you’ll start to hear the joyful sounds of laughter and calliope music coming from A Carousel for Missoula. This stunning installment to downtown has an equally beautiful story. Today, you have to wait your turn to take a turn on one of the lovingly hand-carved wooden horses, especially if you want a spot on the outer edge so you can attempt to grab the brass ring from dragon’s mouth to win a free ride. Next to the carousel is the fantastic, labyrinthine play structure of Dragon’s Hollow. Various hallways lead to slides and stairwells taking kids on a different journey each time they visit.

For a grown up date night or late night, the nocturnal life in this college town is exciting, yet it’s not overtaken by college students alone. First Fridays are held year-round opening many downtown businesses and galleries up for evening art and activity. Performances at the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) are a wonderful occasion to come downtown. The theater is known best for its little red trucks that bring performing arts education to schools throughout the country and even the world. Missoulians can take in full theatrical productions at MCT’s home theatre, the renovated Central School Building located on Broadway, east of Higgins. Live music can be heard many nights of the week pouring from scene staples like the Top Hat, the Union Club, and when a movie isn’t showing, the Wilma. Downtown of course has a number of famous watering holes depending on your preference – from wine and distinctive appetizers at the Red Bird Wine Bar in the art deco Florence Building to beer, banter, and blazingly good Cajun food at Charlie B’s and the Dino Café.

So while many of America’s downtowns have faded, Missoula’s has flourished. Thanks to a monumental effort by city leaders, community members, and the Missoula Downtown Association (MDA), the Heart is healthy. MDA is tireless in its promotion and improvement of downtown. This includes organizing Out to Lunch outdoor entertainment and food every Wednesday and Downtown Tonight dinner every Thursday in the summer and playing host to the River City Roots Festival, a free concert and street festival in late August.

Among all this activity, there are also some lesser-known attractions that are residential mainstays. If you can’t make the Saturday farmers’ markets, there is a Tuesday evening market located on North Higgins near the Xs. If Caras Park is too crowded, try volleyball, tennis, or frisbee in Kiwanis Park, also along the river. If you want to shorten your journey, always opt for the Riverfront Trail. It takes less time and you never have to search for a parking spot. If you’ve already seen the recent exhibits at MAM, check out the new art on the graffiti wall at the California Street Bridge. And if you happen to be out walking along the river on a beautiful April day, don’t be surprised if a teenage skateboarder yells, “Happy Spring!” as he passes. This is simply the neighborly thing to do.

• Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Heart of Missoula is served by Mountain Line Route 1, with its Downtown Transfer Center located on Ryman Street near the Missoula County Courthouse.
• The Riverfront Trail runs east-west, extending along the south border of the Heart of Missoula Neighborhood.
• Taxi cabs can be accessed throughout Missoula, but are especially popular downtown. Taxi services include:
  • Yellow Cab, 406-543-6644
  • Green Taxi, 406-728-8294

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Heart of Missoula Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Jean Clark – jeanclark@montana.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Downtown Missoula is a bustling center of commerce and activity revered by all Missoulians, but it is also a neighborhood, a home to many residents who relish being in the middle of it all. There are grand historic homes along the east-west streets of Pine, Spruce, and Alder, which are named for native Montana tree species yet lined with other deciduous trees. There are also affordable apartments, high-end condos, and modest bungalows surrounding the downtown proper. Monday through Friday, Heart of Missoulians share their neighborhood with architects, lawyers, business professionals, Forest Service employees, retailers, and restaurateurs. On the weekends people flock from all over to shop, dine, and gather for entertainment. In the spring, summer, and fall the morning farmers’ markets turn over to festivals in Caras Park in the afternoon and evening. In the winter, downtown is still alive with holiday shopping, events, and a homegrown film festival in February. The Heart of Missoula recaptures a sense of neighborhood that pre-dates the 1940′s and 50′s Norman Rockwell vision. This dense area of homes and commerce harkens back to the old Western settlement where community was everywhere you turned and your grocer, banker, and barkeeper were also your neighbors.

The heart and history of elk habitat conservation also lives in Grant Creek. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation grew from the minds of four men in Troy, Montana, who simply could not imagine or abide a land without elk and elk hunting. The notion that started in the trailer of a hunting camp in 1984 has grown to one of the nation’s preeminent conservation organizations. At one time elk lived throughout North America, but as early as the 1700s, their populations began to dwindle as settlement encroached on their habitat. The Elk Foundation is working to restore that legacy by buying and soliciting the donation of land in elk migration corridors to ensure the proliferation of these noble North American creatures and other wildlife species. Visitors to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s headquarters on Grant Creek Road in Missoula can totally immerse themselves in Elk Country at the visitors’ center and walk throughout the 22 acres owned by the foundation, free of charge.

Since 1973, Snowbowl has helped make alpine ski jumping history with its Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championship. The event, held annually the last weekend in February, brings alpine ski jumpers from around the Rocky Mountain West to compete. Spectators from around the region come to watch this gravity defying competition that boasts the only natural approach and landing in the sport and largest purse in the circuit. With camping chairs and sunglasses hundreds turn out annually for this celebration. You’ll know the competition is over when an unknown jumper makes his descent and takes flight over the crowd wearing nothing but his birthday suit – yet another Gelande tradition.  Learn more and watch some clothed jumps here.

Missoulians, at least those who like to strap skis or snowboards to their feet and tear down mountain sides, know Grant Creek as the way to the hometown alpine ski hill. Montana Snowbowl has been in operation since 1961 and is the place most Missoulians learn how to ski or board. Special events, ski races, and the unequivocal “best bloody mary in town” at the Bowl’s Last Run Inn attract locals and some out-of-towners up the hill. But there are plenty of people who live in Grant Creek that don’t ski. Trail systems weave throughout the neighborhood including one that starts near I-90 leading to the Snowbowl Road turn-off, making biking a safer endeavor than negotiating down Grant Creek Road. There is also a biking loop that extends west into the Butler Creek drainage. Mountain bikers, Folf players, and high alpine hikers can take the Snowbowl chairlifts up in the summer time to explore the area without snow cover. Birders too find an abundant and diverse array of bird species, particularly within a protected bird sanctuary near the Grant Creek Ranch. Residing in Grant Creek requires an awareness of living in a wildlife corridor. Sometimes they are not as obvious as the elk and other creatures that gather in the colder months in lower Grant Creek, but wildlife is silently there and so too is cooperation among the neighborhood’s human residents.

There is a small area of commerce that exists in the Grant Creek Neighborhood as well. Because of its proximity to the Interstate, there are several hotels and a gas station. There is also MacKenzie River Pizza, a Montana pizza place popular for delicious and creatively topped pies, some named for local rivers. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is one of Missoula’s year-round attractions for sportsmen from around the country and the world. The national headquarters is based here and is home to the foundation’s offices as well as an interactive museum about the organization’s conservation efforts. While not in the confines of the Grant Creek Neighborhood, the nearby Missoula Smokejumper Base often runs training drills in the Grant Creek area. It’s quite a sight to see these harrowing feats in preparation for western Montana’s fire season.

Portions of Grant Creek are heavily wooded, but others are wide open with views to the south that can extend deep into the Bitterroot Valley. There is a traditional neighborhood feel with sidewalks, ice cream socials, and lemonade stands along Prospect Drive, yet the homes winding up the open hillside afford incredible mountain and valley views. There is also cohesive neighborhood structure with strong leadership from those involved. Play groups, walking groups, dog lovers, and horse enthusiasts co-exist in the shared space of the Grant Creek Neighborhood. There is also an unspoken code of watching out for one another’s families and children and a nostalgic feel of really knowing people. In fact, the same man, along with his dog Pebbles, has been delivering the Missoulian to Grant Creek for years and is known by many neighbors. Even in the wilderness buffer, there is a neighborhood dynamic that harkens back to a simpler time.

• Grant Creek Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Grant Creek Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 11

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here
• Hellgate Elementary School (Public)

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  Note:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Grant Creek Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Chris Squires – chris.squires@prumt.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Northwest of Missoula’s city center is a winding and beautiful drainage that traces the babbling of a high mountain creek. Nature and neighbors co-exist in the Grant Creek Neighborhood. Whether it’s the elk lingering in their winter meadow or the elementary school students, bundled against the weather waiting for the bus, you can see the connection between home and habitat. Open space characterizes this neighborhood, even in the more densely populated neighborhoods dotting the hillsides. Farther up Grant Creek Road the land is thicker forest and homes are more spread out. If you were to keep going, eventually you would come to the border of vast wilderness land that extends far beyond the road, all the way to the Canadian border. Participation in the community is available for those who want to have a social neighborhood connection, but for those who choose a more secluded life that option exists also. While this wild corridor may seem worlds away from the greater Missoula area, it’s really also quite convenient to get from Grant Creek to almost anywhere with quick access onto I-90 at Reserve Street. Neighbors often see each other on the various trails and sidewalks, exercising their dogs, pushing strollers, catching up on the latest news, or simply speculating on the upcoming ski season snowfall. Perhaps it’s due to the natural buffer of wilderness that surrounds Grant Creek, but there is a separate tranquility in this neighborhood that flows like the waters from a pristine and distant source.

Another part of history was recently deconstructed near East Missoula. The 100-year-old Milltown Dam was removed as part of a major environmental clean-up effort. A century of toxic sediment from the mines in Anaconda and Butte had built up behind the dam wall, threatening to contaminate the groundwater and Montana’s native bull trout population. The Milltown Dam removal is the nation’s largest Superfund Cleanup site and is already restoring one of Montana’s signature watersheds to its original greatness. When the dam itself was breached in 2008, observers watched and celebrated from viewpoints above the river as the Blackfoot River flowed into the Clark Fork River after a century of manmade restraint. Read more about this historic event here.

When the Canyon River Golf Course opened in 2006, much of its charm was its somewhat wild surroundings. Proximity to the river ensured occasional interaction between natural inhabitants and the golfers. Just after the course’s opening a resident red fox was spotted swiping stray balls or, more brazenly, perfectly placed shots on the green and scampering away to her yet undiscovered stockpile. On the whole, golfers were pleasant about the pilfering, plus it made for a great golf story to tell their buddies at the 19th hole. Read an “interview” with the infamous fox here.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Like many other parts of town, the river also runs through East Missoula. The Clark Fork makes a gallant turn near the Sha-Ron fishing access and under the Deer Creek bridge before it continues its journey into town. The bend provides a natural border for the Canyon River Golf Course, located on the river’s south side. A walking trail traces this border and is a wonderfully accessible place for neighbors to enjoy the water, get some exercise, and even spy some of the resident birds. Bald eagles are majestic and frequent visitors to this part of the river, swooping high above the water to survey their domain before landing among the tall pines along the banks. Osprey too like this part of the river and share it with plenty of mallards and Canada geese. A familiar blue heron can also be spotted at certain points of the day, balanced on one spindly leg near the whites of a riffle, just waiting for the next trout to come by.

Anglers can access the river at Sha-Ron or find a spot upstream to wade. Following the removal of the Milltown Dam in 2008 the Blackfoot River now flows freely into the Clark Fork just a few miles from East Missoula. It’s not unusual to see trucks towing drift boats or brightly colored fishing rafts up Highway 200 into the Blackfoot Canyon. It’s also not uncommon to see cyclists in wind-defying garb heading that way as well. There are many hunters that live in East Missoula too. In season, you’ll often see trucks hauling recently harvested elk or deer coming down the highway from the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks checkpoint at Bonner. In the off-season, many practice their marksmanship at the Deer Creek Shooting Center nearby. While the highway is a recreation corridor through the neighborhood, some walkers and hikers prefer to take the high road and climb the trails and roads on Mount Jumbo. If you’re ambitious, you can even hike over the saddle and end up in the Rattlesnake Neighborhood. There are other hikes up Marshall Canyon where a now-closed ski area still exists and is used for special events  – including hosting the Hell’s Angels motorcycle rally. And while it’s not as closely accessible to the neighborhood as other walking and hiking trails, the Kim Williams Nature Trail extends from the UM campus all the way to the intersection of Deer Creek Road and the railroad tracks in East Missoula.

When they’re not playing hard, East Missoulians are hard working people, who pour energy into remodeling their homes and beautifying their yards. Mature trees and established gardens grow happily in the sunshine here. Neighbors also enjoy spending time with their families. Extended family members live near one another and people get together to visit, barbeque, and take walks along the river. Neighbors gather for special events at the East Missoula Community Center, including an annual spaghetti dinner where vats of red sauce are stirred ceremoniously with a boat paddle. The Annual East Missoula Easter Egg Hunt draws hundreds to the community to search for eggs and join in a community barbeque. And of course there’s Missoula’s “other” fireworks display that takes place on the Fourth of July in East Missoula. Neighbors who aren’t putting on their own pyrotechnic presentations are sitting out in their front yards in lawn chairs taking in the show. For picnics or play dates, Canyon View Park is a quaint neighborhood respite on a quiet residential street. The playground at the old Mount Jumbo School is also a gathering place with picnic shelters and playground equipment, including swings made from old T-bars that were likely salvaged from the Marshall Mountain Ski Area. The school’s baseball diamond is particularly hopping during Mount Jumbo Little League games in the summer.

From all-American traditions like baseball and fireworks to simple pleasures like petting the friendly neighborhood dog as you walk to the park, East Missoula embodies the idea of neighborhood. It may not be quite as connected to the rest of town, but East Missoulians are still connected to Missoula with a shared appreciation for the beautiful and comfortable place we call home.

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

• East Missoula Community Council

Area Transportation:

• The East Missoula Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 4.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

•  Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale 
  Note:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

East Missoula Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Mark Virts – mark@markvirts.com 

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

Captain John Mullan was a pioneer and explorer, and a West Point-educated topographical engineer by trade. He built the Mullan Road, a major thoroughfare opening up the Northwest for trade and settlement. The stretch through Missoula County paralleled the north bank of the Clark Fork from the Alberton area to the Granite County line and was completed in the spring of 1860. That same year, the town of Hellgate was established along the road. The treaty of Hellgate, signed with the Bitterroot Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai tribes in 1855, ensured safe travel along the road and led to the development of what is now modern Missoula.

When you’re driving on Mullan Road look for the intersection of Deschamps Road from the north. One of the prominent ranching families in this area is still a name heard around town. Antoine and Julia Marca Deschamps settled near what is now Frenchtown in 1870. Of French Canadian descent, the Deschamps family, whose last name means “of the fields,” have made the Grass Valley/Frenchtown and Missoula area home for eight generations. In the 1800s, one of the Deschamps sons, Joseph, bought his brother Gaspard’s interest in a blacksmith shop on W. Main Street in Missoula called Hamel & Deschamps. Gaspard is also known as the one-time owner of the land that is now The Ranch Club residential community and golf course. Over the years, the family grew and more Deschamps migrated from Quebec to settle in the valley. This pioneering family became engaged in civic life in Missoula within state and local politics, the education system, and the arts. They remain involved to this day.

Naturally a grassland area, there are very few trees in the Captain John Mullan Neighborhood except for those along the river. In fact, at one time the area was called Grass Valley. This lack of trees is more than made up for with the unobstructed views. You can see both the “L” and the “M” of Mount Jumbo and Mount Sentinel in the east, Ch-paa-qn Peak in the west, and Blue Mountain onwards to the Bitterroots in the south. The subtle rolling prairie proved a prime place to graze cattle. Today, it also makes for a spectacular golf course located at The Ranch Club, the only links-style course in Missoula. There are several other subdivisions within the Mullan Neighborhood including Pleasant View, Hellgate Meadows, 44 Ranch, Country Crest, and El Mar.

With virtually no commercial pockets in this area, recreation and outdoor pursuits provide welcome distractions. A highly popular fishing and gathering place on the Clark Fork is located at Kelly Island. Families congregate here for summer picnics on the river as do fly-fishing guides taking their clients out for a day of camaraderie and trout fishing on one of western Montana’s preeminent waterways. A series of trails run throughout the island for hikers and birders to explore. The island is a major destination for resident and migratory birds. Don’t be surprised to see an osprey swoop down to break the river’s surface and emerge with a shimmering rainbow trout. Ducks and geese live in the wetlands as does a large heron rookery. In the pastures up and down the river, there have even been pheasant sightings.

Hunting is a popular sport throughout western Montana, but Mullan neighbors have a particular advantage with Deep Creek Shooting Range and public land to hunt nearby. Forest Service land rises into the hills to the southwest where you’ll encounter thicker vegetation and more wildlife, including deer. But if shooting stars are more your speed, the open night sky and low light pollution in the Mullan Neighborhood have drawn together a stargazing group that meets to marvel in the night sky.

The neighborhood built around the historic Mullan Road is still a thoroughfare for those who wish to challenge themselves. The Missoula Marathon, which starts in Frenchtown, comes down Mullan Road, turns onto Kona Ranch Road, and then runs along the Clark Fork on Big Flat Road. As the sun rises over the eastern hills, runners from all over the world share the landscape with curious cows and a few farm trucks in the golden morning light. There is also a trail system near the Country Crest neighborhood for daily fitness use.

Because of the spread-out nature of the neighborhood, there are not a lot of full neighborhood events, although individual areas will put together their own get-togethers. Additionally, the greater Missoula community frequents The Ranch Club’s excellent restaurant and event facilities for a variety of fundraisers, weddings, and celebrations.

Sometimes Mullan Neighborhood residents will be cloaked in a mysterious fog from the river, when their friends in town are experiencing a sunny day – and vice versa. Gardeners in the neighborhood also pay respect to their antlered neighbors. Instead of fighting the deer, many plant decoy vegetation for them to munch on instead of their tomatoes or corn. It’s amazing to live among historic ranch land and wild riverfront and to think that you’re only a few miles from the commercial center of Reserve Street. Keeping a slower pace and cooperating with the outdoors is what living here is all about.

• Captain John Mullan Neighborhood Council

 Area Transportation:

• Mullan Road Neighborhood is served by Mountain Line Route 10.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.
• Hellgate Elementary (Public)
• DeSmet School (Private)

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Mullan Road Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Diane Beck dbeck@windermere.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

If you cross Reserve Street on Mullan Road and head west, you’ll find a collection of neighborhoods and open spaces connected by a well-traveled thread of roadway that traces Montana history itself. Located along the western portion of the Old Mullan Road, this neighborhood, which is named for the famous trailblazer Captain John Mullan, is a large swath of level valley floor once comprised of family ranches. Today there are still rural homes with acreage and even horses and livestock, but there are also several self-contained neighborhoods in this area. Residents are drawn to the western side of Missoula because it offers extensive views of mountains on all sides. They also enjoy quick access to the Clark Fork River that winds along the southern border of the neighborhood. From homesteaders to longtime residents to newer transplants, the Mullan Road Neighborhood is open to all kinds of neighbors that tend to share the desire for a peaceful life away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but close enough to get into the action if they so choose. With nearby recreation on the river and Forest Service land, there is still plenty of exploration to be done in this part of town.

• Rose Park Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• Rose Park is served by Mountain Line Route 7.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Rose Park Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Ann Blair - annblairrealestate@bresnan.net

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

The unusual layout of the slant streets in Rose Park came about in the 1880s when local lawyers Bickford and Stephens decided to establish the new town of South Missoula on either side of the wagon road that connected Missoula with the Bitterroot. The roads in their new settlement were designed to run parallel and perpendicular to the existing wagon road. Judge Knowles, who owned land between the Clark Fork and the border of South Missoula, had no desire to become part of this settlement. When his request for annexation to Missoula proper was granted, he felt strongly that the streets in this area needed to conform to the traditional grid, running parallel and perpendicular to the river. All other Missoula streets followed suit, but the slant streets remind us of a different plan for our city.

The historic home and artist’s studio of another famous Missoulian, Edgar R. Paxson, is easy to spot with its grand turret on Stephens Avenue. A painter and history buff, Paxson spent 20 years researching and eight years painting his most famous work, “Custer’s Last Battle on the Big Horn in Montana.” Completed in 1925, the work contains over 200 figures.

From historical to paranormal, the Rose Park Neighborhood even has it’s own haunted house. On 5th Street and Chestnut, you can find what has been dubbed “the spookiest house in Montana.” Unexplained screams, handwriting on the wall, and an alleged ghost sighting prompted more than home improvement. An exorcism was held that quieted the house for a time. Recent owners gave the Victorian beauty much needed TLC including hand-milling the fish scale shingles. But as for the ghosts, you’ll just have to see for yourself.

The Rose Park architecture ranges from turn-of-the-century to the 1950s. The centerpiece and namesake is, of course, Rose Memorial Park, home to the Montana Korean War Memorial, which was dedicated on June 14 (Flag Day) in 1997. An abundance of rose varieties bloom in this lush and restive park in the spring and summer. Many other green spaces and parks can be found in the neighborhood. In fact, when the 53-year-old Fire Station #2 was being torn down at Plymouth and Mount, a group of neighbors took on the task of utilizing the salvaged materials to create a beautiful pocket park. Today, Triangle Park is xeriscaped with native plants and contains Missoula’s only meditative labyrinth. Rose Park’s active neighborhood council is always busy, but takes time out to simply bring folks together for a neighborhood social during their summer meeting.

While out for a walk, artists young and old might think to bring one of their masterpieces along. There’s an unofficial art exchange wall on Kent Avenue where budding Picassos may hang their work on the fence for display. If anything catches your eye, you can take it – as long as you replace it with a work of your own.

Another popular pedestrian destination shared by many neighborhoods on this side of town is the walk-up Dairy Queen on Higgins, which has been treating Missoula for over 50 years. This mainstay is closed during the coldest months, but it’s re-opening is the social event of warmer seasons. It’s a sure sign that spring is here and summer isn’t far behind. For the far out and funky, Rockin’ Rudy’s is a delight for all Missoulians. The shop has resided in the old Eddy’s Bakery building on Blaine since the 1990s. From humorous fridge magnets and bumper stickers to beautiful jewelry to a wide selection of music, this is the place to find just about anything. The most traveled slant street, Brooks, bisects the neighborhood and leads to many businesses and restaurants on Missoula’s southwest side, including the Southgate Mall. North on Higgins will take you downtown in minutes. Weave through the tree-lined back streets and you can access the trail along the Clark Fork though the Riverfront Neighborhood. If you do get lost in the slant streets, take this tip from a local – streets that are parallel to each other will eventually intersect.

If you were to look at the Rose Park Neighborhood from above, you’d quickly notice a strange take on the traditional grid with streets tilting about 45 degrees from due north. Affectionately known by many Missoulians as the “slant streets,” Rose Park residents are savvy navigators of this alternative layout. Because Rose Park is an extremely pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhood, it’s not unusual for neighbors to be out and about. Long-time residents and young families make up the majority of the Rose Park residents. The slant streets may be a bit intimidating for those traveling by car, so there’s usually very little traffic. A slower, more laid back approach to life reigns here. Sitting on your front porch on a famously endless Missoula summer night, you might hear the sounds of kids squealing with delight or jaunty ragtime piano music drifting out of an open window next door. Your dog’s ears will perk up as a familiar neighbor and their dogs pass by. They’re headed for some ice cream and invite you to come along. Is there really any choice but yes? This is the essence of the Rose Park Neighborhood. It’s a place where enjoying the Missoula life goes well beyond stopping to smell the roses, but, incidentally, in this neighborhood you can do that too. 

• Riverfront Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• Riverfront connects to the Riverfront Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Riverfront is served by Mountain Line Route 10.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Riverfront Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Liz Dye – ekd@blackfoot.net

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

High above the ball field where the Missoula Osprey play on summer nights, a curious fan boasts the best seat in the house. Atop a utility pole a real osprey has built its nest just beyond the outfield fence. The unassuming mascot can be seen swooping in to land or taking flight often during games and is a testament to the shared relationship Missoulians have with our natural world.

The Orange Street Food Farm is mentioned in the lyrics of a song by the band The Decemberists. Front man, Colin Meloy, is a Helena native and went to the University of Montana. You can link to the song’s lyrics here. And contrary to song’s words, bike theft in Missoula is still pretty rare.

Bears are a part of life for some Missoula residents, a manageable part of life, but sometimes these wild and wooly neighbors can be a little wacky too. If you ever received a YouTube link featuring a bear on a trampoline, you’ll be happy to know that bouncing bruin was filmed right here in the Riverfront Neighborhood.

In this neighborhood, it’s all about connections. The Riverfront Trail that runs along the Clark Fork River is arguably the most interesting route between Points A and B in the city. Many Riverfronters use the trail to get to other outdoor venues near home including McCormick Park, the headquarters for Missoula Parks and Recreation. This sprawling green space is home to baseball games and Missoula’s Le Kickball league in the summer and indoor swimming at Currents in the winter. Little ones and new anglers can practice casting in the nearby fishing pond before they hit the bigger waters of the Clark Fork. For seven years, the Missoula skateboarding community endeared themselves to the whole city and took on a monumental fundraising effort to build the Missoula Skatepark (MOBASH) in McCormick Park. No matter the weather, you can always find die-hards negotiating the curves and edges of the concrete terrain that world-famous skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk christened in the park’s September 2006 dedication. Just west of McCormick Park and within easy walking distance of most Riverfront homes is Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, home to the Missoula Osprey minor league baseball team. The construction of this stadium was another civic undertaking involving fundraising efforts of the entire community. Because of this type of involvement there’s certainly never a loss for family activities in Riverfront.

Some of Riverfront’s local businesses also happen to be among Missoula’s most popular. Folks are so comfortable with these mainstays that they start feeling like a second living room. Named with a little tongue-ring-in-cheek humor, the Hip Strip on Higgins between the river and 5th Street is the place to find one-of-a-kind fashion, boutique fabrics, homemade dog treats, and a killer Saturday morning breakfast all within a few sidewalk squares of one another. The Hip Strip also hosts an annual block party, among the coolest in town. Off the main Strip, there are several businesses making happy use of Montana’s abundant wheat products including two bakeries and a brewery. Le Petite Outre has spoiled Missoulians with fresh-baked breads and treats since 1998. Bernice’s Bakery provides a constant temptation behind the counter with cakes and confections that are as beautiful as they are delicious. The Kettlehouse Brewery and Tap Room turns wheat into frothy, liquid gold. It’s not unusual for neighbors to meet in the growler line for a refill to discuss the merits of both the Kettlehouse’s Cold Smoke Scotch Ale and Double Haul IPA. If your kind of “cold one” is better served in a waffle cone, then head around the corner on 5th to the Big Dipper, where unusual and unforgettable homemade ice cream flavors abound. If you need to stock up for a home-cooked meal you can head to the local grocery store. The Orange Street Food Farm, on the cusp of the Riverfront and Rose Park neighborhoods, is a convenient, locally owned store that nostalgically displays the weekly specials in hand-painted signs on butcher paper in its windows.

Local non-profit organizations can also be found in this neighborhood. The Missoula Food Bank is located on South 3rd Street, serving Missoula individuals and families in need. Free Cycles is an innovative program helping provide sustainable transportation for those who can’t afford it. Folks can build and refurbish donated and salvaged bicycles. Payment is doled out by volunteers in sweat equity. So it has also become quite the hang out for budding bike engineers looking to construct a creative cycle. Community gardens are also located in this area and are cared for by neighbor volunteers. The neighborhood continues to work on the western area towards Russell Street. They came together to landscape an area and celebrated with an ice cream social. They were active in the continuation of the paved trail to the California Street bridge, which has increased the aesthetic and access of the trail. There are also efforts underway to revive the Old Sawmill District to attract a mix of residential and commercial businesses to this historic part of town. It may seem as if Riverfront is overflowing in its attractions, but no one is happier to share than the residents of this neighborhood.

The Riverfront Neighborhood teems with life, but that’s really no coincidence. Bordered on its north side by the Clark Fork River, all things in this neighborhood logically flow in that direction. The proximity to the water and the nearby Riverfront Trail system is one of the area’s most distinctive characteristics, but the personal connections run much deeper. Residents are tied to the greater Missoula community because of their location. All Missoulians enjoy the trail system that turns the daily commute into a scenic journey, an afternoon jog into more of a sightseeing tour, and an evening lit by the full moon into a magical family adventure. Riverfronters are no exception. They also take part in local activities near home, like downtown lunch and dinner gatherings and festivals and University of Montana events, all without ever having to get in the car. The neighbors range from the young to the young at heart, the well established and those just starting out. They share a common pride in the aesthetics and diversity of the neighborhood and proudly support the wide variety of nearby businesses that are also among Missoula’s most treasured.

LATEST BLOG POSTS

This is by no means a comprehensive list. We invite you to tell us what Live Missoula means to you. Send your additions to comments@livemissoula.com.

Say Please and Thank You

1. Just do it
2. Say it to Co-workers

Respect All Generations

1. Hold the door
2. Listen to the stories of elders and children
3. Respect the younger generation
4. Be open minded about young home buyers
5. Get to know children of all ages
6. Be a cart-returner
7. Park far away from the store – get some exercise!
8. Respect your elders

Appreciate and Accept Diversity

1. Learn about other cultures in Missoula
2. Understand and interact on professional and personal levels
3. Be patient with older generations
4. Keep an open mind
5. Do not label
6. Attend international festivals/events

Know and Respect your Neighbors

1. Return what you borrow
2. Bake a cake for new neighbors
3. Observe quiet hours
4. Control your pets
5. Welcome students
6. Be a blessing to someone everyday
7. Take care of yourself and your family
8. Get to know your neighbors

Drive Carefully and Courteously

1. Use your blinkers
2. Remember to turn your blinkers off
3. Let one car in ahead of you when leaving a crowded parking lot
4. Stop for pedestrians
5. Bicyclists follow rules of the road
6. Use public transit
7. Carpool

Be a Courteous Pet Owner

1. Obey the leash laws
2. Pick up after dogs
3. Keep dogs from barking

Cherish and Enjoy Nature

1. Put up a bird house
2. Pick up litter
3. Take a walk
4. Plant something

Smile

1. Just do it!
2. Make someone else smile
3. Acknowledge someone’s existence when passing them on the sidewalk
4. Smile and say hello!

‘Live Missoula’ through active support – it’s fun:

1. Support local treasures such as markets (Farmers’ Market, People’s Market, markets at the Fair Grounds and Caras Park)
2. Attend an Osprey game
3. Visit the downtown
4. Volunteer in the community
5. Contribute to charitable causes

Of course, we certainly understand the attraction. So from the local perspective it is up to all of us to preserve the qualities that we identify as important in the face of inevitable change. From all perspectives, we are committed to this special way of life.

Live Missoula:

• Is an initiative to foster community cohesiveness.
• Identifies common ground among community members with different perspectives and interests.
• Is a unifying cause for the community.
• Is a way to welcome students and newcomers to the community by sharing community manners.
• Provides a vehicle for promoting community discussions about how we treat each other wherever we live, work, or play.
• Encourages citizens to promote the actions that make Missoula the kind of community people want to live in.
• Is a way of life.
• Fosters pride in this unique and special place.
• Lets residents set the standard of behavior for visitors and newcomers.

In May of 2005, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS ^® (MOR) initiated a community building program centrally focused on the common reasons people have for living in Missoula. For MOR and for Missoula as a whole, we discovered an essential need to positively and effectively deal with the challenges and embrace the opportunities of our vibrant and growing community. And so, the concept of Live Missoula was born.

This neighborhood is named for its directional relationship with Missoula, but in some ways it’s a community all its own. Through the Hellgate Canyon and the eastern side of Mount Jumbo, you’ll discover an open valley that follows the meandering contours of the Clark Fork River. This is East Missoula. The canyon entryway leads you into an entirely different mountainscape and may make you feel as though you’re miles away from town. Yet East Missoula is an easy three-mile bike ride to the University of Montana and a quick car ride to almost anywhere. With I-90 access, East Missoulians can make it to the airport in 10 minutes and can be downtown in five. There are very few commercial businesses in this neighborhood and most are located along the main thoroughfare, Highway 200. The highway gives East Missoulians a jump on others heading up the Blackfoot River, a mere five minutes away. Residents are laid back and friendly. Expect acknowledging waves from those passing in their cars, from kids riding their bikes, and conversation about the weather or the water levels from fellow dog walkers along the river. Neighbors like to share in the tranquil views and the community that sets them just slightly apart from the rest. 

• Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council
• Upper Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council

Area Transportation:

• The Rattlesnake is served by Mountain Line Route 5.

School Information:

• To find the public schools in this neighborhood, visit the Missoula County Public Schools website and view the Attendance Boundary Maps located here.

Demographic Information:

Missoula County

• http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/Measures/Social/Demographics.htm
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

City of Missoula

• http://profiles.nationalrelocation.com/Montana/Missoula
• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/30063.html

Thinking of moving to this neighborhood?

• Relocation Guide
• Properties for Sale
  NOTE:  May include properties from surrounding neighborhoods

Rattlesnake Neighborhood Volunteer Advocate:

• Lower Rattlesnake: Rita Gray - ritagray@montana.com
• Upper Rattlesnake: Mary Louise Zapp-Knapp - mlzappknapp@lambros.com

Become a Neighborhood Fan on Facebook

It’s not always about growing a great vegetable garden in the Rattlesnake. One resident mastered the art of cultivating a breakfast and baking staple and has now made it her business. Heather McKee learned about raising chickens at Garden City Harvest’s PEAS Farm. She recently purchased and transported 130 birds via eggmobile up the Rattlesnake to start her own egg farm. Learn more about how this former AmeriCorps volunteer hatched her business plan here.

The Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places has made it a wonderful place to walk through. If not simply to admire the variety of architectural styles, it is also an ideal route to take in a breathlessly beautiful Montana day. Read more about the Lower Rattlesnake’s history here.

Divided by ever increasing elevation, the Lower and Upper Rattlesnake have their own distinct personalities. In the “Lower,” you’ll find mill worker cottages and craftsman style homes in the traditional neighborhood grid. Turn-of-the-century architecture and the scenic natural surroundings earned the Lower Rattlesnake a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the Upper Rattlesnake, you’ll discover a more rural way of life in what is called the Wildland-Urban Interface. To preserve the balance between the natural ecosystem and the neighborhood, residents work with local, state, and even federal entities like the U.S. Forest Service to make sure the living conditions are optimal for all residents, human and otherwise. In addition, many neighbors have horses and even livestock.

Beyond the backyard, the Upper Rattlesnake boasts backcountry, bordering 32,000+ square acres of the Rattlesnake Recreation Area and Wilderness, a popular hiking, mountain biking, and camping destination. As Wilderness Outfitter’s owner and 50+ year Rattlesnake resident, Smoke Elser says with a smile, “Missoula is probably the only city in the country that you can take a taxicab to a Wilderness Area.” Anglers can cast their lines in Rattlesnake Creek, which runs from the high country all the way into the Clark Fork River, Missoula’s main waterway. At one time the creek was Missoula’s main water supply. Today, its cold, clear waters are a respite for dogs and even swimmers in some still pools during the late summer months. In the winter, although closed to canines to protect the local elk population, the trails are still alive with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

In the Lower Rattlesnake, hikers can also access the open trails up Waterworks Hill and the Mount Jumbo trail. The landmark “L” on Jumbo was constructed by long ago students of Loyola Sacred Heart High School, located near downtown Missoula. For more wintertime fun, Pineview Park, near Rattlesnake Elementary School, is home to an outdoor ice skating rink, lovingly maintained by the neighborhood.

The Rattlesnake also further reinforces Missoula’s Garden City designation. Below the pine-covered hillsides, sun-dappled meadows make for excellent growing. Ten Spoon Winery makes its home in one such place and produces organic Missoula-made wines with locally flavored names. They also produce much of their own energy by harnessing the power of the sun. The PEAS Farm, which is operated by Garden City Harvest, is an organic farm providing educational opportunities for all Missoulians as well as food for the Missoula Food Bank. Greenough Park is a popular place for dog-walkers, cyclists, and an occasional black bear.

For breakfast, lunch, dinner, or that necessary coffee break, Rattlesnake Gardens, serves as the local grocery, restaurant, and gathering place. Opened in 1998, the Gardens continue to thrive with an annual barbeque that rivals many summer block parties. Other local traditions that may not be as fun, but are certainly necessary, are making sure garbage goes out on garbage day and not before and keeping pet food indoors or in the garage. Rattlesnake black bear populations are manageable as long as there aren’t those human temptations around. This wildness and all its wonder is just part of life here in the Rattlesnake.

On Mount Jumbo’s west side is the Rattlesnake neighborhood – an intimidating name for one of Missoula’s most tranquil places to live. The area got its name from the Salish word for Rattlesnake, “Kehi-oo-lee.” Rattlesnake Creek once powered the Missoula Sawmill, supporting the livelihoods of early Missoulians. Today, you’ll find plenty of open space in the Rattlesnake as well as traditional neighborhood living. Life here is a wonderfully deceptive mix of wild land adventure and convenient access to the rest of the community. That access goes both ways. Many Missoulians and people from around the world frequent the Rattlesnake throughout the year. It is among the best places in Montana for mountain biking and hiking. Equestrians are also welcome to wander these trails and head further into the backcountry on horseback. Fly-fishing and bird and wildlife watching are also favorite pastimes in this plentiful outdoor paradise. Diversity of landscape is mirrored by the varying groups of people that also inhabit the Rattlesnake. There are many longtime residents who have lived here between 30 and 50 years, but younger families and young professionals are moving in. University students also make up the population, primarily in the Lower Rattlesnake, with its quick access to campus.  Living in this valley is about enjoying the outdoors and those occasional wild residents who live here too.

What does it mean to Live Missoula? It’s how we, as Missoulians, experience each day to its fullest in a community that thrives on active participation and engagement. From every neighborhood and surrounding community there is a shared understanding of what it means to Live Missoula. It’s a set of intrinsic values that guides us to live well, to preserve our unique culture, to celebrate collectively, and to grow this treasured place we are so fortunate to call home.

Missoula is a community on the go. The best way to show you who we are is to see us in action. Explore the video and photo galleries to experience the whole range of possibilities right in your own backyard. Meet some of your neighbors and hear their stories. For current information and local musings, read the neighborhood blogs. We also encourage you to post your videos, photos, and thoughts in these sections. This is your Missoula.  Share it with us.

What gets you up in the morning? What do you love to do? We invite you to think about what in life makes you tick. Are you a thrill seeker or a book reader? A marathon or a river runner? In Missoula, how you live and where you live are almost interchangeable. Would you believe us if we told you there really is something for everyone here? It’s true. If it’s recreation opportunities you seek, like hunting, fly fishing, skiing, and hiking, nature’s heart resides in western Montana. Striking a surprising balance with urban activities, Missoula enriches residents with major concerts, theater productions, the symphony, and continuously fresh art exhibits. Giving back is another way Missoulians build their lives here. There are plentiful volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved, from working the box office at the local film fest to pulling weeds at one of many community gardens. Large-scale festivals and small neighborhood gatherings keep people engaged and connected to the greater community. Navigate your way through Missoula’s possibilities and find what you’re looking for.

They say the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  And around these parts, that’s the kind of math that makes sense. Missoula is made up of many different neighborhoods, but all of them together help better define who we are. In our neighborhoods, it’s all about the nuances – the special, one-of-a-kind characters, landmarks, and happenings that allow us to recognize a few city blocks or a couple of winding country roads as home. And in Missoula each distinct neighborhood is part of what defines our city. Neighborhoods here share their resources, ideas, and natural beauty with everyone. Neighbors are open and inviting, practically bursting with pride to tell you about the streets, the parks, and the traditions that epitomize their neck of the woods. But no matter what neighborhood you find yourself in, there will always be that connection back to the greater community. And that’s precisely what exploring Missoula is all about. We’re allowing more people, both Missoula residents and those just checking us out, to find a familiar spot on our many front porches and to get to know our Missoula even better.

Phone: (406) 728-0560
Fax: (406) 549-4307
comments@livemissoula.com

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Melissa Mooney
(406) 531-5440
melissamooney@live.com

We invite you to join us right here, on The Front Porch.

Welcome to a place where you can gather, find commonalities, ease back, and enjoy life as you’ve envisioned it. This is your entry into Missoula and the neighborhoods that give our community its distinct personality. Whether you live on the edge of the next outdoor adventure, thrive best in the creative world of the arts, or find yourself at home volunteering and giving back to your community, we can safely say we have something for everyone. Through photos, videos, and stories, the real flavor of Missoula comes alive. If you already call Missoula home, this is a familiar destination where you can always catch up with your neighbors. For those who want to glimpse what life is like here, there’s no better view.

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