The city of Bozeman, Montana is the county seat of Gallatin County, located in the southwestern area of the state and is the 4th largest city in the state, with a population of 37,280 in the 2010 census. The city was named after the man who was a key founder of the city in August 1864 and established the Bozeman Trail, John M. Bozeman.
In 2001 the city was elected as an All-American City, by the National Civic League. It is home to the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and the State University of Montana. Bozeman is an expanding city, growing from the 6th largest city to the 4th, over the past 40 years. Nearby there are two other major airports and a smaller commercial airport south of the city. Interstate 90 is accessible east and west, the Montana Rail Link and the city, since 2006 has had a free public bus system. The residents of the city have several large software companies, the Montana State University, at least eight high-tech companies, which are based on research or the production of laser optic equipment, and more than a dozen bio-tech companies for employment. Some of the largest and best known companies in the city are RightNow Technologies, Gibson Guitar Corporation, Simms Fishing Products and Mystery Ranch Backpacks. This is also home to IL Lightwave Corporation and Ligocyte Pharmaceutical, Bacterin International. There are also many non-profit organizations that call the city home, such as the American Independent Business Alliance, The Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, Craighead Institute, Eagle Mount for therapeutic recreations for people with disabilities, the Whirling Disease Foundation and several other non-profit organizations.
The outdoor activities, scenery, the university and the lifestyle of the city attract new residents. It is a gateway community for visitors of the Yellowstone National Park, visitors who come to mountain climb, fly fish, and whitewater kayak. The city was selected by Outside magazine as the best place to live in the west for skiing, with an elevation of 4,820 feet and the Bridger Mountains to the north-northeast, Horseshoe Hills to the northwest, Hyalite Peaks north, the Gallatin Range to the South, Madison Range and Spanish Peaks south-southwest, Big Belt Mountains northwest and Tobacco Root Mountains to the west-south-west of the city. The ski areas include Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin and Bridger Bowl Ski Area. Other points of interest in the city are the Museum of the Rockies, the Gallatin Historical Society—The Pioneer Museum, the American Computer Museum, Montana Arboretum and Gardens, and the Story Mansion. There are national parks and historic areas, other than Yellowstone State Park, which are Madison Buffalo Jump State Park and Missouri Headwaters State Park.
Bozeman is a city that has been used in the filming of several movies, including “A River Runs Through It,” “The Wildest Dream,” “Amazing Grace and Chuck,” and “A Plumm Summer,” which also featured two local actors, John Hosking and Ben Trotter. Star Trek: First Contact, while not filmed in the city, due to the influence of local writer Brannon Braga had a starship named the USS Bozeman.
