Are you planning on being in Missoula and need to find out a little about the city? You have come to the right place.

Missoula is a local hub and, even though there are close to 68,000 inhabitants in the city limits, it is the second largest city in Montana. The University of Montana, the Missoula International Airport, and various local, state, and federal offices are all found here, as is an interesting collection of Forest Service departments.

University of Montana – established in 1895, it is one of Missoula’s most important institutions. The city has a distinctly different feel depending if school is in session or not. A large football stadium and a basketball arena provide two large venues for entertainment in the local area. The UM Grizzlies play football here and you can also occasional catch large national acts playing in the indoor arena – when the school’s women’s or men’s basketball teams are not playing!

The United State Forest Service – Another important part of the local economy is the many and varied Forest Service departments that are located here. A regional headquarters, the first and still the largest smokejumper base in the country, and a large research center are all found in Missoula.

Logging and Lumber – The city was once the center of a thriving timber industry. Much of that changed in the 1990’s and today there is not a single lumber mill in the local area.

Outdoor adventures – Numerous National Forest surround the large valley that forms Missoula. Many people come through Missoula, using it as a gateway to large wilderness areas, hunting grounds and to get to Glacier National Park. The Bitterroot and the Blackfoot River both come together with the Clark Fork River in Missoula. Trout Fishing is a big draw here.

With all of these attractions and reasons that people have to visit, there are plenty of hotels and motels around town. If you need a place to stay, look around and you should be able to find what you need.

Early History facts

• The Salish tribe were the original Native America’s to live in and around Missoula
• Lewis and Clark passed through the area on their famous trip west
• The first white settlement was in 1860
• The Mullen Road, connecting Fort Benton with Washington state passed through Missoula
• Fort Missoula was established in 1877
• The Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1883