griz4life said:
The east starts on the other side of Billings, Grass Range, Havre, etc. There is such a thing as Central Montana. If you want to rile up someone from Eastern Montana, tell them you mean Billings when you reference it.
A non native would probably say the state includes Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Glacier Park. Full stop.
I am often amused by those people slamming Billings. I have been here for a long time and know the city and people very well. Is Billings perfect? Is it a sh*thole? Is it eastern or central Montana? Those are all valid questions.
My opinion is Billings is central Montana and not eastern Montana. I used to earn beer money for the weekend by betting ill informed students that I was closer to the highest point in Montana in downtown Billings than in downtown Missoula or even Bozeman if it is highway miles.
Yes, Granite Peak is a short hour and a half away not that you can drive to it. Now pay my five bucks. In fact the second highest mountain range, The Crazy Mountains, is roughly 100 miles west. Having visited, hiked, and explored the Beartooth Mountains I always considered the mountains around Missoula to be mere foothills. Some of us enjoy living in Billings because the mountains are an hour away but so is the prairie. So Billings does have access to more geologic diversity.
Missoula was and is a quirky college town. It has managed to maintain that for decades and is refreshing to visit and I would even consider relocating there. Bozeman is well Bozangeles and has sold out its Montana roots to the money factor. I often call Gallatin Valley California's' Northern Colony. I do business in Bozeman and most of the long time residents are not happy with the change. Unless they profit from it in their busines.
Great Falls really hasn't changed much. It is still heavily influenced by the Golden Triangle and Malmstrom AFB. I have always though it to be the least friendly major Montana community. Plus they don't seem to have many defined neighborhoods.
Kalispell is and will continue to be dependent on Glacier, Flathead Lake and the scenery. Helena? Helena can best be described as old money, new money, lotsa of money or government. I had a friend accept a job with the Department of Commerce and moved there for a few years. He said his impression was that the residents seldom smile.
I had the opportunity to distribute a major construction related product line in Montana. I found that businesses west of the Divide tended to look to Spokane for wholesale distribution and were reluctant to do business with a Billings distributor. In a way that makes sense because of the shipping situation.
One disadvantage Billings does have is it has a high concentration of social service, specifically rehabilitative services. Unfortunately that can bring in those with behavior and even criminal problems. Law enforcement in Bozeman and the rest of California's Northern Colony are know to take street people, homeless and those likely to cause trouble to the bus station and buy them a one way ticket to Billings and sometimes Butte. I have been told this by three members of law enforcement there one of which was in a command position. Come on Bozeman, put your big boy pants on and address your own social problems at home.
Both Bozeman and Missoula have homeless encampment and significant numbers living in RV's. I don't see concentrated encampments in Billings.
Is Billings the sh*thole many claim it to be? It depends entirely on your perspective and what it is compared to. It is the most populous, it has numerous job opportunities in a variety of business and it has been rated as one of the easiest places to start a new business. The health care facilities are great and in fact The Billings Clinic has numerous campuses around the state including Bozeman and Missoula. The only four year medical school is pretty much weathered in construction wise and should open before too long. Yes, it is private for profit but it does fill a need.
The Billings economy is broad based and when a recession hits Billings doesn't feel as much pain as other Montana communities. In my opinion I nominate Bozeman as the true shithole of Montana because it is the least Montana community and has sold out to the influence of money. Gianforte and Daines are good examples.
