Big Sky

So here is some trivia about Montana.

It is also known as Big Sky Country, although its "official" nickname is The Treasure State for its rich mineral reserves and history of yielding gold and silver. Yes - apparently you can have an official nickname.

It looks a lot like this (snapped from car en route to Yellowstone) - big, wide valleys bookended by
rocky, alpine mountains, populated by dry, brown ranches and a sprinkling of trees here and there.

Montana is in the Western United States - third across from the Pacific Coast: Washington, a sliver of Idaho and then Montana. To the North it borders with three Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan). South is Wyoming, East is North and South Dakota. Here is a basic map to orient yourself.

Montana is the 4th largest state, and has the 48th population density. Main business is agriculture - ranching and cereal growing. So lots of space and not many people. Big land, big sky, big trucks.

Where we are is Bozeman, a university town, the largest university in Montana at 15,000 ish students, established 1893. So we are in an island haven of liberal thinking in a predominantly Republican voting state. This is also a tourist town, being a gateway to Yellowstone National Park in summer and to Montana's skiing in the winter. About half the population is students at the university, so we are about to get swamped in the next couple of weeks as they all decend upon Bozeman.

We see lots of bikes, old brick buildings dowtown main street and university campus, old villas in the older parts of town all the way to brand new styles in the newer suburbs. Plenty of trees and parks. A town that is growing and developing. Also, everyone agrees that Bozeman is very accepting and open to visitors and different cultures and opinions. A haven indeed.