Known as the "Garden City" for its dense trees and lush green landscape, Missoula is nestled in the heart of the northern Rockies in western Montana. A community of approximately 85,000 residents, Missoula lies in a mountain forest setting where five valleys converge.
Missoula started as a settlement called Hell Gate when C. P. Higgins and Francis Worden began a trading post to accommodate travelers. The settlement was later renamed Missoula, taken from a Salish Indian word meaning "near the cold, chilling waters."

Missoula serves as a center for education, medicine, retail and the arts. Three major rivers run through the area: the famous Blackfoot River to the northeast, the beautiful Bitterroot River to the south and the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, which flows through the city. Historic Downtown Missoula features classic early-century buildings and offers unique shops, galleries, fine dining, cultural activities and an exciting nightlife.