The Gallatin Valley’s physical and ecological character is substantially defined by three mountain ranges.   They feed three world renowned trout streams, the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers.  Hundreds of miles of Irrigation canals built a century or more ago gave birth to and annually recharge a great many spring creeks, marshes, and quiescent waters teaming with trout and wildlife.  

People in the Gallatin Valley live on an island comprised of beautiful and productive farms, ranches, forests and wildlife habitat.  This wholesome, verdant civilization luxuriates in the ocean of aridity characterizing lands west of the 98th meridian.  It’s an oasis in the “Great American Desert”. 

These qualities of the Gallatin Valley are rare but not unique in the Rocky Mountain West.  Yet Bozeman and its surrounds stand out.  Here are a few reasons.  

Our Gallatin Valley has become a strong magnet for adventurous people with high human capital.   And ironically, the Gallatin Valley is blessed by the absence of high value mineral and energy deposits. Historically in the American West, such resources reward greed driven by the extraction of mineral and energy wealth.  Wholesome, vibrant communities, the kind visitors find attractive, are rare where extractive industries dominate.   

For two generations the Gallatin History Quarterly has described the historical foundations for the Valley’s cultural and economic evolution.  This essay introduces a special issue of the Quarterly (number 4 vol. 42, 2019)   This special issue, our final for 2019, features a community demonstrating a highly productive collection of mutually supporting values.  They are; responsible liberty necessary for creation and innovation, respect for sustainable ecology, and modest prosperity as the norm.  

An additional key to a wholesome living is substantial community involvement.  According to the Montana Nonprofit Association, Gallatin County has a population of 105,000 and 723 non-profit organizations.  That’s roughly seven for every 10,000 residents.  The Gallatin History Museum is a fine example of one that supports its community by illustrating and explaining its historical context.  

Here’s my request to the burgeoning number of Gallatin Valley real estate agents, there are 1135 just in Bozeman.  When selling property to new arrivals, include a gift membership in the Gallatin History Museum.  It will show many of them the foundations of their good choice.  

HERE IS THE INTRODUCTORY ARTICLE IN THE FORTHCOMING ISSUE OF THE GALLATIN HISTORY QUARTERLY  

“Bozeman?  Must be a Chicago hotel.  I’ve never heard of it.”

Four decades ago Jack Cox, president of the Foundation for American Communications (FACS)in Pasadena, California called to discuss a program I was developing at MSU. *  

Here’s the proposal’s overview.  

My colleagues in economics and I would produce a set of seminars to help nationally significant editorial page editors better understand environmental policy.  The emphasis would be on the “romance” sector; parks, wildlands, range and wildlife.  Our innovation was to explain how responsible liberty and modest prosperity can foster sustainable ecology.  

Mr. Cox seemed enthused by our proposal and approach.   This was mainly because in the 1970s linking ecology and economics was alien to conventional thinking about environmental policy.   Now, in part due to work at MSU, this understanding is central to mainstream environmentalism.  

Mr. Cox asked me whether we’d hold the seminars in New York or in Los Angeles.  I said no, they’d be in Bozeman.  “Bozeman”, he replied, “That must be a Chicago hotel.  I’ve never heard of it.”

I told Mr. Cox that Montana State University is in Bozeman and that some of America’s most loved romance lands surround it.  Mr.  Cox then explained that the editorial page editors of national papers and magazines would know nothing about Bozeman, had never heard of it, and surely would not accept my invitations.  

However, he had a suggestion: “If you want to hold the seminars in a hick town pick Denver.”  Naturally, I rejected his invitation.  

Our first seminar attracted editors and writers from Business Week, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, and even the L A Times.  Our seminar received high reviews and the supporting foundation renewed funding.  The seminar series had a highly successful run until derailed by political interference with a university program.** 

Still, Mr.  Cox had a point: Only 40 years ago Bozeman was an unknown town-- unless you followed college rodeo.  Now it’s on many lists of “Top 10 towns”.  Here’s MONEY MAGAZINE in 2017: 

It doesn’t get much more scenic than Bozeman, Mont., a picturesque college town nestled between four mountain ranges and located just 90 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, Bozeman boasts easy access to world-class skiing, fishing, hiking, rafting, and more.

That’s the place we offered to editors and writers interested in environmental issues.  Further, we had an innovative perspective, harmonizing responsible liberty with prosperity and sustainable ecology.   It now seems odd, but these environmental policies were heretical in 1979.  The logic is clear and compelling to those with open minds.  Here is how it works.

Liberty permits and fosters environmental entrepreneurship.  Consider the progress in stream restoration and solar applications.  Liberty also encourages wealth creation over redistribution.   And prosperous people often favor and can afford policies that promote environmental quality.  In contrast, poor people world-wide are more willing to sacrifice ecology for income or basic subsistence.   

Forty years ago, most Greens were allergic to economic thinking.  In contrast, my colleagues and I understood that people’s sensitivity to environmental quality increases with education and income.    This is especially true of rural places blessed with the Gallatin Valley’s qualities of wildlife, scenery, and topography.  

Our population is not a random sample of America.  People elect to live here, often at some cost in foregone opportunities and comfort.  Montana remains the most remote of the contiguous 48 states.  It’s also largely arid having only half the average precipitation of the Midwest.  Further, it long had an extremely harsh climate with subzero temperatures common throughout the winter—which seemed to last months too long.  However, geography is no longer destiny.  

For historical and technological reasons involving communication, culture, education, and transportation, all of the costs listed above have declined throughout the Gallatin Valley area.  Some dramatically.   

Consider the internet, MSU’s $100 million research programs, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Fed EX and UPS.  Gore-Tex for clothing and Tyvek for housing protects from the elements.    A conjunction of improvements has made our valley increasingly attractive.  It’s a magnet for high human capital.  Today’s problems involve crowding, congestion, and fears of losing paradise.  This stands in sharp contrast with towns and counties in our region, the great majority of which are losing population.

Ramona and I enjoy traveling, observing, and interviewing people in our region.  Several towns have environmental amenities similar to ours, White Sulphur springs for example.  Yet, White Sulphur doesn’t attract and retain the high human capital so evident in the Gallatin Valley.  Why? Bozeman: “…also offers a charming downtown area and a surprisingly vibrant cultural scene, thanks to the presence of Montana State University and a number of art and music events like the annual Sweet Pea Festival.”  

The Gallatin Valley also offers good to excellent medical care, especially for a town under 50,000.  Quality attracts quality.  Human capital is contagious and self-replicating.  The boom we enjoy, and fear is not a mere accident.  Rather, it’s the consequence of natural endowments and human capital.  

Here is an oft overlooked blessing: Our highly attractive environment lacks any rich vein of gold, copper, or other precious mineral or energy.  These resources drive and direct local economies for short periods, usually with outside control.  Hence local social and business investments favor brains over bullion or BTUs.  

The results are evident in our top ten rankings.  Dangers lie in the fruits of success.

* fn   A foundation supporting MSU’s institute, the Center for Political Economy and Natural Resources, the Carthage foundation in Pittsburgh also funded FACS.)  

** fn   Gov Ted Schwinden (sp) drank far too much, couldn’t read his after-dinner speech, and received bad press for this remarkable performance.