Missoula County is Montana’s second most populous county, with an estimated 101,417 residents in 2006. Missoula, the county seat, is the state’s second largest city, with a population estimated at 64,081 as of July 1, 2006.1 Other cities and towns in Missoula County include: Bonner-West Riverside, Clinton, East Missoula, Evaro, Frenchtown, Greenough, Huson, Lolo, Milltown, Orchard Homes, Potomac, Seeley Lake, Swan Valley, Turah, and Wye.
The City of Missoula rests at the base of Mount Sentinel, at the hub of five valleys and three rivers: the Blackfoot, the Bitteroot, and the Clark Fork. It is known throughout Montana as “college town,” being home to the University of Montana and serving as a major cultural center for the state. In the fall semester of 2006, the university employed 588 full-time and 221 part-time staff members, and reported an enrollment of 13,961 students.2 Missoula also serves as a regional medical center, housing St. Patrick Hospital and the Community Medical Center.
1 U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program 2 “UM at a Glance” University of Montana website, www.umt.edu/DiscoverUM/AboutUM
