Missoula, Montana

Missoula is a city located in Missoula County, Montana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 57,053, making it the second-largest city in Montana. It is the birthplace of Jeannette Rankin (1880 - 1973). The state flower of Montana, the bitterroot, grows only near Missoula. It is the county seat of Missoula County{{GR|6}}. The local newspapers are the Missoulian and the Missoula Independent.

Politics

Missoula has a reputation in Montana as a liberal college town and in fact holds the highest Democratic voting district in the state and was one of the counties with the highest percentages of votes for left-wing candidate Ralph Nader in the country in the 2000 election. In addition to the yearly Hemp Festival, NORML's state office is in Missoula (http://www.montananorml.org/). The Garden City is also home to quite a few community gardens run by Garden City Harvest (http://www.gardencityharvest.org/) and one by MUD (Missoula Urban Demonstration Project, http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/database/813.html), which seek to improve both urban environments and agricultural practices. Missoula is also home to the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center (http://www.jrpc.org/), a WEEL office (a low-income and welfare advocacy group, Working for Equality and Economic Liberation, http://www.weelempowers.org/), and the Western Montana Gay & Lesbian Community Center (http://www.gaymontana.com/).

Related Topics:
Ralph Nader - NORML - Jeannette Rankin Peace Center - Western Montana Gay & Lesbian Community Center

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