All About Big Sky, Montana

Top 5 Reasons to Move to Big Sky, Montana 

1. Gallatin County is one of the fastest growing economic areas in the northern Rocky Mountains with a vibrant economy, an educated work force, a major research university, a thriving technology and manufacturing sector, plentiful cultural and outdoor recreational amenities, and is a short drive away from Yellowstone National Park.
2. Gallatin County was named as the best place in the Rockies for "healthy living and small business creation" in the recent The State of the Rockies Report Card.
3. There are over 90 high-tech companies in Gallatin County–which is often referred to as the high-tech capital of the Northern Rockies.
4. Big Sky's Ophir school currently offers K-8. Morningstar Learning Center Preschool offers early education and the new Lone Peak High School services 9th-12th grades.
5. Big Sky boasts the Biggest Skiing in America® and is consistently ranked in the top 10 best resorts in North America and the London Sunday Times ranked Big Sky in the top 10 resorts in the world.

   *for a full community guide, click here

About Our Community
While nearby Gallatin Valley booms on a tech-fed population growth, Big Sky's growth burst currently rides a wave generated by tourism-fed industries. Couple this with a highly educated work force, an annual multi-million dollar resort tax collection and even business owners here have a bona fide excuse to take a few "sick days" of their own.

That's why some call Big Sky one of the last best places. A place where traffic jams are created by moose. Where commutes are never more than eight minutes long. Where opportunities and scenery remain uncrowded and wide open. A place to do business or a place to just unwind for a day or two.

About Our School
Where would you choose to start school – if you could do it all over again?
Big Sky's school is well supported by the community. Ophir School has an enrollment of approximately 168 students in grades K-8. The student teacher ratio is 13/1. Besides the core curriculum, Ophir students enhance their learning through partnerships with the Big Sky Institute an extension of Montana State University.

In addition, Big Sky can now offer 9-12 grade learning right here in Big Sky at Lone Peak High. For more information check out the website: www.ophirschool.org.



Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	21°
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	43°
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	74°
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	62°
Average Annual Snowfall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	400 in.
Elevations Lone Peak Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11,166 ft.
Mountain Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7,500 ft.
Meadow Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6,200 ft.
Big Sky Resort Total skiable vertical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4,350 ft.
Total skiable acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	3,812
Moonlight Basin Total skiable vertical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4,150 ft.
Total skiable acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	1,900
Typical Ski Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Thanksgiving to mid-April
Average home price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	$615,000
Average monthly rental price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	$600-$700
The community of Big Sky lies partially in Madison County and partially in Gallatin County. Population estimates based on the 2006 census:
Big Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	2,200-2,500
Gallatin County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	87,359
Madison County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7,426
State of Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	957,861

Big Sky Area Facts

• Year-round population: 2,500-2,700 people

• Just 18 miles to the Yellowstone National Park boundary, 48 miles from the west entrance of the park 


• 10% of Montana remains roadless versus just 2% of the other states in the continental U.S.


• At 147,000 square miles, Montana is the fourth largest state


• Big Sky Resort founded in 1973 by NBC broadcaster Chet Huntley


• Lone Peak Summit elevation: 11,166 feet


• Meadow Village elevation: 6,200 feet


• Moonlight Basin ski area opened in 2003


• Big Sky Resort / Moonlight Basin interconnect offers more skiable acres than any other ski area in America


• The area surrounding Big Sky has more blue-ribbon trout streams and lakes in an 80-mile radius than anywhere else in North America