Posted on 07/03/2020 4:44:28 PM PDT by Freedom56v2
One of my children is considering a move to Billings to take advantage of a good career opportunity. However, no one in our family or circle of friends has been there.
So I would really appreciate any input Freepers familiar with the area can provide!
Thanks much :)
*We have lived in Fargo and one of the kids lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota--may be some similarities for comparison....
North Dakota born and raised here. Grew up in Bismarck, Rugby,and Dickinson. Now in Cheyenne - it is livable.
Get a good heavy coat.
Billings in a college town, which is never good. Montana in general is conservative. I live in North West Montana and love it.
Recently spoke a home appraiser friend who said he has never been this busy. Sadly it is NY, NJ, OR, IL and CA license plates. They are paying full asking price. I suggested he should tell them houses really are in bad condition.
Gunner
Not sure where your home appraiser friend is located...Are you saying out-of-staters from IL NJ NY are moving to Billings?
Hence the appeal ;)
“Billings is in a college town, which is never good.”
My wife grew up in small town area in Illinois, where democrats were considered to be strangers or outcasts, including one even after he moved to Billings.
He fit right in at the university. Basically, his former friends in Illinois stopped calling him and receiving his calls. He would tear into them like they were criminals.
His mother and my wife’s mother were good friends until his mother would go ballistic democrat on phone calls or in person on visits. Finally my MIL, told her not to call nor visit.
Basically, this liberal guy was shut out’/shunned by all past friends and family members, he grew up with.
Many of my friends who worked in the woods went to Williston to work. They said that by the time you figured out all your expenses, you made less than minimum wage.
Took three hours to get to town from just outside of town.
Friend of a friend lived there. Had a beautiful home on many acres, lived to be 99. Her name was actually Billingsley, which meant her ancestors had something to do with establishing the place. I drove through, but did not stop. My impression: beautiful area, very nice town that seemed a good balance of wealthy and middle-class people. I also liked the Kalispell area. Visited a few times with friend who had a house there. Beautiful lake, close to Glacier National Park.
“Now in Cheyenne - it is livable.”
But windy
What EVER you do, DO NOT move to Laramie WY.
The dam places is 35 below in the winter and the wind blows all the time.
It aint the end of the world, but I tell you it is so close you can smell it from there as well as see it.
I spent three months there and I couldnt wait to get to hell out. And I am from the UP of Michigan where we get over 200 inches of snow each years.
Just remember, although the temps might not get real-real cold in Billings, the wind chill is unreal. As are all the front range areas and foot hill areas.
I know two things about Montana.
1. It is COLD in the winter and the winter starts in September and ends in May, with any luck.
2. They named a town JOE, after the San Francisco 49er JOE Montana.
Since so few people live there it HAS to be a nice place...especially if you like snow.
LOL—Like your Large blue font...COLD and SNOW!
Child went to school up in UP (Upper Peninsula, Michigan) ...likes cold...Likes cross country skiing...
Actually Marquette MI (where went to school) is north of Billings—but I suspect Lake Superior may have a mitigating effect on temperatures in MI...
-And the endless wind.....-
I had occasion to spend some time in Langdon, ND during the winter. The cold wind would blow hard directly out of the north for the whole day. The next day it would blow just as hard and cold from the south.
North Dakota born and raised here. Grew up in Bismarck, Rugby,and Dickinson. Now in Cheyenne - it is livable.
Is Cheyenne livable or Billings?
My ancestors settled near there.
Were you there due to some witness relocation thing or maybe punishment of some kind?
I never got past Missouri without dying of dysentery.
grew up in great falls Montana and went to school in billings . its been about 35 years since I lived in billings. the best explanation about what to expect in Montana is that the attitudes and trends of the state are 7-10 years behind the rest of the country... when I lived there it was a lot of real good people. Warning the winters are rough and a lot of people move there live a few winters there then move because they finally experience a super bad winter with the temp dropping below -40 degrees for weeks at a time. my suggestion is to rent for a year before you decide to buy a place. the turn over of people who move there is extremely high.
Get a good heavy coat.
One step ahead here ;)
While living in UP, picked up L.L. Bean Baxter Stadium Down- filled jacket—their warmest!
I bet you were one HECK of a ice hockey player!
I live in the Bitterroot Valley, the banana belt of Montana. Called that because of our temperate winters.
I live over half my life here at 40 degrees or less.
Billings is even colder.
Heck, I been looking at every place out there. Even though I hate sub zero winters.
grew up in great falls Montana and went to school in billings . its been about 35 years since I lived in billings. the best explanation about what to expect in Montana is that the attitudes and trends of the state are 7-10 years behind the rest of the country... when I lived there it was a lot of real good people. Warning the winters are rough and a lot of people move there live a few winters there then move because they finally experience a super bad winter with the temp dropping below -40 degrees for weeks at a time. my suggestion is to rent for a year before you decide to buy a place. the turn over of people who move there is extremely high.
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Thank you...Very insightful!
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