Moving to West Yellowstone, Montana

by btobers · Published June 20, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

West Yellowstone, Montana is situated in the southwestern corner of Montana, near the border of Idaho and Wyoming. The city itself is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley surrounded by the majestic Gallatin National Forest. Its geography is characterized by rolling hills, meadows, and mountains. The climate in West Yellowstone is mild with cool summers and cold winters. In the summer months, temperatures can reach up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with sunny skies and mild nights. During winter months temperatures average around 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit with occasional snowfall.

The history of West Yellowstone dates back to its founding in 1908 when it was established as a gateway for tourists to access Yellowstone National Park. The city has grown significantly since then and now has a population of over 1300 people. Politically, West Yellowstone is part of Gallatin County which votes mainly Democrat in federal elections while leaning Republican at the state level.

Economically, West Yellowstone relies heavily on tourism due to its proximity to the park and its abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities such as fishing, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and camping. Additionally, there are several businesses that cater to tourists such as restaurants, lodging facilities, outfitters for guided tours and activities within the park boundaries.

The city has two public schools: Madison Elementary School which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade; and West High School which serves students from 9th grade through 12th grade. Both schools have excellent academic programs as well as extracurricular activities including sports teams and clubs that help foster student development outside of the classroom setting.

Some popular landmarks in West Yellowstone include Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center which houses grizzly bears and wolves; Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre which offers 3D movies about wildlife; Playmill Theatre which hosts live theatrical performances; Madison Crossing Shopping Center which features retail stores; Earthquake Lake Visitor Center which commemorates an earthquake-induced landslide that occurred nearby in 1959; Hebgen Lake where visitors can fish or enjoy boating activities; Lone Star Geyser Trail where visitors can view geysers erupting every three hours or so; Firehole Canyon Drive offering scenic views along its winding road; Riverside Park & Beach located along Hebgen Lake’s shoreline for swimming or picnicking; Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center offering educational exhibits about wildlife conservation efforts taking place throughout North America; Old Faithful Visitor Education Center providing insight into one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena – Old Faithful geyser’s eruptions – located just outside town limits within Yellowstone National Park boundaries.

Population: 1,177. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,223 (+3.9% change)
Males: 650 (55.2%), Females: 527 (44.8%)

Gallatin County

Zip code: 59758

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.0 years
Median household income: $30,703
Median house value: $171,200

Population by Race

Races in West Yellowstone:

White Non-Hispanic (89.0%)
Hispanic (7.7%)
Other race (4.8%)
American Indian (1.9%)
Two or more races (1.3%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (21.5%), English (10.7%), Irish (9.9%), Norwegian (6.2%), United States (6.2%), French (4.5%).

Elevation: 6667 feet

Land area: 0.8 square miles

Population by Education

West Yellowstone, Montana is a small town located in the northwest corner of the state, near the borders of Idaho and Wyoming. It has a population of about 1,200 people according to the 2010 census. The majority of the population are Caucasian, with a small Hispanic minority. The median household income for West Yellowstone is $34,250, which is slightly lower than the national average. The town has a lower unemployment rate than other areas in Montana and offers many outdoor activities for residents and tourists alike. The town also has several cultural attractions such as museums, art galleries and historic sites.

The main industry in West Yellowstone is tourism due to its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. Tourists flock to the area to experience all that nature has to offer including fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. There are also plenty of restaurants and lodging options available for visitors staying overnight or longer periods of time. In addition to these attractions there are various shops selling souvenirs and local crafts as well as theater performances at various venues throughout West Yellowstone.

For population 25 years and over in West Yellowstone

High school or higher: 87.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.3%
Unemployed: 10.2%
Mean travel time to work: 6.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in West Yellowstone town

Never married: 27.0%
Now married: 52.6%
Separated: 2.7%
Widowed: 1.7%
Divorced: 16.0%

5.4% Foreign born (4.3% Latin America, 0.8% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +267 (+29.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near West Yellowstone:

MADISON VALLEY HOSPITAL CAH (about 61 miles; ENNIS, MT)
TETON VALLEY HOSPITAL AND SURGICENTER (about 65 miles; DRIGGS, ID)
BOZEMAN DEACONESS HOSPITAL (about 73 miles; BOZEMAN, MT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to West Yellowstone:

YELLOWSTONE (about 2 miles; WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT; Abbreviation: WYS)
GALLATIN FIELD (about 76 miles; BOZEMAN, MT; Abbreviation: BZN)
JACKSON HOLE (about 78 miles; JACKSON, WY; Abbreviation: JAC)

Other public-use airports nearest to West Yellowstone:

HENRY’S LAKE (about 18 miles; LAKE/ISLAND PARK/, ID; Abbreviation: U53)
GARDINER (about 37 miles; GARDINER, MT; Abbreviation: 29S)
ENNIS – BIG SKY (about 56 miles; ENNIS, MT; Abbreviation: 5U3)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to West Yellowstone:

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN (about 68 miles; BOZEMAN, MT; Full-time enrollment: 10,380)
RICKS COLLEGE (about 74 miles; REXBURG, ID; Full-time enrollment: 8,670)
IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 163 miles; POCATELLO, ID; Full-time enrollment: 10,057)
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS (about 196 miles; BILLINGS, MT; Full-time enrollment: 3,105)
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY (about 215 miles; LOGAN, UT; Full-time enrollment: 16,384)
WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY (about 246 miles; OGDEN, UT; Full-time enrollment: 12,112)
THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-MISSOULA (about 265 miles; MISSOULA, MT; Full-time enrollment: 11,112)

Schools

Public high school in West Yellowstone:

WEST YELLOWSTONE HS (Students: 72; Location: 411 N GEYSER; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in West Yellowstone:

WEST YELLOWSTONE SCHOOL (Students: 124; Location: 411 N GEYSER; Grades: PK – 06)
WEST YELLOWSTONE 7-8 (Students: 36; Location: 411 N GEYSER; Grades: 07 – 08)

Libraries

Library in West Yellowstone:

WEST YELLOWSTONE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $81,800; Location: 220 YELLOWSTONE AVE; 12,389 books; 429 audio materials; 192 video materials; 50 serial subscriptions)