City Dreams, Country Schemes: Community and Identity in the American West

Middle-Class Migration and rural Gentrification in Western Montana

[ 109 ] A newcomer to Missoula made an interesting observation about her neighbors and, in doing so, captured a profound change in community in western Montana. She noted, “Yeah, they moved from Billings, but they were in Chicago before that. And those people are from Florida and Texas. They’re from California. And, next door, they’re from New Mexico. I think I’ve only met, you know, had a long conversation with one person from Missoula.”1 In the past decade the Rocky Mountain region of the United States experienced a remarkable 25.4 percent increase in population growth, the largest percentage change among all the regions defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Such rapid growth has occurred primarily through the migration of residents from urban areas across the United States. The most dramatic changes occurred in the nonmetropolitan rural counties of the Rocky Mountains, where population growth has either influenced or been accompanied by economic restructuring, increased urbanization, sprawl, and a reallocation of resources.2 Past studies regarding this phenomenon have reinforced the notion that an amenity–driven migration is under way in the Rocky Mountain region, appealing to highly skilled laborers, entrepreneurs, equity–rich households, and retirees.3 However, while these studies identified “equity–rich migrants” and “entrepreneurs” as key agents in this rural restructuring process, the demographics of and motivations behind this migration remain less explored, in part due to the macroscale examinations of the migration process. Addressing this omission is important, as the motivations of these middle–class migrants have borne significant implications for the changing landscapes of the western communities they joined and now call home. Middle–Class Migration and Rural Gentrification in Western Montana r i n a g h o s e c i t y d r e a m s , c o u n t r y s c h e m e s [ 110 ] Through the processes of migration and consumption, middle–class newcomers acted as the principal agents of change in the rural restructuring process. The migration of relatively affluent “service–class” or “new middle–class” newcomers employed in the professional or service sector profoundly changed the landscape, beginning a process of “rural gentrification.” British geographers coined this term to describe the profound changes in the English countryside, caused by the arrival of white–collar middle–class newcomers from urban areas, with occupations in professional, executive, administrative, managerial, and various other services. A range of motivations inspired this migration and similar migrations in the United States, but one major cause was the migrants’ perception of the countryside as the ideal place to live and raise a family. Owing to their greater purchasing power, these newcomers greatly influenced the physical and social environments of the countryside through conspicuous consumption.4 The transposed trappings of the culture of consumption brought and continue to bring many changes to the Missoula community, particularly within the local economy, culture, and politics. Community identities were reshaped and resources reallocated. The countryside has become commodified, inspiring a privatization of resources that has often become too expensive for the original residents, leading to their marginalization. Conflicts have arisen between the newcomers and established residents regarding this privatization, housing affordability, and issues of environmental conservation. Rural gentrification has transformed the landscape of Missoula, Montana, and the surrounding region. Population Growth and Rural Gentrification in Missoula The rural restructuring process in the Rocky Mountain region has attracted attention both in popular media and in scholarly research. However, other than a few studies,5 little notice has been paid to the changes in Montana. The state population grew from 799,065 in 1990 to 902,195 in 2000, a 12.9 percent growth. This growth occurred mainly in the thirteen counties located in the splendor of Rocky Mountains in western Montana, while the state’s other twenty–three counties experienced either no growth or a population decline. Among the most affected counties was Missoula County. Its population boomed from 58,263 in 1970 to 96,303 in 2002. Standing at an elevation of 3,205 feet above sea level, the Missoula valley is surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains. The town of Missoula is the county seat, the home of the University of Montana, and the regional center of population. Missoula is well known for its gorgeous scenery , small–town charm, and liberal politics, all captured by Missoula native and m i g r at...