Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana

Anaconda has also recently seen a spike in new residents bringing their entrepreneurial and networking operations into the area. “We have a lot of new people moving into our community that originally lived in some of the larger surrounding communities,” says Everett. “We have a lot of people who were perhaps born and raised in Anaconda and they’re part of the flow that we are seeing move back. A lot of these people have been successful in their lives outside of Anaconda and are bringing some of that expertise and resources to help modernize the town and the county.” Anaconda has a great appeal for businesses and people looking to settle down in a smaller town. First of all, are the housing costs. For example: In Bozeman right now, the median house price is over $500,000. Missoula, the median house price is $390,000. Whereas, in Anaconda the median house price is under $200,000 – so much more feasible and attractive than the surrounding again. Everett acknowledges, “Most of that’s been cleaned up and we are starting to rejuvenate our industrial areas. We have a big garage door manufacturer coming into town this year that will begin their construction sometime soon. And we brought in Intercontinental Truck Body, which employs quite a few people. They are a phenomenal company that came to town about a year and a half ago. So, our industrial park is starting to boom again.” Other businesses are also thriving across the county, with new ventures opening in Anaconda’s recently revitalized downtown and a newly rebuilt hospital – the town’s largest employer. “We have a new brewery that came into one of the old classic buildings in town and they completely re-did the inside,” Everett says. “And now we have one of the coolest looking breweries you’ve ever seen. It’s an 1885 building with big open ceilings. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”