Day 45 of Mentor on Road, USA

“Let people say whatever they like, stick to your own convictions, and rest assured, the world will be at your feet. They say, 'Have faith in this fellow or that fellow', but, I say, 'Have faith in yourself first'. That's the way.”
-Swami Vivekananda

Mentor on Road has completed the west coast of USA yesterday. Today, on day 45 of Mentor on Road, USA, we would be heading towards the east of USA via north.
                                             

Mentor on Road started driving to Missoula in Montana State which is the 31^st state and the 21^st city of our journey. It’s an eight hour long journey through forests and mountain ranges. We came across scenic beauty of lakes, rivers, mountains, dense forests and huge agricultural lands. 

We also came across a small village where we stopped for a tea break. It was good to meet and have an interesting talk with the village folks who were extremely kind and humble towards us. Also, they enquired about the whole journey of Mentor on Road after looking at our car and the stickers on it. 

                                              

Missoula is a city in the U.S. state of Montana and is the county seat of Missoula county. It is located along the Clark Fork River near its confluences with the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers in western Montana and at the convergence of five mountain ranges, thus is often described as the "hub of five valleys". In 2016, the United States Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 72,364 and the population of the Missoula Metropolitan Area at 116,130.

Missoula was founded in 1860 as Hellgate Trading Post while still part of Washington Territory. By 1866, the settlement had moved east, 5 miles (8 km) upstream, and renamed Missoula Mills, later shortened to Missoula. The establishment of Fort Missoula in 1877 to protect settlers further stabilized the economy. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1883 brought rapid growth and the maturation of the local lumber industry. 

In 1893, the Montana Legislature chose the city as the site for the state's first university. Along with the U.S. Forest Service headquarters founded in 1908, lumber and the university remained staples of the local economy for the next hundred years

Since opening in 1895, the University of Montana has had a major impact on the development of Missoula's economy. In addition to the economic advantage from accommodating the student body, it gave the city an educated workforce not available in most of the state. The university has a close relationship with the city as Missoula's largest employer and with the millions of dollars the school brings into the city through visitors of school-sponsored sporting and cultural events. The university also houses Missoula's only business incubator, the Montana Technology Enterprise Center (MonTEC), and several start-up businesses.

Beyond timber and education, Missoula's economic mainstay has been of one as a regional trade center. Missoula has an immediate trade area of approximately 180,000 residents. Missoula is the hub of its Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Economic Area, which includes the Montana Counties of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Sanders. 

Key businesses sectors serving the area include health care, retail shopping, transportation, financial services, government and social services, education, events, arts and culture. Health care in particular is one of Missoula's fastest growing industries with St. Patrick Hospital and the Community Medical Center already the city's second and third largest employers behind the university. 55% of employment in Missoula is made up of the service and retail sectors. 

Export industries are concentrated in:

• Heavy and civil engineering 
• Construction
• Beverage production 
• Technical services 
• Truck transportation  
• Forestry and logging 
• Wood-related industries 

In addition to nearly 4 million out-of-state visitors annually, which makes tourism a significant aspect of the Missoula economy, Missoula also is home to a vibrant sector of alternative healthcare.

Missoula, often considered the cultural center of Montana, is the location of the state's first university, and an eclectic mix of loggers, hippies, college students, sports fans, and retirees. Community events generally take place downtown either outdoors or in one of the several downtown buildings listed on the National Historic Registry.

After a pleasant journey of 8 hours, we have finally reached the beautiful city, Missoula. Hoping for an eventful day tomorrow.

Jai Ho! (Let victory be yours)