Do Native Montanans Have A Chip On Their Shoulder?

More people have recently discovered Montana and fallen in love with the world's Last Best Place.

Places like Bozeman and Missoula have seen a massive boom in new residences, and the trend is not slowing down.

This recent influx of people to the Treasure State has left me wondering if native Montanans have a bit of a chip on their shoulder regarding out-of-staters.

What Makes You A Native

Before we get into this conversation, I want you to understand that I was born and raised in the Treasure State.

In fact, my dad's side of the family has lived in Montana since the late 1800s, and my mom's side has lived here since the early 1900s.

But no matter how long you've called a place home, someone in our family at one point in their lives was considered an out-of-stater or a transplant.

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Do Montanans Have A Chip On Their Shoulder?

More recently, I've noticed that Montana seems to have a chip on its shoulder regarding out-of-staters.

If you don't believe me, spend a little time on the various community Facebook pages and look for when people ask about moving here.

Yes, some folks are supportive and understanding, but a good chunk of the comments are negative and very unwelcoming.

What Is Everyone So Scared Of?

It boils down to native Montanans being scared that out-of-state people will move here and change our way of life.

Trust me, I understand that feeling, but that doesn't justify lumping everybody into the same category and treating them poorly just because they're moving from somewhere else.

Next time you feel like complaining about someone from out of state here in Montana, just remember that could have been your family, however many years ago when they moved here.

You never know, these new residents might have something incredibly positive to bring to our communities.

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