Townsend, Montana sits almost halfway between Bozeman and Helena, Montana, giving it the perfect and quiet small-town feel without the hubbub of big city traffic. Primarily ranching and farming focused, the small community of Townsend is boosted by Canyon Ferry Lake, the 35,181-acre reservoir just minutes from town. Summer activity of lake-goers with their pontoons and fisherman on the hunt for a record-setting walleye find themselves here while the lake isn't frozen.

Sitting as the county seat for Broadwater County, Townsend is home to the county courthouse, a K-12 public school system, a community library, and the Townsend Airport. Being nicknamed "the first city on the Missouri River" follows suit as from its headwaters in Three Forks, Montana, the Missouri flows through Townsend where it sources Canyon Ferry Lake. Like many towns in Montana, gold mining brought settlers to the area in the 1860s and the town was officially established from a railway stop to support the booming business. In 1883 Townsend was officially named by railroad officials. Today, Townsend's railroad system runs directly from Helena, Montana on through to Belgrade, Montana with its tracks running parallel to town.