Chouteau County is located in the north-central part of Montana and covers an area of 2,086 square miles. It is bordered by Liberty County to the north, Hill County to the east, Cascade County to the south and Fergus County to the west. The county seat is Fort Benton, which was established in 1846 and is considered to be the oldest settlement in Montana. The population of Chouteau County was estimated at 6,092 as of 2019.
The economy of Chouteau County is largely based on agriculture and ranching. Cattle ranching is particularly popular due to its large open spaces and favorable climate for raising livestock. Other important agricultural products include wheat, barley, hay, and sugar beets. The county also has several oil wells that provide additional income for its residents.
Fort Benton serves as the economic hub of Chouteau County with several shops, restaurants, hotels, banks, and other businesses that provide employment opportunities for local residents. There are also a few small manufacturing companies located in the county that produce items like furniture and leather goods. Additionally, there are two hospitals located in Fort Benton that provide medical care for residents throughout Chouteau County.
Chouteau County also offers numerous recreational activities for visitors and locals alike including fishing on nearby rivers such as the Missouri River or Marias River or hunting on public lands throughout the county. There are also various trails for hiking or biking available around Fort Benton as well as numerous state parks scattered across Chouteau County such as Giant Springs State Park or First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park which offer visitors a chance to explore Montana’s unique history and natural beauty.
History of Chouteau County, Montana
Chouteau County was first established in 1864, shortly after Montana achieved statehood. The county was named in honor of Pierre Chouteau, a French fur trader who had built trading posts throughout the area. During the 19th century, Chouteau County was largely populated by ranchers and farmers who settled in the area to take advantage of its fertile soil and abundant natural resources. The county seat of Fort Benton was established in 1846 and quickly became an important trading post for settlers traveling along the Missouri River.
In the early 20th century, Chouteau County experienced a period of growth as more people moved to the area and began to establish businesses. The economy of Chouteau County shifted from a primarily agricultural focus to one that included an array of industries such as mining, timbering, and manufacturing. During this time, railroads were constructed throughout the county to facilitate trade and transportation between Fort Benton and other towns in Montana.
Throughout World War II and into the 1950s, Chouteau County continued to grow with increasing numbers of people settling in the area due to its strong economy and plentiful resources. However, during this time there were also several devastating floods that caused major damage throughout the county. In response to these floods, many protective levees were constructed along rivers throughout Chouteau County which helped protect against future flooding events.
Today, Chouteau County is still largely rural with its main economic drivers being agriculture and ranching; however, it has also seen recent growth due to increased tourism as well as oil production from several oil wells located within its borders. Additionally, Fort Benton is now home to several restaurants, shops, hotels, banks, hospitals and other businesses that provide employment opportunities for local residents while also serving visitors from across Montana and beyond looking to explore all that this historic region has to offer.
Major cities and towns in Chouteau County, Montana
According to AbbreviationFinder, Chouteau County, Montana is located in the north-central region of the state, and is home to a variety of vibrant cities and towns. The county seat is Fort Benton, which was established in 1846 and quickly became an important trading post for settlers traveling along the Missouri River. This historic city has a population of around 1,500 and features a variety of restaurants, shops, hotels, banks, hospitals and other businesses that provide employment opportunities for local residents while also serving visitors from across Montana and beyond.
Another major city in Chouteau County is Big Sandy. This small yet vibrant town has a population of just over 1,000 people and offers a wide range of services including restaurants, shops, churches, schools, banks and more. Big Sandy is also home to several recreational activities such as fishing at its nearby lakes or hunting on its vast prairies.
Power City is another important community in Chouteau County. This small town has a population of just over 400 people and features several amenities such as restaurants, stores and other services for its residents. Power City also boasts some beautiful scenery with its rolling hillsides covered in trees and grasslands that stretch out for miles around the small town.
In addition to these larger cities within Chouteau County there are also several smaller communities such as Geraldine (population: 200), Carter (population: 150) Highwood (population: 140), Dutton (population: 120), Floweree (population: 70) Loma (population: 60) Sun Prairie (population: 40) Loma Vista (population: 30). These smaller towns offer their own unique charm with their old-fashioned buildings that line the streets giving them an air of nostalgia while still providing modern amenities such as gas stations or convenience stores for their residents’ needs.
Finally, there are several unincorporated communities located throughout Chouteau County including Brady Heights which features an historic church built in 1912; Bynum which was founded by ranchers looking to take advantage of the area’s abundant natural resources; Floweree which was once home to one of Montana’s first post offices; Rocky Point which offers beautiful views from atop its nearby hillside; Shonkin which served as an important trading post during the 1800s; Tampico which was once known as “the most dangerous place on earth” due to its high crime rate; West Fork which serves as an ideal spot for fishing or camping due to its access to both rivers; White Sulphur Springs which has been popular since the early 1900s due to its naturally occurring hot springs; Windham which boasts some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year; Wolf Creek offering some great hunting opportunities during certain times of year; Zurich where visitors can learn about local history through its many museums and exhibits.
No matter what type of experience you are looking for you can find it in Chouteau County with its wide range of cities from large metropolises like Fort Benton down to quaint little towns like Floweree offering something special at every turn.
Population in Chouteau County, Montana
According to maternityetchic.com, Chouteau County, Montana is home to a diverse population of residents. According to the 2020 United States Census, the population of Chouteau County was 9,521 people. This population is spread out over a total area of 1,955 square miles and is comprised mainly of white people (87.2%), followed by Native American (3.9%), African American (1.8%), Asian (1.3%), and other races (2%).
The largest city in Chouteau County is Fort Benton, which has a population of 1,717 people according to the most recent census data from 2020. Other cities within Chouteau County include Geraldine with a population of 200, Carter with 150 people, Highwood with 140 people, Dutton with 120 people, Floweree with 70 people, Loma with 60 people, Sun Prairie with 40 people and Loma Vista with 30 people. These smaller towns offer their own unique charm while still providing modern amenities such as gas stations or convenience stores for their residents’ needs.
In addition to the cities within Chouteau County there are also several unincorporated communities located throughout the county including Brady Heights which features an historic church built in 1912; Bynum which was founded by ranchers looking to take advantage of the area’s abundant natural resources; Floweree which was once home to one of Montana’s first post offices; Rocky Point which offers beautiful views from atop its nearby hillside; Shonkin which served as an important trading post during the 1800s; Tampico which was once known as “the most dangerous place on earth” due to its high crime rate; West Fork which serves as an ideal spot for fishing or camping due to its access to both rivers; White Sulphur Springs which has been popular since the early 1900s due to its naturally occurring hot springs; Windham which boasts some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year; Wolf Creek offering some great hunting opportunities during certain times of year; Zurich where visitors can learn about local history through its many museums and exhibits.
The median age in Chouteau County is 45 years old compared to 38 years old nationally across all counties in America. The median household income in Chouteau County is $43,407 compared to $61,937 nationally across all counties in America. The average per capita income in Chouteau County is $25,788 compared to $33,634 nationally across all counties in America. The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 10% while 22% had incomes below the poverty level at some point during 2018-2019 according to year estimates from U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates series B19301 Household Income In 2019 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Chouteau County provides a great quality of life for its residents no matter what type of experience they are looking for whether it be larger cities like Fort Benton or quaint little towns like Floweree offering something special at every turn.