Montana

Chouteau

5,895
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Chouteau

Chouteau, Montana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 517. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,895.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,191 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 66 percent.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Blackfeet Raids on Fort Benton Area (1860s), Piegan Blackfoot Raids on Settlements 1866-1870, Battle at Fort Benton vicinity, and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,895
20105,813
20005,970
19905,452
19806,092
19706,473
19607,348
19506,974
19407,316
19308,635
192011,051
191017,191
190010,966
18904,741
18803,058
1870517
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Chouteau

Military engagements that took place in Chouteau, Montana.

Blackfeet Raids on Fort Benton Area (1860s)
1865
Piegan Blackfoot Raids on Settlements 1866-1870
1867
Battle at Fort Benton vicinity
1867
Fort Benton Area Skirmish (1867)
1867
Fort Benton Area Skirmishes 1870s
1870
Bear Paw — Final Stand of Looking Glass
1877
Nez Perce War — Bear Paw Mountains Initial Assault
1877
Nez Perce War — Looking Glass's Death at Bear Paw
1877
Battle of Bear Paw
1877
Nez Perce War – Cow Island Landing Raid
1877
Nez Perce War — Bear Paw Mountains Siege September 1877
1877
Battle of Bear Paw Mountains (Nez Perce)
1877
Bear Paw Mountains — Siege Days 2–5 (October 1–4, 1877)
1877
Bear Paw Mountains — Initial Assault (September 30, 1877)
1877
Nez Perce War – Missouri River Crossing
1877
Battle of Bear Paw Mountains
1877
Box Elder Creek Sioux Fight (1880)
1880

Historic places in Chouteau

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chouteau, Montana.

Lonetree
Geraldine
Geraldine Milwaukee Depot
Geraldine
Masonic Building
Fort Benton
Grand Union Hotel
Fort Benton
Fort Benton
Fort Benton
Chouteau County Courthouse
Fort Benton
Fort Benton Engine House
Fort Benton
Judith Landing Historic District
Winifred
Fort Benton Bridge
Fort Benton
Browse all Montanahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Montana

Explore census history and historic records for more Montana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chouteau County, Montana

This page charts the census history of Chouteau County, Montana. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chouteau

When does Chouteau first appear in the US census?
Chouteau, Montana first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 517.
What is the population of Chouteau?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chouteau had a recorded population of 5,895.
When did Chouteau's population peak?
Chouteau's recorded population peaked at 17,191 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Chouteau?
17 documented military engagements took place in Chouteau, including Blackfeet Raids on Fort Benton Area (1860s), Piegan Blackfoot Raids on Settlements 1866-1870, Battle at Fort Benton vicinity.
How many historic places are in Chouteau?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chouteau, Montana.
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