Chouteau County, Montana 1921
One of the oldest counties in Montana
is that which bears the name of the Chouteau brothers, Auguste
and Pierre, American pioneers, fur traders and founders of the
city of St. Louis. As the head of navigation on the Missouri
River, its associations of former years make it an exceedingly
interesting subject of study to the student of history, and from
the time of its creation, February 21, 1865, until something
like a decade ago it remained as an important stock raising
center, in its evolution passing through all the stages that
have marked the gradual development of this section from a range
country into an agricultural domain. In its early days Chouteau
County experienced much Indian fighting, and during the period
in which river navigation was almost entirely depended upon,
this locality held a prominent place in the fur trade, Fort
Benton, one of the oldest towns in Montana, having been the
chief fur trading point in the American northwest. This
community is still one of great interest, a part of the old fort
still remaining to mark what was at one time the frontier of
paleface settlement, and is rich in its Indian lore and pioneer
traditions.
Physical Features of Chouteau County
Chouteau County is situated in the
north central part of Montana, and is bounded on the north by
Hill and Toole counties, on the west by Teton County, on the
south by Cascade and Fergus counties and on the east by Blaine
County. Along the southern boundary are the Highwood Mountains,
while in the northeastern corner are the Bear Paws, and right at
the western border is the eastern end of the Teton Ridge. For
the most part, the county consists of broad, rolling prairies,
although along the streams the country presents a broken
surface. The Missouri River enters Chouteau County from the
south, Maria's from the north and the Teton from the west, and
the confluence of these waterways is at Loma, near the center of
the county, where they join the Missouri. The southeastern
boundary of the county is formed by the Arrow River, and there
are a number of other streams of lesser importance, such as
Shonkin, Birch and Eagle creeks.
Rural Industries For many years
Chouteau county's 4,432 square miles of land area was devoted
almost entirely to stock raising, and it is still one of the
important industries, there being numerous large sheep and
cattle ranches still in flourishing operation. However, during
recent years, agriculture has been coming more and more into
favor, and gradually the farmer is displacing the cattleman,
finding the chocolate loam soil excellent for the raising of
wheat, rye, oats, barley and flax. Corn has also been raised
with success, as well as sunflowers for silage. The prairies
have produced good crops without irrigation, and it has been
only in recent years that this has been engaged in. Private
pumping plants, electrically driven, now irrigate about 5,000
acres, and a large part of this territory is being devoted to
alfalfa. Land values have advanced in this county during recent
years, and irrigated land is now held at from $75 to $125 per
acre and non-irrigated land from $15 to $50 an acre, depending
upon the location and the improvements which have been made
thereon. As to its other resources, they are of a secondary
character, although good lignite coal has been found in
appreciable quantities, and prospecting for gas and oil has
gotten under way. Cottonwood timber abounds along the streams,
and there are 32,602 acres of the Jefferson National forest in
the county.
Transportation Facilities
For its transportation facilities
Chouteau County has the Havre-Butte branch of the Great Northern
Railroad, which supplies the area from the northeast to the
southwest; and the Lewistown-Great Falls branch of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which makes a loop through the
southern part. The highway, which connects Great Falls with
Havre, runs parallel to the Great Northern Railroad, and there
are also good secondary roads. The matter of education has not
been neglected by the people of this county, there being, in
addition to a good rural school system and common schools in all
the community centers, a county high school at Fort Benton and
another high school at Big Sandy, both accredited for four-year
terms. This county also has the distinction of being the first
in the state to establish a county library, which is located at
Fort Benton, and has upwards of 12,000 volumes, maintaining
branches in a number of the leading towns.
Fort Benton
During the earlier history of the county, Fort Benton, the
county seat, was considered a community of much importance.
Situated as it is on the Missouri River, and being the head of
navigation thereof, it was a trading point for all the
surrounding country. When river navigation passed it lost much
of its prestige, but this it is regaining today with the
continued growth and development of agriculture, it being in the
center of a large and prosperous farming, livestock and wool
growing country. Incorporated in 1884, the city secured special
delivery service two years later, and in its government,
business and general improvements is now rated as a modern
community in every respect. It has a live Commercial Club, of
which James Murtry is secretary, and maintains two newspapers,
four hotels, two banks, three churches, two hospitals, a graded
and high school and a flour mill, in addition to other modern
industries and mercantile establishments. Located on the Great
Northern Railroad, forty-four miles northeast of Great Falls, it
is in close touch with the outside world, and being conveniently
reached, attracts numerous tourists every year who come to view
the historic old fort, located in the heart of the city. Another
city which has enjoyed a steady and rapid growth is Big Sandy,
midway between Fort Benton and Havre, which is the trading
center for a wide and growing agricultural district. The trading
center for the southern part of the county is Geraldine, and
other worth-while communities are Loma, Carter, Highwood,
Floweree, Montague and Square Butte. Visit
Citizens of Fort Benton, 1862-3
Montana Counties 1921
Return to
Montana AHGP
Source: Montana its Story and Biography,
by Tom Strout, Volume 1, The American Historical Society, 1921
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