Choteau, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Choteau, Montana
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Aerial view of Choteau
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Location of Choteau, Montana
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| County | Teton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.46 sq mi (3.77 km2) |
| • Land | 1.46 sq mi (3.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,816 ft (1,163 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,721 |
| • Density | 1,182.82/sq mi (456.63/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
59422
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| Area code(s) | 406 |
| FIPS code | 30-14650 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409458 |
Choteau is a city in Montana, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Teton County. In 2020, about 1,721 people lived there.
The city is named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr.. He was a French fur merchant and explorer. The town started as a trading post in 1873 and was officially planned in 1883.
Contents
Exploring Choteau's Location and Nature
Choteau is a small city, covering about 1.46 square miles (3.77 square kilometers) of land. The Teton River flows nearby. Sometimes, parts of the river can be dry.
Mountains and Wildlife Near Choteau
Choteau is located along the Rocky Mountain Front. This means it's close to several mountains. Some of these include Mount Frazier, Old Baldy, and Rocky Mountain. The Ear Mountain Wildlife Management Area helps protect local animals. You might see mule deer and bighorn sheep there.
About 15 miles (24 km) west of Choteau is the Teton Pass Ski Area. It's a great place for downhill skiing, backcountry skiing, and snowmobiling.
Just south of the city is Freezout Lake. This lake is a fantastic spot for bird watching. Hundreds of thousands of birds gather there during their migration. Over 230 different types of birds have been seen at the lake!
Choteau's Weather Patterns
Choteau has a semi-arid climate. This means it has cold, dry winters. The summers are warm and a bit more humid.
Who Lives in Choteau?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,043 | — | |
| 1930 | 926 | −11.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,181 | 27.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,618 | 37.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,966 | 21.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,586 | −19.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,798 | 13.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,741 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,781 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,684 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,721 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,684 people living in Choteau. The city had 791 households. Most people (95%) were White. About 2.1% were Native American.
The average age of people in Choteau was about 49 years old. Around 19.5% of residents were under 18. About 25.8% were 65 years or older.
Arts and Culture in Choteau
Choteau is a stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail. The town is close to Egg Mountain. This is a very important place for finding dinosaur fossils.
Dinosaur Discoveries and Museums
The Old Trail Museum in Choteau has the Maiasaura, which is Montana's state fossil. You can see a 3-D display of it during the summer. The museum also shows off the Egg Mountain discovery. It explains why this site is so important to scientists. Besides dinosaurs, the museum shares information about the Blackfeet and Métis people. It also covers local geology and history.
About 13 miles (21 km) north, in Bynum, is The Montana Dinosaur Center. They have a huge model of what might be the world's longest dinosaur, a diplodocus.
The Choteau/Teton Public Library serves the community.
Choteau in the News
Choteau gained national attention because of David Letterman. He is a famous late-night talk show host. In 1999, he bought a ranch near Choteau as a vacation home.
Letterman has often talked about his ranch on his TV show. He even showed pictures of a black bear visiting his property in 2003. After the September 11, 2001, attacks, Letterman praised Choteau. He mentioned how the town, despite a long drought, held a rally to raise money for victims. This showed the strong spirit of the United States.
On March 19, 2009, David Letterman got married in Choteau. The wedding took place at the Teton County Courthouse.
In 2008, Choteau schools made headlines. They canceled a talk by Nobel Prize winner Steve Running. He was supposed to speak to high school students about climate change.
Education in Choteau
Choteau Public Schools serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2022, there were 240 students in grades K-8. The high school had 107 students.
Local Media in Choteau
The Choteau Acantha is a local newspaper. It is printed weekly and can also be read online.
Choteau also has two Christian radio stations: KETI-LP and KUDI.
Transportation and Healthcare
U.S. Route 89 and U.S. Route 287 meet in Choteau.
The Choteau Airport is a public airport. It is located about one mile (2 km) northeast of town. The closest airport with commercial flights is Great Falls International Airport. This airport is about 60 miles (97 km) away.
Benefis Teton Medical Center provides healthcare services for the local community.
Famous People from Choteau
- John Edward Erickson, a former Governor of Montana.
- J. Frank Glendon, an actor.
- A. B. Guthrie Jr., an American novelist.
- David Letterman, a famous late-night talk show host.
- Jay Neitz, a vision scientist.
- J. K. Ralston, a western painter.
- Flint Rasmussen, a rodeo clown.
- Jim Waltermire, a former Montana Secretary of State.
See also
In Spanish: Choteau (Montana) para niños
