CHOUTEAU COUNTY. 



One of the nine original counties of the state, and of large area, Chouteau has 

 been reduced in size several times by the formation of new counties. In 1912 Blaine 

 and Hill counties were formed from the eastern and northern parts respectively and 

 Choteau county was reduced from an area of 15,539 to one of 4,594 square miles, 

 besides losing the greater part of its population. The county, though so greatly 

 reduced in size, is still very extensive and the development of its resources is 

 indicated by the fact that its population and wealth are now greater than before 

 the division. 



Tbe Missouri river enters Chouteau county from the south, flows northeast about 

 sixty miles and makes its great turn to the southeast. The Teton river, coming from 

 the west, and the Marias river from the north, join the Missouri near the center of 

 the county. Arrow river forms a part of the southeastern boundary. In the south- 

 west corner are the Highwood mountains in which rise Highwood and Shonkin creeks 

 and tributaries of Belt river, lu the northeastern corner is a part of the Bear 

 Paw mountains. 



The industries are stock growing and farming. This part of Montana has long 

 been noted as a stock region and the county contains many cattle and great numbers 

 of sheep. The native grasses are luxuriant and nutritious and the permanence of the 

 industry is assured by the extent of good grazing lands near the mountains and 

 along the rivers that are too rough for farming. 



Farming, which until recently was relatively unimportant, has made great 

 advances in the last few years. A limited area of land adjacent to streams is 

 irrigated, but the chief advance in the development of agriculture has taken place 

 on bench lands which arc farmed without irrigation. Homesteaders have come into 

 all parts of the county but there is some vacant land still subject to entry. 



There is much of historical interest in connection with Fort Benton, the county 

 sent. It is situated at the head of navigation on the Missouri river and had a 

 population of 1,004 in 1910, and now has an estimated population of 1,600. Before 

 Montana was organized as a territory Fort Benton was an important fur trading 

 post and for years following the gold discoveries in the early sixties was a very 

 busy place. Steamers, starting from points on the Missouri river near where 

 Kanr.as City now is, brought numbers of passengers bound lor the gold fields and 

 great quantities of freight to Fort Benton. Stage lines carried the passengers to 

 Virginia City and other points and numerous freighting teams hauled needed sup- 

 plies over long and dangerous trails to the mining centers. Fort Benton main- 

 tained its commercial importance until the ccming of railroads into the state. The 

 steamboat service on the Missouri river was abandoned when the trunk lines were 

 completed. 



Some of the present great fortunes of Montana were founded at Fort Benton 

 in the days when it was the trading center for a great territory and the seat of 

 large business establishments whose activities extended for hundreds of miles in 

 all directions. The stock industry later became the dominant one. Old Fort Benton 

 has been preserved; and many of the most interesting incidents of Montana history 

 are associated with the town of Fort Benton. 



Fort Benton is the largest town in the county. It is a place of much business 

 importance and is surrounded by a good agricultural district. It has three churches, 

 a hospital, two banks, with deposits of $1,500,000, hotels, general stores, a daily and 

 two weekly newspapers, a court house and good public schools. There are many 

 handsome private residences. The city is amply supplied with water and has a 

 complete sewerage system. 



Gcraldine, a town on the Milwaukee between Great Falls and Lewistown, and 

 hardly five years old, has grown rapidly and is a thriving place. It is in the center 

 of a productive wheat region. 



Chouteau county has 202,993 acres of unreserved and unappropriated public land, 

 available for homestead entry. Besides this there are 278,591 acres of state land and 

 some national forest area. 



The products of the county are wheat, flax, oats, barley, potatoes, hay vegetables, 

 beef, mutton and wool. 



The population of Chouteau county is estimated at 17,600. Its assessed valuation 

 in 1918 is $17,318,282. 



