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Chouteau County, Montana

105 topographic sheets cover 45 settlements here, and 20 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

20 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Montana within the United States
Chouteau County within Montana

What the record shows

  • 514 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 20 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 15 buildings, 3 sites and 2 structures.
  • 3 of the 20 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 45 populated places in this county; 45 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

20

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
I. G. Baker Housebuilding198080002403
Chouteau County Courthousebuilding198080002404
Citadel Rocksite197474001095
Eagle Butte Schoolbuilding200908001383
First National Bank of Geraldinebuilding200807001363
Fort Benton Bridgestructure198080002406
Fort Benton Engine Housebuilding198080002407
Geraldine Milwaukee Depotbuilding199797000254
Grand Union Hotelbuilding197676001121
I.G. Baker Housebuilding196666000431
Lewis and Clark Camp at Slaughter Riversite197474001094
Lonetreebuilding198080002410
Masonic Buildingbuilding198080002408
Shonkin Creek Bridgestructure201212000169
Square Butte Jailbuilding199898000888
Square Butte Schoolbuilding201313000496
St. Paul's Episcopal Churchbuilding198080002409
Virgelle Mercantile and Virgelle State Bankbuilding199797000315
Virgelle Mercantile and Virgelle State Bankbuilding199797000315
West Quincy Granite Quarrysite200000000163

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

602 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 602 of them, burning about 42,541 acres. 56 started naturally and 145 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism145
Debris and open burning117
Missing data/not specified/undetermined103
Misuse of fire by a minor62
Natural56
Fireworks48
Equipment and vehicle use44
Smoking9
Recreation and ceremony7
Other causes5
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Firearms and explosives use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
31 January 2009Debris and open burning14,490 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictMEISSNER
24 March 2008Debris and open burning5,519 acresNortheastern Land OfficeCHOUTEAU CO COMPLEX
29 March 2012Debris and open burning2,800 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictANTELOPE HOPKINS HIL
7 August 2012Natural1,400 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictENGELLANT
9 September 2005Natural1,136 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
4 August 2005Smoking1,136 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
2 February 2020Power generation/transmission/distribution1,041 acresChouteau CountyLOST LAKE
6 August 2012Natural1,000 acresNorth Central Montana DistrictLABARE ROAD

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 331 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 331 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 7 injuries and about $3,115,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail152
Thunderstorm Wind142
Tornado15
Heavy Rain12
Flood7
Flash Flood2
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1965Tornadonot stated5 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
July 1988Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 2024FloodBig Sandy$194,000MT Department of Emergency Services reported $177,000 worth of damages to roads and bridges near the Bears Paw Mountains. Additional damages to utilities totaled $17,000.
May 1993Thunderstorm WindFort Benton$50,000Trees and power lines down.
June 1998Tornado (F1)Shonkin$50,000no account filed
July 1988Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1973Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1993Thunderstorm WindCarter$5,000Trees and power lines down.
May 1993Thunderstorm WindFort Benton$5,000Trees and power lines down.
May 1993Thunderstorm WindGeraldine$5,000Trees and power lines down.
July 1988Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy$2,000no account filed
July 1999Tornado (F0)Square Butte$2,000no account filed
June 1960Tornadonot stated$250no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindVerona-Montana mesonet station Big Sandy SE (Acebsase) measured a 69 mph wind gust.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindVerona-Montana mesonet station Big Sandy SE measured a 59 mph wind gust.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-Landspout. The public relayed a report of a landspout to broadcast media on social media. Time and location is estimated.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindFloweree-Landspout. NWS employee relayed a report of a landsput near Floweree. It was brief in nature. Location estimated.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindVerona-Big Sandy MT Mesonet peak gust.
June 2025HailFt Benton Arpt-Social media report of one inch diameter hail in Fort Benton.
June 2025HailBig Sag-Report from social media.
June 2025HailHighwood-Social media image of approximately golf ball sized hail in Highwood. Time estimated using radar.
June 2025HailGeraldine Arpt-Report on social media showed golf ball sized hail with estimated 60 mph wind gusts. Time estimated based on radar.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMontague-Ambient weather station Stone windmill measured a 63 mph gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindLoma-Montana mesonet station Loma N.
June 2024HailGenou-A photo submitted from the public showed estimated 2.5 inch hail, along with damage to a vehicle windshield. Time was estimated via radar.
August 2024HailGenou-Public reports quarter sized hail. Gusty winds were also observed, which blew around items at the residence.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindCarter-A spotter traveling northbound on US-87 noted two snapped power poles near mile marker 31. Power outages were confirmed in the area.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindWarrick-Mesonet station GW3862 Loma 18 NW measured a sever caliber gust.
August 2024HailLoma-Trained spotter reported hail up to the size of quarters.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindLoma-The time and location was estimated. A farmer stated that freshly cut hay was blown by approximately 80 mph winds.
April 2023FloodBig Sandy Arpt-Chouteau County Sheriff's Office reported flood-related closures in Big Sandy at North Lonesome Lake Road between Ihmsen Well Road and Gardiner Road and from Black Coulee Road to Rudyard Road.
July 2022HailVirgelle-Video from Virgelle of hail ranging from half inch to nearly one inch in size.
September 2022Thunderstorm WindLoma-Mesonet station MTLOM Loma (MT DOT) reported a 52 knot wind gust.
September 2022Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-Mesonet station MTM90 Big Sandy SW reported 54 knot wind gust.
August 2022Heavy RainWoods Arpt-A coop observer reported 1.57 inches of rain fell over 90 minutes during a thunderstorm.
June 2022Heavy RainEagleton-Coop reporter reports 3.18 inches of rain. Time start estimated by radar.
June 2022Heavy RainEagleton-Coop observer updates report to 5.06 inches rain accumulation.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindFt Benton-Fort Benton Co-op observer measured a 54 kt (62 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindWarrick-Trained spotter reported 72 mph wind gust. Some tree damage. Time estimated via radar.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-An ambient station reported a 70 mph wind gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-Sustained 77 gusting 91 mph. Unconfirmed 103mph gust. Recorded pressure drop of 11mb in 5 min. Recorded via ambient weather.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindGeraldine-An ambient weather station reported 58 mph wind gust 11 miles NNE of Geraldine.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-Ambient weather station at 13 W Big Sandy measured a 67 kt (77 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindBig Sandy-Semi blow off of highway 87 at mile marker 78 and power lines blown down in the same area.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindLoma-MDT Loma station measured a 53 kt (61 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindFt Benton-Mesonet station at 18 E Fort Benton measured a 51 kt (59 mph) thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindVerona-Downed power lines reported along highway 87 near Verona.
June 2021HailGeraldine Arpt-Public report of quarter sized hail. Time estimated based on radar.
June 2021HailBig Sandy-Social media pictures from social media post showing 1.5 to 2 inch hail near Centennial Mountain.
July 2020HailLoma-Trained spotter reported penny size (.75 inch diameter) and some quarter size hail (1 inch diameter) covering the ground. Some crop damage observed.
July 2020HailLoma-Trained spotter reported quarter size hail.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindLoma-Loma mesonet station mtlom.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindFloweree-Corrected time. Reports strong winds brought rain into attic of house and knocked down trees. Also, reports a pile of peas sized hail. Wind speed and gust estimate not reported.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindFloweree-Relayed report from trained spotter of trees stripped and power outage from thunderstorm winds gusts. Wind speed and gust estimate not reported.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindCarter-Reports some tree branch damage from strong winds. Small hail also observed along with some water on road. Wind speed and gust estimate not reported.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindFloweree-Reports strong winds brought rain into attic of house and knocked down trees. Also, reports a pile of pea sized hail. Wind speed and gust estimate not reported.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindCarter-Trained spotter reports estimated wind gusts near 60 mph in Carter.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindFloweree-Wind and rain reduced visibility to less than 100 feet. Reports 0.80 inches of rain in 15 minutes. Also, reports pea sized hail.
May 2019FloodGenou-Emergency manager shared video of flooded wheat field adjacent to the Teton River. Estimated time of the event. Exact duration of flooding unknown.

Mines and quarries

40 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 40 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 39 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction30
Uranium3
Clay3
Niobium (Columbium)1
Lead1
REE, Thorium, Zinc1
Silica1
Salt1
Potassium1
Cobalt, Copper, Manganese, Molybdenum1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Big Lake DepositsPotassium, Cobalt, Copper, Manganese, MolybdenumOccurrence
Rocky Boy AreaLead, REE, Thorium, ZincOccurrence
Rocky Boy StockUranium, Niobium (Columbium)Occurrence
Virgelle SandstoneSilicaUnknown
White LakeSaltOccurrence
Rocky Boy StockUraniumOccurrenceVein
United Petroleum Good 1UraniumProspect
Unnamed Bentonite DepositClayProspect
Unnamed Clay DepositClayOccurrence
Unnamed Clay DepositClayOccurrence
Naesethe Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed Gravel DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Unnamed Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every populated place in the county

45

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Chouteau County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.