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Chinook, Montana

10 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1904 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Chinook census division. It lies in ZIP code area 59523. It lies near Redrock Coulee. The Survey maps it on the Chinook quadrangle. 1,185 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,428 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Chinook within Blaine County

On record in Chinook

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 4 records

Population over time

2 figures

Chinook fell from 1,203 to 1,185 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20101,203
20201,185-18 (-1%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 10 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

5 since 2017

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 5 fires within 5 miles of Chinook between 2017 and 2020, burning about 20 acres in total. 2 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Natural2
Equipment and vehicle use2
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
12 August 2020Natural15 acresBlaine CountyFDH-MTLG24-227
6 July 2018Natural1.0 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
26 July 2017Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreNortheastern Land Officenot named
17 July 2018Equipment and vehicle use3.0 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named
14 July 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresNortheastern Land Officenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Blaine County

Mines and quarries near this place

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Chinook: 1 producer, 1 past producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Blaine Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Tilleman Pit and PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Blaine County

Storms near this place

60 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Chinook in 60 storm reports between 1995 and 2024: 36 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 5 flood, 2 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2023FloodChinook$1,000,000Significant flooding occurred along the Milk River across Blaine County. The Rocky Boy SNOTEL station which is the main Milk River basin station peaked later than normal and had over 3.5 times the snow water equivalent that it normally would on April 6 (10.7 of snow water equivalent versus a normal of 3.0). When this thick snowpack melted, virtually the entire Milk River system flooded in a matter of days, as a result. The Milk River near Harlem crested at 23.80 feet on April 12, which as of this entry was the seventh highest river level recorded at this site. Roughly 4,000 aces of irrigation land was flooded. Chinook water plant was surrounded by water. Several roads and homes were impacted.
July 2023HailChinook$1,000,000Several photos submitted on social media of large hail in Chinook. Insurance company reported at least 11 vehicle hail damage claims and 5 homeowners claims. Number of claims likely increased since preliminary reports.
July 2002Tornado (F1)Chinook$50,000A severe thunderstorm moved across southern Blaine County during the late afternoon hours on the 8th. This storm produced golf ball sized hail, and wind gusts in excess of 100 mph. A tornado developed shortly after 1600 MST. This tornado was short lived, but it did do some crop damage, along with damage to 3 residences. Several barns were destroyed and a few other structures lost roofs. One vehicle suffered major damage.
March 1997FloodChinook$25,000no account filed
June 1996Thunderstorm WindChinook$500no account filed
July 2024HailChinook-Trained spotter measured 0.11 inches of rain with the thunderstorm.
September 2024FloodChinook-Broadcast media reported minor flooding at the Blaine county fairgrounds. Standing water upwards of 6 inches in spots was reported.
July 2023HailChinook-Photos submitted of hail being measured with a ruler as well as being compared to coins.
July 2023HailChinook-Blaine County Deputy EM reported golf ball size hail at their property.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindChinook-AWOS station KS71 (Chinnok Airport) measured 60 mph wind gust.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindChinook-Spotter reports at least on tree down partially blocking a road south of Chinook.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindChinook-Wind gust measured 54 kts.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindChinook-Measured wind gust of 50 kts at awos station ks71 Chinook Apt.
April 2018FloodChinook-Chouteau and Blaine County DES (Disaster and Emergency Services) conducted helicopter flyover and reported floodwaters surrounding Chinook. This flooding continued until receding around April 30th. The floodwaters never entered downtown Chinook since roadways acted like levees.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindChinook-Wind gust of 59 mph along with brief heavy rain. Rainfall of 0.30.
June 2016HailChinook-A thunderstorm dropped 1 inch hail at Chinook.
June 2016HailChinook-A thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Chinook.
July 2014HailChinook-Hail, measuring .88 inches (nickel sized), was reported.
June 2012HailChinook-Tennis ball sized hail, measuring 2.5 inches, was reported 10 miles S of Chinook. Damage to vehicle windshields was also reported.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindChinook-Thunderstorm outflow winds produced wind gusts to 57KT (65MPH) 11 miles S of Chinook.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindChinook-Thunderstorm outflow winds produced wind gusts to 62KT (71MPH) 11 miles S of Chinook.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindChinook-A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 70 mph at Chinook 10S.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindChinook-A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Chinook 1WSW. A possible funnel cloud was also reported.
June 2008HailChinook-A severe thunderstorm produced 1.75 inch diameter hail at Chinook 15S.
June 2008HailChinook-A severe thunderstorm produced .75 inch diameter hail at Chinook 9SSE.
July 2008HailChinook-A severe thunderstorm dropped 2 inch diameter hail at Chinook 7SE.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindChinook-A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 72 mph at Chinook 11S.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindChinook-A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Chinook 7NE.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindChinook-A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Chinook 11S.
July 2007HailChinook-A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch diameter hail at Chinook 11S. The storm also produced .55 inches of rain.
July 2007HailChinook-A severe thunderstorm dropped .75 inch diameter hail at Chinook 5NW.
June 1995HailChinook-Golf ball-size hail damaged cars at car dealerships in Chinook. Total damage was estimated at upwards of $1 million.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
June 2005Heavy RainChinook-no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 2005Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 2000HailChinook-no account filed
June 2000HailChinook-no account filed
September 2000Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
June 1999Tornado (F0)Chinook-no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
April 1996FloodChinook-no account filed
June 1995Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 1995Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed
August 1995Thunderstorm WindChinook-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Blaine County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
North Fork6.4 miles10
Hollandville (historical)8.3 miles10
Lohman9.2 miles10
Zurich10.7 miles10
Minnesota Settlement (historical)16.3 miles8
Ramburg (historical)18.5 miles10
Lloyd21.8 miles9
Elloam (historical)22.1 miles8

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on ChinookAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q966181The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 769848. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.