Chouteau County, Montana

Chouteau County
Chouteau County Courthouse in Fort Benton
Location within the U.S. state of Montana
Montana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°53′N 110°26′W / 47.88°N 110.44°W / 47.88; -110.44
Country United States
State Montana
Founded1865
Named afterPierre Chouteau Jr.
SeatFort Benton
Largest cityFort Benton
Area
  Total
3,997 sq mi (10,350 km2)
  Land3,972 sq mi (10,290 km2)
  Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
5,895
  Estimate 
(2024)
5,880
  Density1.5/sq mi (0.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteco.chouteau.mt.us
  • Montana county number 19

Chouteau County is a county located in the North-Central region of the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,895. Its county seat is Fort Benton. The county was established in 1865 as one of the original nine counties of Montana, and named in 1882 after Pierre Chouteau Jr., a fur trader who established a trading post that became Fort Benton, which was once an important port on the Missouri River.

Chouteau County is home to the Chippewa-Cree tribe on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. It contains part of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.