Chinook is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,185 at the 2020 census. Points of interest are the Blaine County Museum, Blaine County Wildlife Museum, both located in the town's center, and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located south of Chinook.
Name
The city is named for the Chinook wind, a warm wind on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. Its Gros Ventre name is , meaning 'thinker town'. It is said to be named after Thinker, a half-Assiniboine, half-white man who was the son of Thomas O'Hanlon. O'Hanlon was one of the primary founders of the town and an early merchant and community leader.
Geography
Chinook is located on Lodge Creek, where it empties into the Milk River, which flows south of town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
Chinook experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.