Choteau is a city in and the county seat of Teton County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,721 at the 2020 census.
History
Choteau is named after French fur merchant, trader and explorer Pierre Chouteau Jr., who is also the namesake of Chouteau County, Montana. Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and Pierre, South Dakota, are also named after Chouteau. Originally a trading post established by A. B. Hamilton in 1873, the town was platted in 1883.
In 2008, school authorities in Choteau made national news headlines by canceling a speaking engagement by Nobel laureate climate researcher Steve Running, who was scheduled to speak to local high school students.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , all land.
The Teton River runs nearby, although for some distance upstream of Choteau it is dry during much of the year.
Being located along the Rocky Mountain Front, Choteau is near several mountains. Some of them are Mount Frazier, Old Baldy, and Rocky Mountain. The Ear Mountain Wildlife Management Area seeks to protect local wildlife, especially mule deer and bighorn sheep.
About west is the Teton Pass Ski Area. The area has downhill skiing, backcountry skiing, and snowmobile trails.
Just to the south is Freezout Lake, a bird watcher's paradise. Hundreds of thousands of birds gather at the lake during peak migration. 230 species have been documented at the lake.
| source 2 = National Weather Service
| source =
| collapsed = Y