Chinook, Montana

Chinook is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States.[3] The population was 1,185 at the 2020 census.[4] Points of interest are the Bear Paw Battlefield Museum located in the small town's center and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located 20 miles (32 km) south of Chinook.

Chinook
City
Location of Chinook, Montana
Location of Chinook, Montana
Coordinates: 48°35′24″N 109°13′55″W
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
CountyBlaine
Area
[1]
 • Total0.52 sq mi (1.35 km2)
 • Land0.52 sq mi (1.35 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
2,425 ft (739 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,185
 • Density2,265.77/sq mi (875.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
59523, 59535
Area code406
FIPS code30-14575
GNIS feature ID2409455[2]
Websitecityofchinook.com

Name

The city is named for the Chinook wind, a warm wind on eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.[5] Its Gros Ventre name is ʔaasíccóóútaanʔɔ, meaning 'thinker town'. It is said to be named after Thinker, a half-Assiniboine, half-white man and general store manager whose English name was Thomas O'Hanlon.[6] O'Hanlon founded the town in 1871.[7]

Geography

Chinook is located on Lodge Creek, where it empties into the Milk River, which flows south of town.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.51 square miles (1.32 km2), all land.[9]

Climate

Chinook experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.

Climate data for Chinook, Montana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19)		 75
(24)		 82
(28)		 92
(33)		 96
(36)		 104
(40)		 105
(41)		 109
(43)		 104
(40)		 90
(32)		 79
(26)		 66
(19)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 25.9
(−3.4)		 33.4
(0.8)		 45.1
(7.3)		 58.9
(14.9)		 69.1
(20.6)		 77.8
(25.4)		 84.0
(28.9)		 83.7
(28.7)		 72.1
(22.3)		 59.2
(15.1)		 40.3
(4.6)		 29.7
(−1.3)		 56.6
(13.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 12.7
(−10.7)		 19.8
(−6.8)		 30.9
(−0.6)		 44.4
(6.9)		 55.0
(12.8)		 63.9
(17.7)		 68.6
(20.3)		 67.6
(19.8)		 55.4
(13.0)		 43.2
(6.2)		 26.9
(−2.8)		 16.7
(−8.5)		 42.1
(5.6)
Average low °F (°C) −0.5
(−18.1)		 6.2
(−14.3)		 16.7
(−8.5)		 29.9
(−1.2)		 40.8
(4.9)		 49.9
(9.9)		 53.1
(11.7)		 51.4
(10.8)		 38.6
(3.7)		 27.2
(−2.7)		 13.4
(−10.3)		 3.7
(−15.7)		 27.5
(−2.5)
Record low °F (°C) −50
(−46)		 −44
(−42)		 −36
(−38)		 −10
(−23)		 11
(−12)		 28
(−2)		 36
(2)		 29
(−2)		 13
(−11)		 −24
(−31)		 −38
(−39)		 −50
(−46)		 −50
(−46)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.54
(14)		 0.32
(8.1)		 0.56
(14)		 0.99
(25)		 2.29
(58)		 2.29
(58)		 1.66
(42)		 1.34
(34)		 1.43
(36)		 0.66
(17)		 0.47
(12)		 0.51
(13)		 13.06
(331.1)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000) [10]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records) [11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910780—
19201,21756.0%
19301,3208.5%
19402,05155.4%
19502,30712.5%
19602,3260.8%
19701,813−22.1%
19801,660−8.4%
19901,512−8.9%
20001,386−8.3%
20101,203−13.2%
20201,185−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12][4]

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 1,203 people, 599 households, and 313 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,358.8 inhabitants per square mile (910.7/km2). There were 697 housing units at an average density of 1,366.7 per square mile (527.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 9.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 599 households, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.7% were non-families. 43.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 46.7 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 1,386 people, 657 households, and 375 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,693.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,039.9/km2). There were 732 housing units at an average density of 1,422.4 per square mile (549.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.34% White, 0.36% African American, 6.35% "Native American", 0.07% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 657 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,461, and the median income for a family was $35,577. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $20,179 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,038. About 12.1% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

Chinook High School Sugarbeeters

Chinook High School experienced national notoriety when a USA today contest was held to discover the nation's oddest mascot. Chinook's mascot, the Sugarbeeter, finished third in the voting and has since been the topic of multiple articles.

Chinook has been home to the Sugarbeeters ever since the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, which had a factory in the town, helped purchase the jerseys for the boys' basketball team in 1929. Ever since the team made their debut in the jerseys, which presented a Sugarbeet logo on the front, the nickname has been fully adopted.[15]

Government

The town has a mayor-council system of government. There are four council members. The mayor in 2023 was Glen Huestis.[16]

Education

Chinook Public Schools serves students from kindergarten to 12th grade.[17] Chinook High School is a Class C school (less than 108 students) which helps determine athletic competitions.[18]

Chinook is home to the Blaine County Library.[19]

Media

The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion is a local weekly newspaper.[20] It is available in print or online.

The FM radio station KRYK is licensed in Chinook.[21] The station airs a hot adult contemporary music format.

Infrastructure

U.S. Route 2 travels through the northern part of town from east to west.

Edgar G. Obie Airport is a public use airport 1 mile west of Chinook.[22] The nearest commercial flights are at Havre City–County Airport.

One Health provides primary care to Blaine County. There are clinics in both Chinook and Harlem, Montana.[23]

Notable people

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chinook, Montana
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  5. "Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce". Retrieved March 19, 2020. Our town's name comes from an Indian word meaning "warm wind," and it is this wind, melting the snow in January and February, that makes it possible for cattle to reach the rich grasses and survive.
  6. Cowell, A.; Taylor, A.; Brockie, T. (2016). "Gros Ventre ethnogeography and place names: A diachronic perspective". Anthropological Linguistics. 58 (2): 132–170. doi:10.1353/anl.2016.0025. S2CID 151520012.
  7. "Chinook". Montana Place Names Companion. Montana Historical Society. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  8. "Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce | Supporting Growth in the Community". Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  10. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  11. "Monthly Averages for Chinook, MT". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "Why is Chinook known for sugar beets? Here's a history lesson". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  16. "City Council". City of Chinook. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  17. "Chinook Public Schools". Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  18. "Member Schools". Montana High School Association. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  19. "Blaine County Library". Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  20. "News". The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  21. "KRYK". FCC. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  22. "S71 Edgar G. Obie". FAA. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  23. "Locations". One Health. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  24. "Elliott R. Blackstone". Legacy.com. November 5, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
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