Featured City Choteau

Photo: By Sam Beebe - Choteau, Montana, CC BY 2.0

David Letterman purchased a 2700 acre ranch/vacation home in 1999 near Choteau. In September of 2003, Choteau made national news when Letterman talked about the ranch on his late-night show and showed photos of a black bear invading it. On March 19, 2009, he married his girlfriend of 23 years at the Teton County Courthouse in Choteau. 

Choteau, the county seat of Teton County, is named after the French fur merchant, trader and explorer Pierre Chouteau, Jr. It was originally a trading post established by A. B. Hamilton in 1873. Though the Teton River flows nearby, it is dry most of the time.  

Choteau, Montana is a small town and is home to just over 1,000 people. The town was founded in 1881 and is the oldest settlement in the county. Choteau has a rich, storied history and is an important part of Montana's early settlement. 

The earliest inhabitants of Choteau were Native Americans. The Piegan Blackfeet Tribe lived in the area for centuries before European settlers arrived in the late 19th century. The area was also home to the Gros Ventres Tribe who, like the Blackfeet, made use of the area's abundant wildlife and natural resources. 

By the turn of the century, Choteau was a bustling frontier town. A post office was established and the town was incorporated in 1902. The Choteau Mercantile Company opened its doors in 1904, selling a variety of goods to the town's residents. The Great Northern Railway also made its way to Choteau in the early 20th century, connecting the town to the rest of the country. 

In the mid-20th century, Choteau began to slowly shift from a farming and ranching community to a tourist destination. In 1959, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was established in Choteau, bringing tourists from around the country to the region in search of hunting opportunities. In the 1970s and 1980s, Choteau also began to see an influx of artisans, drawn to the area by its stunning natural beauty and its hospitable locals. 

Today, Choteau is a charming small town with a unique history and a vibrant arts and culture scene. Visitors come from all over the world to take in the town's historic sites, explore its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, and enjoy its many galleries and festivals.