Editing Chinook, Montana

{{short description|City in Montana, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Chinook, Montana
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Chinook Hotel.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
|image_blank_emblem       = ChinookMTlogo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|blank_emblem_size        = 140px

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Blaine_County_Montana_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Chinook_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Chinook, Montana
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Montana}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Montana|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Blaine County, Montana|Blaine]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Glenn Huestis<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://cityofchinook.com/about/city-council/ |website=City of Chinook |access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.35
|area_land_km2            = 1.35
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.52
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.52
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1185
|population_density_km2   = 875.33
|population_density_sq_mi = 2265.77

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 2425
|coordinates              = {{coord|48|35|24|N|109|13|55|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 59523, 59535
|area_code                = [[Area code 406|406]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 30-14575
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409455<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409455}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://cityofchinook.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Chinook''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Blaine County, Montana|Blaine County]], [[Montana]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2015-05-09 }}</ref> The population was 1,185 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> Points of interest are the Bear Paw Battlefield Museum located in the small town's center and the [[Battle of Bear Paw|Bear Paw Battlefield]], located {{convert|20|mi|km|0}} south of Chinook.

==Name==
The city is named for the [[Chinook wind]], a warm wind on eastern side of the [[Rocky Mountains]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chinookmontana.com/|title=Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce|quote=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.|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> Its [[Gros Ventre language|Gros Ventre]] name is {{lang|ats|ʔaasíccóóútaanʔɔ}}, 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.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Cowell, A.|author2=Taylor, A.|author3=Brockie, T.|title=Gros Ventre ethnogeography and place names: A diachronic perspective|journal=Anthropological Linguistics|year=2016|volume=58|number=2|pages=132–170|doi=10.1353/anl.2016.0025|s2cid=151520012}}</ref> 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 (Alberta–Montana)|Milk River]], which flows south of town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce {{!}} Supporting Growth in the Community |url=https://chinookmontana.com/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-12-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
Chinook experiences a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with long, cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Chinook, Montana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 69
 | Feb record high F  = 75
 | Mar record high F  = 82
 | Apr record high F  = 94
 | May record high F  = 98
 | Jun record high F  = 109
 | Jul record high F  = 110
 | Aug record high F  = 109
 | Sep record high F  = 104
 | Oct record high F  = 90
 | Nov record high F  = 82
 | Dec record high F  = 70
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 54.8
|Feb avg record high F = 56.1
|Mar avg record high F = 66.9
|Apr avg record high F = 78.9
|May avg record high F = 86.3
|Jun avg record high F = 92.3
|Jul avg record high F = 98.1
|Aug avg record high F = 97.9
|Sep avg record high F = 91.4
|Oct avg record high F = 79.1
|Nov avg record high F = 65.7
|Dec avg record high F = 55.6
|year avg record high F = 99.7

 | Jan high F = 27.1
 | Feb high F = 31.4
 | Mar high F = 43.0
 | Apr high F = 56.9
 | May high F = 67.0
 | Jun high F = 75.4
 | Jul high F = 84.3
 | Aug high F = 83.3
 | Sep high F = 72.3
 | Oct high F = 56.9
 | Nov high F = 41.3
 | Dec high F = 30.5
 | year high F = 55.8
 | Jan mean F = 15.7
 | Feb mean F = 19.2
 | Mar mean F = 30.4
 | Apr mean F = 43.1
 | May mean F = 53.5
 | Jun mean F = 62.4
 | Jul mean F = 69.0
 | Aug mean F = 67.5
 | Sep mean F = 56.8
 | Oct mean F = 42.7
 | Nov mean F = 29.2
 | Dec mean F = 19.0
 | year mean F = 42.4
 | Jan low F = 4.2
 | Feb low F = 6.9
 | Mar low F = 17.7
 | Apr low F = 29.4
 | May low F = 40.0
 | Jun low F = 49.3
 | Jul low F = 53.6
 | Aug low F = 51.7
 | Sep low F = 41.2
 | Oct low F = 28.5
 | Nov low F = 17.0
 | Dec low F = 7.5
 | year low F = 28.9

|Jan avg record low F = -24.1
|Feb avg record low F = -17.8
|Mar avg record low F = -5.2
|Apr avg record low F = 15.2
|May avg record low F = 26.1
|Jun avg record low F = 38.2
|Jul avg record low F = 44.5
|Aug avg record low F = 40.5
|Sep avg record low F = 27.9
|Oct avg record low F = 10.9
|Nov avg record low F = -6.0
|Dec avg record low F = -16.9
|year avg record low F = -32.0

 | Jan record low F  = -50
 | Feb record low F  = -51
 | Mar record low F  = -38
 | Apr record low F  = -13
 | May record low F  = 11
 | Jun record low F  = 28
 | Jul record low F  = 32
 | Aug record low F  = 30
 | Sep record low F  = 13
 | Oct record low F  = -24
 | Nov record low F  = -38
 | Dec record low F  = -53
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 0.45
 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.37
 | Mar precipitation inch = 0.59
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.04
 | May precipitation inch = 2.42
 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.86
 | Jul precipitation inch = 1.62
 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.14
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.99
 | Oct precipitation inch = 0.88
 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.69
 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.39
 | year precipitation inch = 13.44
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 4.8
 | Feb precipitation days  = 4.6
 | Mar precipitation days  = 4.6
 | Apr precipitation days  = 6.4
 | May precipitation days  = 9.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 11.4
 | Jul precipitation days  = 7.2
 | Aug precipitation days  = 5.4
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.5
 | Oct precipitation days  = 5.5
 | Nov precipitation days  = 5.5
 | Dec precipitation days  = 4.9
 | year precipitation days = 76.5

|Jan snow inch = 6.8
|Feb snow inch = 6.4
|Mar snow inch = 4.7
|Apr snow inch = 1.6
|May snow inch = 0.7
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.1
|Oct snow inch = 1.2
|Nov snow inch = 6.3
|Dec snow inch = 6.0
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 4.0
|Feb snow days = 4.1
|Mar snow days = 2.9
|Apr snow days = 0.7
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 0.8
|Nov snow days = 3.5
|Dec snow days = 3.6
|year snow days = 20.0

|Jan snow depth inch = 7.6
|Feb snow depth inch = 7.2
|Mar snow depth inch = 7.3
|Apr snow depth inch = 1.8
|May snow depth inch = 0.6
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.1
|Oct snow depth inch = 1.2
|Nov snow depth inch = 4.1
|Dec snow depth inch = 5.3
|year snow depth inch = 13.7

 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=tfx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00241722&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 14, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 780
|1920= 1217
|1930= 1320
|1940= 2051
|1950= 2307
|1960= 2326
|1970= 1813
|1980= 1660
|1990= 1512
|2000= 1386
|2010= 1203
|2020= 1185
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="2010 Census">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-18}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,203 people, 599 households, and 313 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2358.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 697 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1366.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,386 people, 657 households, and 375 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,693.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 732 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,422.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.34% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 6.35% "[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]", 0.07% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.59% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 [https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/meet-sugarbeeters-montana-best-not-fiercest-mascot-220530663.html 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 [[Sugar beet|Sugarbeet]] logo on the front, the nickname has been fully adopted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/life/2017/06/30/why-chinook-known-sugar-beets-heres-history-lesson/412696001/|title=Why is Chinook known for sugar beets? Here's a history lesson|work=Great Falls Tribune|access-date=2018-04-04|language=en}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Lohman Building - Chinook, Montana.JPG|thumb|right|Lohman Building]]
The town has a mayor-council system of government. There are four council members. The mayor in 2023 was Glen Huestis.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://cityofchinook.com/about/city-council/ |publisher=City of Chinook |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
Chinook Public Schools serves students from kindergarten to 12th grade.<ref name="cps">{{cite web |title=Chinook Public Schools |url=http://chinookschools.org/ |access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref> [[Chinook High School (Montana)|Chinook High School]] is a Class C school (less than 108 students) which helps determine athletic competitions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Schools |url=https://www.mhsa.org/memberschools |publisher=Montana High School Association |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

Chinook is home to the Blaine County Library.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blaine County Library |url=http://www.blainecountylibrary.org/ |access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>

==Media==
The ''Blaine County Journal News-Opinion'' is a local weekly newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |title=News |url=https://www.blainecountyjournal.com/ |publisher=The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion |access-date=2 September 2023}}</ref> It is available in print or online.

The FM radio station [[KRYK]] is licensed in Chinook.<ref>{{cite web |title=KRYK |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=56336 |publisher=FCC |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref> The station airs a [[hot adult contemporary]] music format.

==Infrastructure==
[[U.S. Route 2 in Montana|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=S71 Edgar G. Obie |url=https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/services/ajv5/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=S71 |publisher=FAA |access-date=2 September 2023}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Locations |url=https://www.onechc.org/locations |publisher=One Health |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Amtrak]]’s [[Empire Builder]], which operates between [[Seattle]]/[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] and [[Chicago]], passes through the town on [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] tracks, but makes no stop. The [[Havre station|nearest station]] is located in [[Havre, Montana|Havre]], {{convert|22|mi}} to the west.

==Notable people==
* [[Elliott Blackstone]], sergeant of the [[San Francisco Police Department]] and longtime advocate for [[LGBT rights]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=elliott-r-blackstone&pid=19817754|title=Elliott R. Blackstone|date=5 November 2006|website=Legacy.com|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
* [[Chet Blaylock]], former member of the [[Montana State Senate]], taught at a school in the city
* [[U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr.]], former [[United States Navy]] four star admiral and Commander in Chief of the [[United States Pacific Fleet]]

==References==
{{reflist|1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://cityofchinook.com/}}

{{Blaine County, Montana}}
{{Montana county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Blaine County, Montana]]
[[Category:County seats in Montana]]
[[Category:Chinook Jargon place names]]
[[Category:Cities in Montana]]