Teton

Formed March 2, 1893 (19^th county)

Teton County (6,230), Choteau (1,725)

The stone construction on the 1906 building is unique for courthouses.  Teton County was founded on March 2, 1893 as the 19^th county with Choteau as the only county seat.  The county is named for the Teton River.  Joseph Gibson and Charles Shanley are the designers of this Renaissance Revival structure.  The county seat is named for explorer Pierre Choteau.  He is also the namesake of Chouteau County.  The courthouse is on a square where Main Avenue meets Division Street.  United States Highway 89 is Main Avenue in the town. 

Teton County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Teton, Glacier, Pondera, and Toole counties.  Teton County is in northern Montana.  Great Falls, Montana is southeast and Missoula, Montana is southwest of the county.  The Continental Divide is on its western border.  The county center is 8.6 miles North-Northwest of Choteau nearer Miller Colony.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pondera, Chouteau, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, and Flathead counties. 

The area of the county is 2273 square miles.  It is 31 out of 56 in the state.  It ranks 32 out of 56 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.7 persons per square mile making it 27 out of 56 in the state.  Teton County has 44.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 15 crosses the county north to south from Pondera County to Cascade County.  United States Highway 89 goes north to southeast from Pondera County to Cascade County.  United States Highway 287 originates and heads south into Lewis and Clark County.  The county shape could be described as a hatchet facing south.  Choteau is near the geographical center of the county.  Choteau is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 27.7% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced SHOE-TOE.