Census Data for Fort Benton
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Fort Benton a population of 1,443 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Fort Benton a population of 1,464 people.
The city of Fort Benton is located in Chouteau County. The 2010 Census gave Chouteau County; a population of 5,810 people. This means that Fort Benton had 25.2% of the county's total population, making it Chouteau's most populous community.
At the same time, Montana had a population of 989,415 people, meaning that Fort Benton had 0.15% of the total population of Montana - making it the state's 46th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Fort Benton has a total area of 2.07 square miles [5.4 km²].
Chouteau County has a land area of 3,972 square miles [10,288.7 km²]. At 2.07 square miles [5.4 km²], Fort Benton has 0.05% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Fort Benton, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Fort Benton reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Fort Benton might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 47° 49' 43" (or 47.83°)
- Lon: -110° 39' 21" (or -110.66°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Fort Benton had 811 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 1,464 people, this averages 1.81 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Fort Benton had a land area of 2.07 square miles [5.4 km²]. This translates to 392.2 Housing Units per square mile [151.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Fort Benton had 731 Housing Units, a population of 1,594 people and a land area of 2.09 square miles [5.4 km²]. This gives a density of 2.18 people per Housing Unit and 350 Housing Units per square mile [135.1 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Fort Benton and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Chouteau County ...
The community of Fort Benton is located in Chouteau County<4> and is the County Seat for Chouteau County.
The county had a population of 5,810 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 1,464 people, Fort Benton represented 25.2% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Fort Benton has a population density of 707 people per square mile [273.3 people/km²], Chouteau County averages 1.46 people per square mile [0.56 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Chouteau County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Fort Benton, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Fort Benton. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Fort Benton or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Fort Benton, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Fort Benton.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 47.828614° (or 47°49'43" N)
- Lon: -110.655940° (or -110°39'21" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 47.819307° (or 47°49'9" N)
- Lon: -110.669726° (or -110°40'11" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 4,785 feet to the northeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2410524) to Fort Benton. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Fort Benton. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 47.828659° (or 47°49'43" N)
- Lon: -110.655980° (or -110°39'21" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 19.11 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Fort Benton. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Fort Benton.
Miscellaneous Information for Fort Benton ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Chouteau County or the city of Fort Benton:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 30 (Montana)
- County Code: 015 (Chouteau County)
- Place Code: 28000 (Fort Benton)
- State & County Code: 30/015 (Montana / Chouteau County)
- State & Place Code: 30/28000 (Montana / Fort Benton)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Fort Benton is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #8 (the Mountain Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Fort Benton.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Fort Benton. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Chouteau County: www.co.chouteau.mt.us/
The official website for State of Montana: https://mt.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Montana's counties, including Chouteau, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 315 degrees and a distance of 4,785 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 210 degrees and a distance of 19.11 feet. |