Ghost towns and almost ghost towns of Buffalo County, South Dakota
Ghost towns and almost ghost towns of Buffalo County, South Dakota
HISTORY
A county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,948.[1] Its county seat is Gann Valley[2] which, at 14 people, is the least populous county seat in the United States. The county was created in 1864, and was organized in 1871[3] as part of the Dakota Territory.
In 2010, the center of population of South Dakota was located in eastern Buffalo County.[4] The Crow Creek Indian Reservation, inhabited by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe makes up the majority of Buffalo County.
According to the 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) of the US Census Bureau, about 41% of county residents live in poverty, making it the fifth-poorest county in South Dakota. This is a far higher poverty rate than the national poverty rate of 15.8%. Median household income in 2013 was $21,572, making it the lowest-earning county in South Dakota and the United States.[5]
In March 2019, the county unemployment rate was 3.9%; its ten-year peaks occurred in December 2006 (18.1%) and December 2009 (17.2%).[6] As of 2002, many homes lack kitchens and indoor plumbing.[7]
As first organized, the county occupied an extensive area, bounded on the north by Canada, southwest and west by the Missouri River, having Montana for a part of its northwest boundary, and comprising a large portion of the “Plateau du Coteau du Missouri,” and a part of the Miniwakan or Devil's Lake.[9] Thus its original boundary also contained a portion of the future North Dakota, which became a separate unit when the Dakota Territory was admitted into the Union in 1889 as two separate states.
TOWNS
Buffalo Centre
Post office (1887-1890)
Crow Creek
Post office (1870/1916)
Crow Creek, Buffalo Co., SD - 1909 Business Directory This file contains a listing from the "South Dakota State Business Directory," published by The Gazetteer Publishing Co., Denver, Colorado in 1909. Information transcribed by Joy Fisher. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm CROW CREEK A postoffice in Buffalo county, 25 miles west of Gann Valley, the railroad and trading point. Population 80 white, 1,200 Indians. Last Name First Name Business Burno see Lockwood & Burno Lane T. W. Indian agent Lockwood & Burno general merchandise, Indian traders Moore D. V. genl mdse, Indian trader, postmaster
Duncan
Post office (1883-1913)
Duncan, Buffalo Co., SD - 1909 Business Directory This file contains a listing from "South Dakota State Business Directory", published by The Gazetteer Publishing Co., Denver, CO in 1909. This listing shows businesses in Duncan. This information transcribed by Violet L. Sunderland, vsunderl@hq.tcfarm.com and may be freely copied for non-profit purposes. All other rights reserved. DUNCAN A postoffice in Buffalo county, 10 miles north of Gann Valley. Population: 8. Lawver, Frank A postmaster
Eldorado
(1882/1889)
Estherdale
Post office (1890-1906)
Fort Hale
Post office (1879-1884)
A U.S. Army fort first established in 1870 as Post at Lower Brule Indian Agency on the right (west) bank of the Missouri River near present day Chamberlain in Brule County, South Dakota (then the Dakota Territory.) Moved about 15 miles upstream opposite the mouth of Crow Creek in Lyman County. Named Fort Hale on 30 Dec 1878 after Captain Owen Hale, 7th U.S. Cavalry who was killed at the Battle of Bear Paw on 30 Sep 1877. Abandoned in 1884. Also known as Fort Lower Brule.
Established by Captain George W. Hill, 22nd U.S. Infantry on 8 Jun 1870 on the east bank of the Missouri River near present-day Chamberlain in Brule County, South Dakota. Moved 15 miles upstream 24 Jul 1870 with the Indian Agency to a point opposite the mouth of Crow Creek on the west bank of the Missouri River in present-day Lyman County.
With the end of the threat of hostilities, Fort Hale was officially abandoned on 20 May 1884. The main garrison had departed 19 May 1884 on the steamer, Terry, with their commissary store for Chamberlain where they boarded a train for their new station. Left behind was a detachment of 10 enlisted men commanded by 2nd Lt. H. D. Reed to close up the fort's affairs. The detachment turned the fort over to the Indian Agent at the reservation on 7 Jul 1884 and departed the next day.
Many of the buildings were sold to local citizens and the officer's quarters became the Taft Hotel in Chamberlain at Main and King Streets. The Taft Hotel operated until 1962 and the building was moved next to I-90 at exit 263 in 1989. The building was destroyed by fire in 1990.
Grand River
Post office (1870-1874)
Medicine Creek
Post office (1872-1873)
Richards
Post office(1884-1918)
Richards, Buffalo Co., SD - 1909 Business Directory This file contains a listing from the "South Dakota State Business Directory," published by The Gazetteer Publishing Co., Denver, Colorado in 1909. Information transcribed by Joy Fisher. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. RICHARDS Country postoffice in Buffalo county, 26 miles south of Ree Heights, the most convenient railroad point. Population 12. Last Name First Name Business Dye A. E. postmaster
Virginia
(1918-1918)
Waterbury
Post office (1883-1913)
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