| Deadwood, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Modern Deadwood viewed from Mount Moriah | |
| Location in Lawrence County and the state of South Dakota | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lawrence |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Commission |
| • Mayor | Francis Toscana (elected 2001)[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2) |
| • Land | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,531 ft (1,381 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,270 |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 57732 |
| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-15700[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1265180[3] |
Deadwood is a city in South Dakota, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. It is named for the dead trees found in its gulch.[4] The population was 1,270 according to a 2010 census. The city includes the Deadwood Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District, whose borders may be the city limits.
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The settlement of Deadwood began in the 1870s and has been described as illegal, since it lay within the territory granted to Native Americans in the 1868 Treaty of Laramie. The treaty had guaranteed ownership of the Black Hills to the Lakota people, and disputes over the Hills are ongoing, having reached the United States Supreme Court on several occasions. However, in 1874, Colonel George Armstrong Custer led an expedition into the Hills and announced the discovery of gold on French Creek near present-day Custer, South Dakota. Custer's announcement triggered the Black Hills Gold Rush and gave rise to the lawless town of Deadwood, which quickly reached a population of around 5,000.
In early 1876, frontiersman Charlie Utter and his brother Steve led a wagon train to Deadwood containing what were deemed to be needed commodities to bolster business. The wagon train brought gamblers and prostitutes, resulting in the establishment of profitable ventures. Demand for women was high, and the business of prostitution proved to have a good market. Madam Dora DuFran would eventually become the most profitable brothel owner in Deadwood, closely followed by Madam Mollie Johnson. Businessman Tom Miller opened the Bella Union Saloon in September of that year.
Another saloon was the Gem Variety Theater, opened April 7, 1877 by Al Swearengen who also controlled the opium trade in the town. The saloon was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt in 1879. It burned down again in 1899, causing Swearengen to leave the town.
The town attained notoriety for the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, and Mount Moriah Cemetery remains the final resting place of Hickok and Calamity Jane, as well as slightly less notable figures such as Seth Bullock. It became known for its wild and almost lawless reputation, during which time murder was common, and punishment for murders not always fair and impartial. The prosecution of the murderer of Hickok, Jack McCall, had to be sent to retrial because of a ruling that his first trial, which resulted in an acquittal, was invalid because Deadwood was an illegal town. This moved the trial to a Dakota Territory court, where he was found guilty and then hanged.
As the economy changed from gold rush to steady mining, Deadwood lost its rough and rowdy character and settled down into a prosperous town. In 1876, a smallpox epidemic swept through the camp, with so many falling sick that tents had to be set up to quarantine them. Also in that year, General George Crook pursued the Sioux Indians from the Battle of Little Big Horn on an expedition that ended in Deadwood, and that came to be known as the Horsemeat March. The Homestake Mine in nearby Lead was established in 1877.
A fire on September 26, 1879 devastated the town, destroying over 300 buildings and consuming everything belonging to many inhabitants. Many of the newly impoverished left town to try their luck elsewhere, without the opportunities of rich untapped veins of ore that characterized the town's early days.
A narrow-gauge railroad, the Deadwood Central Railroad, was founded by Deadwood resident J.K.P. Miller and his associates in 1888, in order to serve their mining interests in the Black Hills. The railroad was purchased by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1893. A portion of the railroad between Deadwood and Lead was electrified in 1902 for operation as an interurban passenger system, which operated until 1924. The railroad was abandoned in 1930, apart from a portion from Kirk to Fantail Junction, which was converted to standard gauge. The remaining section was abandoned by the successor Burlington Northern Railroad in 1984.[5]
Some of the other early town residents and frequent visitors included Al Swearengen, E. B. Farnum, Charlie Utter, Sol Star, Martha Bullock, A. W. Merrick, Samuel Fields, Calamity Jane, Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, the Reverend Henry Weston Smith, and Wild Bill Hickok.
Another major fire in September 1959 came close to destroying the town. About 4,500 square miles (12,000 km2) were burned and an evacuation order was issued. Nearly 3,600 volunteer and professional firefighters, including personnel from the Homestake Mine and Ellsworth Air Force Base, worked to contain the fire, which resulted in a major regional economic downturn.[6]
The entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. However, the town underwent additional decline and financial stresses during the next two decades.[1] Interstate 90 bypassed it in 1964 and its brothels were shut down after a 1980 raid.[1] A fire in December 1987 destroyed the historic Syndicate Building and a neighboring structure.[1] The fire spurred the "Deadwood Experiment", in which gambling was tested as a means of revitalizing a city center.[1][7] At the time, gambling was legal only in the state of Nevada and in Atlantic City.[8] Deadwood was the first small community in the U.S. to seek legal gambling revenues as a way of maintaining local historic qualities.[8] Gambling was legalized in Deadwood in 1989 and immediately brought significant new revenues and development.[9] The pressure of development may have an effect on the historical integrity of the landmark district.[9]
The gold rush attracted Chinese immigrants to the area. Their population peaked at 250.[10] A few engaged in mining; most worked in service enterprises. A quarter arose on Main Street, encouraged by the lack of restrictions on foreign property ownership in Dakota Territory and a relatively high level of tolerance. The quarter's residents also included African-Americans and Americans of European extraction.[11] The state sponsored an archeological dig in the area during the 2000s.[12]
Deadwood is located at .[13]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km2) all of it land.
Deadwood has been assigned the ZIP code 57732 and the FIPS place code 15700.
In the summer, there are numerous trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding. The northern end of the George S. Mickelson Trail starts in Deadwood and runs south through the Black Hills to Edgemont. Several man made lakes, including Sheridan Lake, provide fishing and swimming. Spearfish Canyon to the north has many places to rock climb. In early June the Mickelson Trail Marathon and 5K, as well as accompanying races for children, are held.
During the winter there are two ski areas just a few miles outside of nearby Lead, SD – Terry Peak and Deer Mountain.
"The Midnight Star" casino in Deadwood is owned by American film actor Kevin Costner. International versions of many of his films' posters line its walls.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 3,777 |
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| 1890 | 2,366 | −37.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,408 | 44.0% | |
| 1910 | 3,653 | 7.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,403 | −34.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,559 | 6.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,100 | 60.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,288 | −19.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,045 | −7.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,409 | −20.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,035 | −15.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,830 | −10.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,380 | −24.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,270 | −8.0% | |
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As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,380 people, 669 households, and 341 families residing in the city. The population density was 365.4 people per square mile (141.0/km²). There were 817 housing units at an average density of 216.3 per square mile (83.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.87% White, 1.88% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.75% of the population. 29.8% were of German, 9.6% Irish, 9.5% English, 9.5% Norwegian and 8.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 669 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% 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 2.71.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,641, and the median income for a family was $37,132. Males had a median income of $28,920 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,673. About 6.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
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