Belle Fourche is the Northern Gateway to the Black Hills
Spearfish, SD
Gold fever brought people to Spearfish and the City began to grow rapidly. By 1890 the population of Spearfish had grown to 671. The City is named after the creek that runs through it. The Native Americans that used to spear fish in the clear waters gave the creek its name.
Within the breathtaking landscapes of the Northern Black Hills, Spearfish, South Dakota, stands as a beacon of adventure, culture, and historical splendor. This enchanting city offers a unique blend of scenic beauty, vibrant downtown life, and rich cultural experiences that beckon travelers from near and far.
Spearfish had a 2024 population of 13,635. Spearfish is currently growing at a rate of 2.66% annually and its population has increased by 11.56% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 12,222 in 2020.
Lead, SD
First settled in 1876, and incorporated in 1877, the City of Lead is nestled in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota. The City of Lead was once the home for thousands of Homestake Mining Company employees and their families and the town that they built has remained unchanged in many ways.
The Homestake Mine has now been shut down but the Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake is in full development and promises a lively future for the community.
The population of Lead was 2,982 at the 2020 census. Lead is located in western South Dakota, in the Black Hills near the Wyoming state line.
Deadwood, SD
The city had its heyday from 1876 to 1879, after gold deposits had been discovered there, leading to the Black Hills Gold Rush. At its height, the city had a population of 25,000, attracting Old West figures such as Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock and Wild Bill Hickok.
The population of Deadwood was 1,156 at the 2020 census, and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 1,343.
Sturgis, SD
Sturgis is notable as the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which lasts for 10 days beginning on the first Friday of August. It attracts large numbers of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world.
An early nickname for the town was “Scooptown.” Scooptown had been an earlier settlement at the base of Bear Butte, that supplied the soldiers at Camp Sturgis an outlet for their vices. The population of Sturgis was 7,020 as of the 2020 census.
Rapid City, SD
Rapid City is the county seat of Pennington County. It is the second most populous city in the state, after Sioux Falls. It is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota and was named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed.
Known as the “Gateway to the Black Hills” and the “City of Presidents” because of the life-size bronze president statues downtown, Rapid City is split by a low mountain ridge that divides the city’s western and eastern parts, called ‘The Gap.’ Ellsworth Air Force Base is on the city’s outskirts. Camp Rapid, part of the South Dakota Army National Guard, is in the city’s western part.
As of the 2020 census, there were 74,703 people, and 31,261 households, and 17,755 families residing in the city.
Hulett, WY
Nestled in northeastern Wyoming, Hulett is a quaint town surrounded by rolling countryside, outdoor recreational opportunities, and historic landmarks.
In Hulett, visitors can catch a glimpse of the local cowboy culture, savor the state’s best burgers, and indulge in outdoor adventures in the surrounding hills. Devils Tower, the first proclaimed United States national monument, is 9 miles away.
The Town was named for the first family to settle in the area in 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hulett.
The population was 309 at the 2020 census.
Sundance, WY
After all, Sundance is where a member of Butch Cassidy’s notorious Wild Bunch gang, The Sundance Kid, got his name after being jailed for stealing a horse in 1887. It was the only time he was ever incarcerated.
The town is directly south of the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills National Forest. The population was 1,032 at the 2020 census.
Gillette, WY
Gillette, Wyoming, is known as the energy capital of the nation, centrally located in an area involved with the development of vast quantities of coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas. It’s also home to CAM-PLEX, the largest multi-event facility in the western U.S. hosting countless entertainment opportunities, including live music, rodeos, theater and much more.
Founded in 1891 as a major railway town on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, Gillette is the county seat of Campbell County. Before its founding, Gillette started as Donkey Town, named after Donkey Creek, and then was moved and called Rocky Pile after Rocky Draw. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad changed the name to Gillette, after Edward Gillette, a surveyor for the company.
As of the census of 2010, 29,087 people, 10,975 households, and 7,299 families resided in the city.