List of ghost towns in South Dakota

This is an incomplete list of ghost towns in South Dakota, United States of America.

The founders of the town of Minnesela standing on the balcony of the Minnesela Hotel in 1889.

Classification

Rockerville in 2006.

Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Some sites no longer have any trace of civilization and have reverted to pasture land or empty fields. Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings.

Barren site

  • Sites no longer in existence or have been destroyed
  • Deserted or barren
  • Covered with water
  • Reverted to pasture
  • May have a few difficult-to-find foundations/footings at most

Neglected site

  • Only rubble left
  • Buildings or houses still standing, but majority are roofless

Abandoned site

  • Building or houses still standing but all abandoned
  • No population, except possibly a caretaker
  • Site no longer in existence except for one or two buildings

Ghost towns

A through B

The Volunteer Fire Department in Ardmore in 2010.
Sign marking the location of Burdock in 2013.
Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
Addie CampPennington1892-1917NeglectedAlso known as Kennedyville, Canadaville, or Addie Spur.
AlbanyLawrence
Allen's CampPennington
AllertonLawrence
AltaPennington1870s-?NeglectedAlso known as Altamine.
American CityLawrenceBarrenThe exact location is unknown due to flooding that has destroyed all traces of the town.
AnchorLawrenceThis town was in the Ragged Top mining district. Not to be confused with Anchor City.
Anchor CityLawrenceThis was an early mining camp close to Deadwood. Also called Anchor; not to be confused with Anchor.
Annie CreekLawrenceAlso called Stanley City or Reliance.
ArdmoreFall River1889-2004Abandoned
ArgonneMiner 1886-1970sBarren
ArgyleCusterBarren
ArpanButte
AstoriaLawrence1887-?Neglected
AthboyCorsonAbandoned
Atlantic CityCusterBarrenThe exact location of the town and its mine are a mystery.
BakervilleCusterBarren
BallButte
BalmoralLawrencec. 1897-1910sNeglectedPossibly an earlier name for Cyanide, which was in the same mining district.
BangorWalworthBarren
Bear ButteLawrenceNot to be confused with Bear Butte, the butte located to the southeast of the town site. It is also called Bare Butte.
Bear GulchLawrencec. 1870s-?Not to be confused with the Bear Gulch (Elkhorn) settlement in Pennington County.
Bear GulchPenningtonBarren (submerged)Submerged under Pactola Lake. This was a stop along the Black Hills & Western Railroad. Not to be confused with the Lawrence County settlement by the same name. It is also called Elkhorn.
Bear RockCusterAn early placer mining camp. It housed the first post office in the Black Hills, which was only a cave where mail was delivered.
Beaver CityLawrence01/1878-?Barren
BernardsvilleLawrencec. 1877-?BarrenExact location unknown, but is somewhere one-half mile east of the Wyoming state line.
BesantLawrenceNeglectedAlso called Besant Flats or Besant Park.
Big BottomMeade1878-1887Neglected
BismuthCusterNeglected
Black FoxPennington
BlacktailLawrence
BloomingtonBrown?-1877BarrenWas destroyed by outlaws.
BluevalePennington?-c. 1900Barren
Bon HommeClayAbandoned
BoughtonLawrenceBarren
BoulderLawrence?-1880sBarrenAlso called Boulder Park.
BrashvilleLawrenceFebruary 2, 1881-June 1882The dates listed are the dates that the post office was in operation.
BrennanPenningtonAlso called Warbonnet and Siding Eleven.
Buena VistaFall RiverNeglected
Buena VisteLawrenceBarren
BugtownCuster?-1880sBarren
BurdockFall RiverNeglectedAlso called Argentine.

C through D

Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
CalciteMeadeBarrenAlso called Quarry.
Canyon CityPenningtonNeglected
CarbonateLawrencec. 1881-1939NeglectedThe town was mostly abandoned in 1891, but the town's last resident died in 1939. It was also called West Virginia, Virginia, Carbonate Camp, Carbonate City, and Crow Creek Carbonate Camp.
CartersvilleLawrenceNot to be confused with Carterville. Also called Lincoln.
CartervillePennington1879-?Not to be confused with Cartersville. Also called Carter.
CarwyeMeadeBarren
CascadeFall River1888-?AbandonedAlso called Cascade Springs.
Castle RockButte1910-?
CastletonPennington1876-1880, 1890sNeglectedThe town was abandoned twice: first in 1880, when the mines failed; and again in the 1890s.
Castleville1877-1879BarrenThe location of the town is unknown other than that it was located in or around the Black Hills. It could have also been located in Wyoming.
Centennial CityLawrenceBarrenExisted around 1876.
Centennial ParkLawrenceBarrenHad a population of 52 in 1900.
ChanningLawrenceBarrenIt was a very small town that was only shown on one map. It was about 3 miles northwest of Nemo.
Cheyenne FallsFall RiverBarrenA very small community that never had a large population. It had a post office in 1900.
Coal SpringsPerkins
Cold SpringsCusterAbandonedThis mining town once had a school and cemetery.
ConataPennington
Copper CampPenningtonc. 1900-?
CrestonPenningtonNeglected
CyanideLawrenceNeglectedWas in the same mining district as Balmoral, Preston, and Dacy.
DacyLawrence?-c. 1915BarrenWas in the same mining district as Balmoral, Cyanide, and Preston.
DansbyCuster?-1886BarrenHad a maximum population of 50-75 people. Also named Danby.
DeerfieldPenningtonBarren (submerged)Also called Mountain and Mountain City. The town site is underwater.
DeermontButte
DevoeFaulk
Diamond CityLawrenceBarrenExisted around 1880. The surviving ruins of the town were torn down in 1967.
DumontLawrence1890-?Barren
DyceMoodyHistoric post office[1]

E through H

The former site of East Sioux Falls in 2009.
Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
East Sioux FallsMinnehaha
ElizabethtownLawrenceLater incorporated into Deadwood.
ElmoreLawrenceAbandoned
EmmetUnion1871-?Neglected
EnglewoodLawrenceAlso called Ten Mile Ranch.
EttaPenningtonBarrenAlso called Etta Camp.
EurekaPenningtonNot to be confused with Eureka in McPherson County.
Evans PlaceLawrenceBarrenIts exact location is unknown.
EvertsWalworthBarren
Fair ViewPenningtonBarrenExisted around 1887.
FarmingdalePenningtonAbandoned
FiresteelDavison1875-?Barren
FlatironLawrence1890s-?NeglectedNot to be confused with the other Flatiron. It was a successful mining town from the 1890s until about the 1930s.
FlatironLawrencec. 1921-?BarrenNot to be confused with the Flatiron which was much bigger and existed long before this town.
FloraCuster1890sBarrenWas a tin mining town. Its exact location is unknown.
FloralPenningtonNeglectedAlso called Florence. Not to be confused with Florence, South Dakota located in Codington County; or the similarly-named ghost town Flora.
FolsomCusterWas a gold mining town.
Forest CitySubmerged under Lake Oahe.
Fountain CityLawrenceAlso called Mountain City. Was incorporated into Deadwood.
GayvilleLawrenceAlso called Troy, it was an early placer mining camp that had a significant population, but was later absorbed into Deadwood. Not to be confused with the Gayville in Yankton County.
GibralterMeade1877-?BarrenAlso spelled Gibraltar.
GlendalePennington1880s-?Also called Otho.
Golden CentreLawrence
Golden SummitPenningtonAlso called Summit. Not to be confused with Summit, also located in Pennington County.
Golden WestPenningtonc. 1900-c. 1920Barren
Gold HillLawrence
GopherCorson1910-?Barren
GothlandUnion
GrandviewPenningtonBarren
GreenwoodLawrence1885-1912BarrenAlso called Laflin. The last house was torn down in 1971.
GregoryLawrence1879-?BarrenAlso called Montana City. Not to be confused with the Gregory, South Dakota located in Gregory County; or the other Montana City in Lawrence County.
GriggsLawrenceBarren
Hagginsville
HammerRoberts?-1930sNeglected
HarneyPennington1876-1900AbandonedNot to be confused with the military encampment by the same name in Custer County.
HaywardPennington11/1876-?AbandonedAlso spelled Hayword.
HeppnerFall River
HillheadMarshall1915-1970sNeglectedAlso called Hilltop or Airmont.
HillsideButteNeglected
Hill SideUnion
HookerTurnerAbandoned
HooverButte
Hornblende CampPennington1899-1915BarrenAlso called Horneblende.
HuseboeCorsonNeglectedAlso called Lightcap.
HustletonPenningtonExisted around January 1877.

I through L

Storage building in Igloo, photographed in 2008.
Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
IglooFall Riverc. 1942-after 1970AbandonedAlso known as the Black Hills Ordnance Depot, it was a residential community located near a munitions storage and maintenance facility.
ImlayJackson1907-?Neglected
IvanhoeCusterBarrenNot to be confused with Yamboya, which was also called Ivanhoe but was a separate community.
Junction CityCusterc. 09/1879-c. 1881Neglected
KiddvilleCusterbefore September 20, 1879-?Neglected
LakeviewToddNeglectedOnly the school and church are still in use by the farming community, but the actual town no longer exists.
Lancaster CityLawrenceBarren
LauzonCusterNeglected
LeBeauWalworthBarren (submerged)It is submerged beneath Lake Oahe.
LentzLawrence
LexingtonLawrenceBarren
LilyDay1883-2017DissolvedDissolved in March 2017 by the Day County court due to its population reaching zero.[2]
LithiaFall RiverBarrenMost likely submerged beneath Angostura Lake.
Lone CampLawrenceBarrenWas an early mining camp. The exact location is unknown, but it was around Maitland and Carbonate.
LookoutPenningtonc. 1884-c. 1890NeglectedThe residential community of Fort Lookout.
Lost CampLawrenceNeglected
LuffmanMarshallBarren

M through O

Aerial view of Manchester after the tornado outbreak that destroyed the town in 2003.
Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
MacyButte
MaitlandLawrence1877-c. 1915NeglectedAlso called Midland, Garden City, and Sherman.
MaitlandFall RiverBarren
ManchesterKingsburyJune 29, 1881-June 24, 2003BarrenThe town was already in decline when it was completely destroyed during the 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak. All that remains are the foundations of the buildings.
March
MariettaFall RiverBarren
Martin ValleyCuster
MasonButte
MauriceLawrenceNow the site of the power plant for the Homestake Mine.
MaverickPenningtonNeglectedExisted around 1891.
MayoCusterNeglected
MelvinCuster
MerrittLawrenceBarren
Middle BoxelderLawrenceBarrenThis town's existence was proven by early photographs. However, its exact location is unknown.
MinneapolisPenningtonBarren
MinnelusaPenningtonBarrenExisted in 1920.
MinneselaButte1882-1901BarrenThe first county seat of Butte County, it was notable for its rivalry with the neighboring town of Belle Fourche in the 1890s.
MogulLawrence
Montana CityLawrence1879-?Not to be confused with Gregory, South Dakota, which was also called Montana City and was also located in Lawrence County. Montana City later became part of Deadwood.
MontezumaLawrence
MoonPenningtonNeglected
MorganfieldUnion
Moss CityCusterIts exact location is unknown. It was most likely in eastern Custer County. It had a post office during the Black Hills Gold Rush days, but its population was never determined.
Myers CityPenningtonNeglectedAlso called Myersville.
MysticPenningtonAbandonedAlso called Sitting Bull.
NahantLawrence1890-?Barren
NasbyLawrenceBarrenExisted around 1910 as a booming logging camp.
Nerve CityLawrence1896Located about 1,500 feet (460 m) north of Balmoral.
New BerlinLawrence1878-?Barren
New ChicagoLawrencec. 1875-1877BarrenWas a camp later absorbed into Maitland, South Dakota.
Newton CityPenningtonc. 1878-?Barren
North GalenaLawrenceBarrenThe exact location is unknown, but it was probably somewhere around Galena. It was also called Carter City.
NovakLawrenceNeglectedAlso called Cindell Spur.
Nugget CityLawrenceBarrenWas in existence before or around 1898.
Oak FlatLawrenceBarren
Ochre CityPenningtonBarrenWas a booming mining community around 1879.
OkobojoSullyNeglected
Old AshtonSpinkNeglected
OrdwayBrown
OroLawrenceAlso called North Lead.
Oreville
OtisCusterBarrenThe Custer State Game Lodge was built on the site of the town's mill.

P through R

Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
PactolaPenningtonBarren (submerged)Submerged beneath Pactola Lake.
Pearl City
PedroPennington
PerryAlso called Lewisville.
Pine GroveLawrenceBarrenThe only indication of the site is that it was within twenty miles of Deadwood.
PinkertonPenningtonBarren
PlacervillePenningtonBarren
PlumaLawrenceAbandoned
Poorman's GulchLawrenceBarrenAn early mining camp near Central City. Its exact location is unknown.
PostvilleMeadeBarrenWas in existence around 1891.
Potato TownLawrenceBarrenAlso called Potato Creek, after the town it was located on.
PrestonLawrencec. 1897-?NeglectedWas in the same area as Balmoral, Dacy, and Cyanide.
PurewaterToddNeglected
Quartz CityLawrence01/1878-?BarrenDue to the inaccuracy of the maps drawn of the area, its exact location is unknown.
Queen BeePennington1880s-1930sBarrenA large fire destroyed all remains of the town in the 1930s.
Ragged TopLawrence1880s-c. 1915NeglectedWas also the name of the school district and mining district in which Preston, Cyanide, Dacy, and Balmoral were also included.
ReausawLawrenceAbandonedAlso spelled Reavsaw.
Red FernLawrenceBarren
RedwaterButteBarrenExisted around 1921.
ReedButte1905-1910NeglectedOnly the school house remains.
RichmondLawrencec. 1880-c. 1945Neglected
RockervillePennington1870s-1930sAbandonedThe site has been rebuilt and is now a tourist attraction. Also called Rockville.
RosedalePenningtonExisted around 1935.
RossvillePenningtonWas in existence around 1883.
RunkelMeadec. 1900-?BarrenThe only real marker of the town is an apple orchard that still stands today. Also spelled Runkle.

S through T

Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
SacoraMeadeBarrenExisted around 1891.
Safe InvestmentLawrenceAlso called Spruce.
SampontButte
SaratogaLawrenceBarren
SheridanPenningtonfall 1875-after 1930Barren (submerged)Also called Golden City, it was submerged under Sheridan Lake.
Silver CityLawrenceAn early mining town on Bald Mountain. Not to be confused with the Silver City in Pennington County, which is still active.
SlabtownLawrenceThe town only survived for two years. Its post office was later moved to Novak.
SnomaButte1885-?BarrenThe town was once home to the Snoma Finnish Cemetery, an NRHP-listed place. It was probably intended to be called Suomi or Suoma.
South BendLawrenceIt had a population of 116 in 1880, but when it was abandoned, the residents moved to Central City.
Sparta CityLawrence1878-?BarrenIts exact location is unknown.
SpokaneCusterc. 1890NeglectedA few homes still stand. Mine was filled in by USFS
Spring-On-The-HillCusterBarren
Squaw CreekLawrenceBarrenIts exact location is unknown.
StamfordJackson1909-1934Burned down 3 times before its closing.
String Town Logging CampLawrence1899-1908
SummitCuster
SummitLawrence
SummitPennington
Sylvan CityCusterBarren
Teddy BearPenningtonNeglected
TeepeeBarren
TenderfootCusterNeglected
TerravilleLawrence1877-1982Barren
TerryLawrence1876-?Barren
TexanaLawrence
Texas TownUnionBarrenAll that remains is a cemetery. It is also called Texas.
TigervillePennington1878-1885NeglectedAlso called Tiger City.
TintonLawrence?-1950sNeglected
TepeePenningtonNeglected
TravareRobertsNeglectedWas the original county seat of Roberts County.
TrojanLawrence?-1959NeglectedAlso called Portland.
TwilightButte1917-?Barren
Two-BitLawrence1876-1900sBarrenAlso called Two Bit.

V through Z

Name   County   Dates   Status   Notes   
VictoriaLawrenceNot to be confused with the Pennington County location.
VictoriaPenningtonNot to be confused with the Lawrence County location.
Virginia CityLawrenceAlso called Virginia Moll. Not to be confused with Carbonate, which was alternatively called West Virginia or simply Virginia.
VolunteerMeadeBarrenExisted in the early 1900s.
WealthyPenningtonBarren
WestfordCuster
WetaJackson1907-?Neglected
WhitetailLawrenceExisted around 1900.
Whitewood CityLawrenceBarrenNot to be confused with Whitewood, which is still an active community.
WilliamsburgLawrenceBarrenThe exact location is unknown. The town existed in the early days of the Black Hills Gold Rush.
WinshipBrown1889-?Barren
WoodvilleLawrence
YamboyaCusterBarrenAlso called Ivanhoe. Not to be confused with the other settlement called Ivanhoe, which was also in Custer County but was a different town.
YoungPenningtonBarrenIt was mentioned in a newspaper in fall 1879.

Notes

References

  • Engebretson, Pat; Heck, Kay; Herrett, Helen (1989). A History of Butte County, South Dakota. Dallas, TX: Curtis Media. ISBN 0-88107-139-0.
  • Parker, Watson; Lambert, Hugh K. (1974). Black Hills Ghost Towns (1st ed.). Chicago, IL: The Swallow Press. ISBN 0-8040-0637-7.
  • Klock, Irma H. (June 1975). Yesterday's Gold Camps and Mines in the Northern Black Hills (1st ed.). Lead, SD: Seaton Publishing Company.
  • Wolle, Muriel Sibell (1966) [1953]. The Bonanza Trail: Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of the West (5th ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.
  • "Ghost Towns in South Dakota". Ghost Towns. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
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