Snoma Finnish Cemetery

The Snoma Finnish Cemetery is a cemetery located about 3 1⁄2 miles (5.6 kilometers) southeast of Fruitdale, in Butte County, South Dakota, United States. In 1885, a small Finnish community called Snoma was founded nearby, and the residents built the cemetery.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historical Places on November 13, 1985.[3][4]

Snoma Finnish Cemetery
Snoma Finnish Cemetery
Location of Snoma Finnish Cemetery in South Dakota.
Snoma Finnish Cemetery
Snoma Finnish Cemetery (the United States)
LocationButte County, South Dakota, United States
Nearest cityFruitdale, South Dakota
Coordinates44°37′59″N 103°41′06″W
Built1887 (1887)
MPSArchitecture of Finnish Settlement TR
NRHP reference No.85003492[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1985

History

In 1885, about 40 Finnish families settled in the area and attempted to farm the land. The town had a hotel, post office, and blacksmith. John Lakson, the town's interpreter, submitted the name of either "Suomi" or "Suoma," which is Finnish for Finland, to the Post Office Department, but his handwriting was misread.[2]

Geography

The cemetery and town rests in Butte County, South Dakota. It is located about one-half mile south of the Belle Fourche River, one-half mile southeast of Fruitdale, and about 10 miles east of Belle Fourche, South Dakota.[2]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Parker, Watson, and Hugh K. Lambert. Black Hills Ghost Towns. First ed. Vol. 1. Chicago, IL: The Swallow Press Incorporated, 1974. 176-177. 1 vols. Print.
  3. "Snoma Finnish Cemetery." National Register of Historic Places. NPS, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2013.
  4. "Feature Detail Report for: Snoma Finnish Cemetery." USGS. U.S. Department of the Interior, 13 Feb. 1980. GNIS. Web. 22 Aug. 2013.
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