Spearfish, South Dakota
Spearfish, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 Location in Lawrence County and the state of South Dakota | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lawrence |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2) |
| • Land | 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,648 ft (1,112 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 8,606 |
| • Density | 1,410.8/sq mi (544.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes | 57783, 57799 |
| Area code | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-60020Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 1262476Template:GR |
Spearfish is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 8,606 at the 2000 census.
History
Prior to the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans (primarily bands of Sioux but others also ranged through the area) who would spear fish in the creek (hence the name of the creek and subsequently the town). Once the gold rush started, the city was founded (1876) at the mouth of Spearfish Canyon, and Spearfish grew as a supplier of foodstuffs to the mining camps in the hills. Even today, a significant amount of truck farming or market gardening still occurs in the vicinity.
In 1887, the accepted history of gold mining in the Black Hills was thrown into question by the discovery of what has become known as the Thoen Stone.[1] Discovered by Louis Thoen on the slopes of Lookout Mountain, the stone purports to be the last testament of Ezra Kind who, along with six others, entered the Black Hills in 1833 (at a time when whites were forbidden by law and treaty from entering the area), "got all the gold we could carry" in June 1834, and were subsequently "killed by Indians beyond the high hill." While it may seem unlikely that someone who has "lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me" would take the time to carve his story in sandstone, there is corroborating historical evidence for the Ezra Kind party.[2]
In the 20th Century, the history of Spearfish was tied very closely to mining and tourism. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who visited Spearfish Canyon (located between Spearfish and Deadwood) in 1935, later called the area "unique and unparalleled elsewhere in our country," and wondered "how is it that I've heard so little of this miracle and we, toward the Atlantic, have heard so much of the Grand Canyon when this is even more miraculous".[3]
The Homestake Sawmill (previously part of Pope and Talbot, now owned by Neimen Forest Products) was built to supply timbers for the Homestake Mine in Lead (closed January 2002). In 1938 Joseph Meier brought the Luenen Passion Play to settle permanently in Spearfish and become the Black Hills Passion Play, drawing thousands of visitors every year during the summer months. In 2007 after the death of Joseph Meier, the amphitheater and 23 acres (93,000 m2) surrounding it were put on up for sale.[4]
Geography
Spearfish is located at 44°29′23″N 103°51′9″W / 44.48972°N 103.85250°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (44.489803, -103.852585).Template:GR
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), all of it land.
Spearfish Creek, is a fast moving creek that emerges from Spearfish Canyon at Spearfish. It runs roughly south to north through the center of town (parallel to Canyon Street), runs year round. The creek is unusual in that it freezes from the bottom up, instead of icing over.[who?] This unusual phenomenon occurs due to the very fast rate at which the creek flows. This speed prevents ice from forming except along the bottom of the creek bed where friction and turbulence allow the water to slow down long enough to freeze. Since the creek continues to flow atop this ice, the water level of the creek gradually rises as more ice accumulates on the bottom, in some cases causing flooding on the north side of town where the channel is not so deep.
Spearfish has been assigned the ZIP code 57783 and the FIPS place code 60020. Black Hills State University has its own ZIP code, 57799.
Climate
Since it is located at the base of the Black Hills and only a few miles from the geographical center of the United States, the climate is highly variable.
World record temperature change
Spearfish holds the world record for the fastest temperature change. On January 22, 1943 at about 7:30 a.m. MST, the temperature in Spearfish was -4° degrees F (-20°C). The chinook wind picked up speed rapidly, and two minutes later (7:32 a.m.) the temperature was +45°F above zero (+7°C). The 49-degree rise (27°C) in two minutes set a world record that still holds. By 9:00 a.m., the temperature had risen to 54°F (12°C). Suddenly, the chinook died down and the temperature tumbled back to -4°F (-20°C). The 58-degree drop (32°C) took only 27 minutes.[5][6]
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 8,606 people, 3,638 households, and 1,931 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,409.1 people per square mile (543.8/km²). There were 3,904 housing units at an average density of 639.2/sq mi (246.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.33% White, 0.35% African American, 2.31% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population. 37.5% were of German, 13.5% Norwegian, 9.6% English and 8.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 3,638 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 21.5% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,887, and the median income for a family was $40,257. Males had a median income of $30,242 versus $20,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,565. About 9.8% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Radio & TV
AM
FM
Television
Education
Spearfish is the home of Black Hills State University, a four-year liberal arts college. Founded as Spearfish Normal School in 1883, it is still largely a teacher training institution, although its mission has expanded far beyond to include a masters program in Business Services Management.
Transportation
Spearfish has two bus and coach transport services; Dakota Trailways and Prairie Hills Transit.
References
- ^ "The Thoen Stone". - Black Hills Visitor Magazine.
- ^ Tallent, Annie D., (1899). - The Black Hills, Or, The Last Hunting Ground of the Dakotahs. - St. Louis, Missouri: Nixon-Jones. - pp.10-11. 191327730.
—Peattie, Roderick (1952). - The Black Hills. - New York, New York: Vanguard Press. - p.58. - 490448. - ^ "Vegetation-Wright Chronicles". - Spearfish Canyon Foundation.
- ^ "Passion Play property for sale". - Associated Press. - (c/o Sioux City Journal. - October 11, 2007.
- ^ "South Dakota Weather History and Trivia January". - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.
—Appendix I: – "Weather Extremes". - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. - (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document). - ^ Parker, Watson (1981). - Deadwood: The Golden Years. - Lincoln, Nebraska: The University of Nebraska. - p.158. - ISBN 9780803287020.
External links
- Spearfish, SD government website
- The Black Hills Pioneer. — (local newspaper)
- Spearfish, SD visitor information
- Spearfish School District, 40-2
- Black Hills Community Portal. — (area guide)
- Dakota Trailways
- Prairie Hills Transit
Municipalities and communities of Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
