Deadwood, South Dakota

Deadwood is a city located in Lawrence County, South Dakota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,380. It is the county seat of Lawrence County{{GR|6}}.

History

In 1874 General George Custer led an expedition into the Black 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. It was to be the site of the Homestake Mine, operated by George Hearst. It attained notoriety for the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, and remains the final resting place of Hickok and Calamity Jane, as well as slightly less famous figures such as Seth Bullock. 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 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. A fire on September 26, 1879 devastated the town, destroying over 300 buildings and consuming everything belonging to many inhabitants. Unable to reenact the climbs to fortune which had characterized the town's early days, now that its economy was more mature, without the promise of rich untapped veins of ore in the wilderness for anyone to claim, many of the newly impoverished left town to try their luck elsewhere.

Related Topics:
George Custer - Black Hills - Homestake Mine - George Hearst - Wild Bill Hickok - Calamity Jane - Seth Bullock - 1876 - Smallpox - Epidemic - Quarantine - General Crook - Sioux Indians - Battle of Little Big Horn - Horsemeat March - September 26 - 1879

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Some of the other early town residents and frequent visitors included Al Swearengen and his employees Dan Doherty and Johnny Burns, E. B. Farnum, Charlie Utter, Sol Star, Martha Bullock, A. W. Merrick, Samuel Fields, Harris Franklin, Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, and the Reverend Henry Weston Smith.

Related Topics:
Al Swearengen - Dan Doherty - Johnny Burns - E. B. Farnum - Charlie Utter - Sol Star - Martha Bullock - A. W. Merrick - Samuel Fields - Harris Franklin - Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy - Henry Weston Smith

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