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Meade County, South Dakota

99 topographic sheets cover 37 settlements here, and 27 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

27 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

South Dakota within the United States
Meade County within South Dakota

What the record shows

  • 384 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 27 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 17 buildings, 8 districts, 1 site and 1 structure.
  • 5 of the 27 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 37 populated places in this county; 37 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

27

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Joseph Baker Housebuilding198686000942
L. L. Bartlett Housebuilding198686000946
Bear Buttesite197373001746
Bethel Lutheran Churchbuilding198686000941
Black Hawk Elementaty Schoolbuilding198686000939
Black Hills National Cemeterydistrict201616000258
Covered Wagon Resortdistrict200707001213
Erskine Schoolbuilding198484003354
John and Coralin Evans Ranchbuilding198686000943
Fort Meade Districtdistrict197373001747
Fort Meade Veterans Administration Hospitaldistrict2018100002467
Stephen and Maria Graf Housebuilding200202001283
H O Ranch Log Housebuilding199090000954
Ole and Carris Johnson Ranchbuilding198686000938
John and Elsie McMillan Housebuilding201515000765
Minneapolis Brewing Company Beer Warehousebuilding200101000100
Municipal Building-City Hallbuilding200000000722
Elias B. Olsen Ranchdistrict198686000940
Jacob and Elizabeth Raskob Ranchbuilding198686000945
Royal Center Schoolbuilding2023100008632
South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 47-151-389structure199393001263
Stevens Ranchdistrict198686000944
Sturgis Commercial Blockdistrict197575001719
Sturgis High Schoolbuilding200000000998
Sturgis Water Works Company Supply Works Sitedistrict201616000827
Annie Tallent Housebuilding197676001746
John G. Wenke Housebuilding197676001747

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

936 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 936 of them, burning about 123,031 acres. 377 started naturally and 11 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural377
Equipment and vehicle use156
Missing data/not specified/undetermined135
Debris and open burning127
Recreation and ceremony37
Fireworks23
Misuse of fire by a minor19
Power generation/transmission/distribution18
Railroad operations and maintenance17
Arson/incendiarism11
Smoking10
Other causes5
Firearms and explosives use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 August 2006Natural21,314 acresMontana/Dakotas State OfficeWHITE OWL
31 October 1999Power generation/transmission/distribution12,000 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionAVANCE
7 July 2007Natural5,000 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
3 August 2006Natural4,500 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionWILCOX
3 August 2006Natural4,000 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
8 July 2005Natural3,959 acresBlack Hills National ForestRICCO
29 August 2001Equipment and vehicle use3,600 acresEnning Volunteer Fire DepartmentGRUEB
29 August 2001Equipment and vehicle use3,500 acresOpal Volunteer Fire DepartmentLEMON BUTTE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 1,584 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 1,584 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 57 injuries and about $15,655,590 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail871
Thunderstorm Wind603
Tornado46
Flood28
Flash Flood21
Heavy Rain6
Funnel Cloud4
Wildfire2
Lightning2
Dust Devil1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1991Tornado (F3)not stated20 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
June 1986Hailnot stated20 hurtno account filed
May 1991Tornado (F2)not stated5 hurt, $250,000no account filed
June 1989Tornado (F1)not stated4 hurt, $250,000no account filed
August 2008LightningSturgis3 hurtThree people were injured by lightning at the Glencoe Camp Resort ticket booth.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindSturgis2 hurt, $500,000no account filed
August 2008Thunderstorm WindSturgis Muni Arpt1 hurtA man was injured when he was struck by a pole holding a large banner at a convenience store east of Sturgis.
May 1999HailTilford1 hurt1" to 1.5" hail...up to 6 inches deep on Interstate 90. A 5 car pile up left one person injured after several vehicles slid through the hail.
June 1998HailHowes1 hurtA motorist was injured by broken glass and hail.
June 2008Flash Flood(Rca)Ellsworth Afb$1,000,000no account filed
August 2007HailPiedmont$1,000,000no account filed
May 2019Flash FloodSturgis$800,000Heavy rain and hail caused flooding in the Sturgis area. Several road crossings across Bear Butte Creek and Deadman Gulch were inundated; including 7th Street, 9th Street, 15th Street, Raccoon Road, and Sly Street.
May 2019Flash FloodMaurine$800,000Three to four inches of rain in an hour and three to five inches of rain in two hours over parts of northeastern Meade County caused rapid rises on small creeks and overland flooding of rural areas. The flooding compromised five culverts and a bridge on county roads.
July 2019Flash FloodSturgis$639,000Extensive flooding occurred along Bear Butte Creek in Boulder Canyon through Sturgis to Fort Meade. Highway 34 was covered with water at the S-curve between Sturgis and Fort Meade, the Sturgis city park was completely underwater, and the 7th Street bridge at Bear Butte Creek was inundated. The Sly Street crossing, West Woodland Drive, and Blanche Street were damaged, as well as almost all the other crossings over Bear Butte Creek in Sturgis.
June 2015HailPiedmont$500,000Tennis ball to softball sized hail pummeled Piedmont.
June 2008FloodHowes$500,000Elk Creek, Alkali Creek, Antelope Creek, the Belle Fourche River and their tributaries flooded from east of Piedmont to Viewfield and Elm Springs.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindFaith$500,000MANY TREES AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
May 2019Flash FloodSturgis$300,000Runoff from heavy rain on saturated ground caused flash flooding in the Sturgis, Fort Meade, and Pleasant Valley areas for the second time in a week. Several roads across Bear Butte Creek were covered with water or were washed out; including 7th Street, 9th Street, 15th Street, Raccoon Road, Sly Street, and SD Highway 34, Fort Meade Way, and Pleasant Valley Drive.
July 2022Flash FloodEllsworth Afb$250,000Over three inches of rain fell in an hour over Ellsworth Air Force Base and parts of Box Elder. Runoff from heavy rain flooded streets, homes, and businesses. Several streets were flooded on Ellsworth Air Force Base, Antelope Ridge, and throughout northern and eastern portions of Box Elder.
May 2019FloodElm Springs$250,000Runoff from heavy rain caused flooding throughout Meade County. Moderate flooding was reported along Elk Creek from north of Rapid City downstream to Elm Springs; which inundated portions of Elk Creek Road, Antelope Creek Road, and Wicksville Road. Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along the Belle Fourche River, which crested at 19.5 feet, just above flood stage of 19 feet, with a peak flow around 32,200 cfs, at SD Highway 34 east of Sturgis.
August 2007Flash FloodTilford$250,000An estimated four to six inches of rain and hail to the size of baseballs caused localized flooding between Piedmont and Tilford, especially near poor drainage areas and at a barricade along a frontage road. The water washed over several roads and was several inches deep over Interstate 90, forcing law enforcement officials to close it for a couple of hours.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindFaith$250,000Power lines were downed by winds. Several homes were damaged and 2 mobile homes were destroyed by high winds.
June 2003HailFaith$250,000Large hail damaged homes and automobiles in Faith.
June 1996Flash FloodSturgis$250,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindRapid City$250,000no account filed
July 1979Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2009HailSturgis$200,000Golf ball sized hail damaged automobiles in Sturgis and Bear Butte State Park.
August 2009HailSturgis$200,000Large hail damaged automobiles and property.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindHereford$200,000The combination of strong wind and large hail damaged automobiles, buildings, and crops around Hereford.
June 2015HailBlack Hawk$200,000no account filed
June 2015Thunderstorm WindHereford$150,000Rear flank downdraft wind gusts estimated over 100 mph blew down a half mile of a large electrical transmission line.
May 2014Flash FloodSturgis Muni Arpt$150,000Runoff from heavy rain flooded streets and several basements in Sturgis. A drainage channel on the south side of Sturgis filled with water and flooded Harmon Street and Hillside Drive. Minor flooding was reported along Spring Creek at SD Highway 34 about 12 miles northeast of Sturgis.
May 2010Flash FloodPiedmont$150,000Heavy rain caused flash flooding in southern Meade County from Black Hawk to Elm Springs. Flash flooding was reported along Elk Creek, Antelope Creek, and Box Elder Creek. A few homes reported water in their basements and several county roads were flooded.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindFaith$150,000Strong winds tore half the roof off a house and blew down two outbuildings on the south side of Faith. Several empty truck trailers were tipped over and large trees throughout town were broken and blown over. Several power poles were downed, causing the loss of electric service for about 36 hours in much of the town. Hail accumulated to a depth of 12 inches.
July 2013HailUnion Center$150,000no account filed
July 2013HailEnning$150,000no account filed
September 2000Thunderstorm WindUnion Center$115,000Strong downburst winds flattened a post frame building for a ranch supply business. Two barns and a garage near the business also had their roofs blown off. The winds left a path of damage about 200 yards wide.
June 2015HailBlack Hawk$100,000Hail up to baseball size fell for approximately 30 minutes.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindBlack Hawk$100,000Property damage was reported in the Golden Valley subdivision.
June 2015Tornado (EF2)Hereford$100,000A tornado touched down in rural southern Meade County, damaging buildings and tossing equipment at two ranches.
May 2010Tornado (EF2)Plainview$100,000A tornado touched down south of Plainview and traveled more than 22 miles to (). It damaged a manufactured home shortly after it formed, tearing off its roof and blowing over its walls. It also destroyed an old, abandoned house and pole barn and tossed a combine, hay swather, and van.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindUnion Center$100,000The combination of hail and wind broke windows and damaged siding in Union Center. Wheat and alfalfa crops were destroyed.
June 2009HailEllsworth Afb$100,000Hail to the size of baseballs fell.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindBlack Hawk$100,000A 40 foot by 60 foot pole barn was destroyed and windows were broken out of house. Large wind driven hail broke windows and destroyed vinyl siding on 16 houses in a subdivision.
May 2004HailBlack Hawk$100,000Quarter to Baseball sized hail fell for several minutes causing automobile accidents and hail damage to automobiles.
June 2015HailPiedmont$100,000no account filed
September 2013HailPiedmont$100,000no account filed
July 2000HailFairpt$100,000no account filed
May 2013Flash FloodSturgis$50,000Three to five inches of rain fell in a few hours and caused flash flooding east of Interstate 90 in southwestern Meade County. Street flooding was reported in Sturgis and several rural roads north of Sturgis were inundated.
September 2013HailPiedmont$50,000Minor property damage occurred in the area.
October 2013FloodTilford$50,000Water covered Elk Creek Road and Antelope Creek Road north of Box Elder, Curlew Road and Pioneer Road north of New Underwood, and Coyote Lane and Golden Valley Drive north of Rapid City. Some fields and pastures in southern Meade County also flooded. The river gauge on Elk Creek at Elk Vale Road north of Rapid City reached a height of 12.6 feet, which is 3.6 feet over flood stage.
August 2011Thunderstorm Wind(D07)Faith Arpt$50,000Minor wind damage occurred around Faith.
July 2010Thunderstorm Wind(Rca)Ellsworth Afb$50,000Around 25 power poles and trees were blown down near the intersection of Elk Vale and Elk Creek Roads. A silo and other outbuildings were toppled just north of the intersection.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindSturgis$50,000Hail damaged automobiles and broke house windows.
June 1994Hailnot stated$50,000The hail caused extensive damage to vehicles.
June 2015HailPiedmont$50,000no account filed
June 2014HailPiedmont$50,000no account filed
May 2004Thunderstorm WindUnion Center$50,000no account filed
July 2019Flood(Rca)Ellsworth Afb$35,000Flooding occurred along Boxelder Creek around Black Hawk and along Elk Creek north of Ellsworth Air Force Base. Water inundated Peaceful Pines Road between Deadwood Avenue and Interstate 90, 143rd Avenue east of Nike Road, Antelope Creek Road around Elk Creek and Antelope Creek, Elk Creek Road between Elk Vale and Antelope Creek Roads, Elk Vale Road north of Elk Creek Road, and Horseshoe Road south of Elk Creek Road.
June 2024Tornado (EF2)Maurine$30,000A tornado developed about 17 miles west of Faith, just north of Highway 212. As the tornado moved southeast and crossed Highway 212, numerous power poles were downed and broken. Some trees were also snapped off near the trunk and large branches broken off of other trees in this area. Additional trees were downed further southeast, before the tornado dissipated. The tornado did not impact any buildings or property along its path. The tornado traveled about 4 miles and was rated an EF-2, with wind speeds as high as 118 mph.

Mines and quarries

14 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 14 workings inside this county. 3 still produce and 11 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Gypsum-Anhydrite6
Sand and Gravel, Construction3
Calcium2
Limestone, General1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Gold1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Homestake Limestone Quarry MineLimestone, GeneralPast Producer1904
Sturgis Sandstone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast ProducerSandstone
Whitewood CreekGoldPast Producer
Doyle Lime Plant and QuarryCalciumPast Producer
Homestake Min Co Limestone QuarryCalciumPast Producer
Alverson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Bruch PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Dakota Plaster Co PitGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
S Dak Cement Comm Gyp QuarryGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Tilford MineGypsum-AnhydritePast ProducerGypsum
U S Gypsum Co Piedmont OperationGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
U.S. GypsumGypsum-AnhydritePast ProducerGypsum
Ugsgypsum Tilford OperationGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer

Every populated place in the county

37

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Meade County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.