Hermosa, South Dakota
16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1894 and the latest in 1977. It stands in Hermosa town. It lies in ZIP code area 57744. The Survey maps it on the Hermosa quadrangle. 382 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,327 feet above sea level.
On record in Hermosa
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
Custer State Park Museumlisted 1983
Hermosa Masonic Lodgelisted 2009
Population over time
2 figuresHermosa fell from 398 to 382 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 398 | |
| 2020 | 382 | -16 (-4%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 16 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1894 USGS Hermosa quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
- 1901 USGS Hermosa quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1953 USGS Hermosa quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1955 USGS Hot Springs quadrangle1:250000, 5 printings
- 1977 USGS Mount Rushmore quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
48 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 48 fires within 5 miles of Hermosa between 1992 and 2020, burning about 6,969 acres in total. 12 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 13 |
| Natural | 12 |
| Debris and open burning | 8 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 7 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Other causes | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2002 | Natural | 8.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | HERMOSA |
| 7 August 2003 | Natural | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | not named |
| 7 August 2001 | Other causes | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | WHITETAIL RIDGE |
| 4 August 2019 | Natural | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | MISSILE ROAD |
| 27 August 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | HERMOSA FIRE |
| 18 August 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | not named |
| 17 August 2016 | Natural | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | MISSILE ROAD |
| 12 August 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.3 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | ALKAN CA |
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Hermosa: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Zinc, Gold, Copper. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Silver Mine | Zinc, Gold, Copper | Producer | Gold, Quartz |
Storms near this place
60 of 196 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Hermosa in 196 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 141 hail, 41 thunderstorm wind, 9 flood, 3 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Hermosa | $3,000,000 | Heavy rain estimated at four to six inches fell west of Hermosa between 6 pm and 8 pm MST. Battle and Grace Coolidge Creeks overflowed their banks and several dry canyons filled with water and drained into the creeks. State highways 40 and 36 were flooded in numerous spots. A river gauge on Battle Creek just east of Hermosa crested at 14.91 feet at 9 pm, rising from 2.63 ft at 7:30 pm and above the flood stage of 8.0 feet. About six inches of water covered Highway 79 at the Battle Creek bridge. A railroad bridge about 3/4 mile downstream became clogged with debris and water rose behind the embankment and flooded six homes. At about 8:30 pm MST, a section of the embankment failed, flooding a new subdivision on the other side. All of the approximately 20 houses were damaged; three homes were washed off their foundations, and one of those houses was carried a half a mile east of the subdivision by the flowing water. There were no injuries. |
| July 2013 | Hail | Hermosa | $400,000 | Large hail damaged some homes and vehicles near Hermosa. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hermosa | $400,000 | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Flood | Hermosa | $100,000 | Runoff from heavy rain caused overland flooding and flooding along Spring Creek Road, Old Folsom Road, and the 7-11 Road just south of Buffalo Gap. |
| July 2013 | Hail | Hermosa | $40,000 | no account filed |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | $20,000 | A small shed was flipped over on the south side of Hermosa. A large fabric arched shelter was picked up and carried several yards on the north side of town. Several trees were broken off and shingles ripped from roofs. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hermosa | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Hail | Hermosa | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Hail | Hermosa | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hermosa | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | $1,000 | Trees eight to nine inches in diameter were broken by strong wind gusts. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | $1,000 | Shingles were torn off a house roof. |
| May 1993 | Hail | Hermosa | $500 | Hail caused limited vehicle damage. |
| May 1993 | Hail | Hermosa | $500 | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Nickel to quarter size hail reported. |
| July 2025 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Spotter reported quarter size hail. |
| July 2025 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Spotter sent in hail report. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | The spotter estimated wind gusts at near 60 mph. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | A power line was knocked down and a mobile home was tipped over by strong winds. |
| September 2023 | Hail | Hermosa | - | A couple of reports of hail to golf ball size in this area. |
| September 2023 | Flash Flood | Hermosa | - | Runoff from heavy rain caused flash flooding in Ghost Canyon and Box Canyon, and along Battle Creek and Grace Coolidge Creek, west of Hermosa. Ghost Canyon Road and Battle Creek Road were flooded with water and debris. Water and debris filled the ditches along Highway 40 and Highway 36. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Two trees were downed by the wind. |
| June 2021 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Time estimated from radar. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | The spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 mph. |
| July 2018 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Minor flooding was observed along Battle Creek and Grace Coolidge Creek upstream of Highway 79. Several pastures and agricultural land were inundated. The river gauge on Battle Creek at Hermosa reached flood stage briefly. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | The spotter estimated winds at 60 mph. |
| August 2017 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Hail covered the ground. |
| August 2017 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Hail covered the ground. |
| May 2016 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Hail covered the road at the corner of Playhouse Road and Iron Mountain Road. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | A few wind gusts were estimated near 70 mph. |
| June 2015 | Flood | Hermosa | - | The river gauge on Battle Creek at Hermosa crested at 9.3 feet, 1.3 feet above flood stage, while the downstream gauge 16 miles southeast of Hermosa crested 0.2 feet above flood stage. |
| May 2015 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Moderate flooding occurred along Battle Creek upstream of Hermosa to Hermosa, where the river gauge recorded a crest just over 11 feet, three feet over flood stage. Battle Creek flooded a portion of SD Highway 40 west of Hermosa near Paradise Lane and was out of its banks along SD Highway 40 and Playhouse Road. Minor flooding occurred downstream of Hermosa to the Cheyenne River, affecting agricultural land. |
| May 2015 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along Spring Creek. |
| June 2015 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along Spring Creek from east of Hermosa to the Cheyenne River. |
| June 2015 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Large hail in Hermosa area caused property damage. |
| June 2015 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along Battle Creek near Hermosa, where the stream gauge exceeded flood stage by 2.4 feet. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| July 2015 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts to 50 mph also accompanied the storm. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Small hail also covered the ground. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts estimated at 60 mph damaged small outbuildings. |
| October 2013 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Minor flooding occurred along Battle Creek near Hermosa. The river gauge on Battle Creek at Hermosa reached a height of 9.6 feet, which is 1.6 feet above the flood stage of 8.0 feet. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Winds were estimated at 60 mph. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 70 mph. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Hail covered the ground. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Hail covered the ground. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| May 2010 | Flood | Hermosa | - | Flooding was reported along streams in eastern Custer County foothills including Iron Creek, Battle Creek, Grace Coolidge Creek, Lame Johnny Creek, French Creek, and Beaver Creek. Several county roads were damaged from the flooding. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| September 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | Estimated wind gusts at 60 mph. |
| July 2009 | Hail | Hermosa | - | Quarter sized hail covered the ground. |
| June 2008 | Heavy Rain | Hermosa | - | Over two inches of rain fell over central and eastern Custer County. Driveways and yards were flooded east of Hermosa along Highway 40 to the Cheyenne River. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | 10 to 12 inch diameter branches were snapped off trees. |
| August 2006 | Heavy Rain | Hermosa | - | 2 to 4 inches of rain caused minor flooding of roads and rises on area creeks. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hermosa | - | 75 mph thundestorm wind gusts were estimated by a spotter in Hermosa and a cooperative observer 14 miles east of Hermosa about four minutes later. |
| August 2024 | Hail | Hermosa | - | no account filed |
| August 2024 | Hail | Hermosa | - | no account filed |
| August 2024 | Hail | Hermosa | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane | 10.0 miles | 22 | |
| Fairburn | 10.7 miles | 16 | |
| State Game Lodge | 11.3 miles | 22 | |
| Folsom | 17.0 miles | 8 | |
| Blue Bell | 17.6 miles | 18 | |
| Sylvan Lake Resort | 19.8 miles | 19 | |
| Custer | 22.2 miles | 19 | |
| Cold Spring II (historical) | 22.4 miles | 18 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Hermosa | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2517468 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1265246. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.




