Deadwood, SD
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Deadwood ( Lakota: ''Owáyasuta''; "To approve or confirm things") is a city that serves as county seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. It was named by early settlers after the dead trees found in its gulch. The city had its heyday from 1876 to 1879, after gold deposits had been discovered there, leading to the Black Hills Gold Rush. At its height, the city had a population of 25,000, attracting Old West figures such as Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed there). The population was 1,156 at the 2020 census. The entire town has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District, for its well-preserved Gold Rush-era architecture. Deadwood's proximity to Lead often prompts the two towns being collectively named "Lead-Deadwood".


History


19th century

The settlement of Deadwood began illegally in the 1870s, on land which had been granted to the Lakota people in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty had guaranteed ownership of the Black Hills to the Lakota people, who considered this area to be sacred. The settlers'
squatting Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there ...
led to numerous land disputes, several of which reached the United States Supreme Court. Everything changed after Colonel George Armstrong Custer led an expedition into the Black Hills and announced the discovery of gold in 1874, on French Creek near present-day Custer, South Dakota. This announcement was a catalyst for the Black Hills Gold Rush, and miners and entrepreneurs swept into the area. They created the new and lawless town of Deadwood, which quickly reached a population of approximately 5,000. By 1877, about 12,000 people settled in Deadwood, while other sources put the peak number even at 25,000 in 1876. In early 1876, frontiersman
Charlie Utter Charles H. "Colorado Charlie" Utter (March 14, 1838 – July 3, 1915) was a figure of the American Wild West, best known as a great friend and companion of Wild Bill Hickok. He was also friends with Calamity Jane. Early life Utter was born i ...
and his brother Steve led to Deadwood a wagon train containing what they believed were needed commodities, to bolster business. The town's numerous gamblers and prostitutes staffed several profitable ventures. Madame Mustache and Dirty Em were on the wagon train, and set up shop in what was referred to as Deadwood Gulch. Women were in high demand by the miners, and the business of prostitution proved to have a good market. Madam Dora DuFran eventually became the most profitable
brothel A brothel, bordello, ranch, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. However, for legal or cultural reasons, establishments often describe themselves as massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, body rub par ...
owner in Deadwood, closely followed by Madam
Mollie Johnson Mollie Johnson was a 19th-century madam in Deadwood, South Dakota. Johnson was born in Alabama, and migrated west due to the demand for working prostitutes. Indications are that she began working that trade in her early teens, around the age of 15 ...
. Deadwood became known for its lawlessness; murders were common, and justice for murders not always fair and impartial. The town attained further notoriety when gunman Wild Bill Hickok was killed on August 2, 1876. Both he and Calamity Jane were buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery, as well as other notable figures such as
Seth Bullock Seth Bullock (July 23, 1849 – September 23, 1919) was a Canadian-American frontiersman, business proprietor, politician, sheriff, and U.S. Marshal. He was a prominent citizen in Deadwood, South Dakota, where he lived from 1876 until his death, ...
. Hickok's murderer, Jack McCall, was prosecuted twice, despite the U.S. Constitution's prohibition against double jeopardy. Because Deadwood was an illegal town in Indian Territory, non-native civil authorities lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute McCall. McCall's trial was moved to a Dakota Territory court, where he was found guilty of murder and hanged. Beginning August 12, 1876, a smallpox epidemic swept through. So many people fell ill that tents were erected to quarantine the stricken. In 1876, General George Crook pursued the Sioux Indians from the Battle of Little Big Horn, on an expedition that ended in Deadwood in early September, known as the
Horsemeat March The Horsemeat March of 1876, also known as the Mud March and the Starvation March, was a military expedition led by General George Crook in pursuit of a band of Sioux fleeing from anticipated retaliation for their overwhelming victory over George ...
. The same month, businessman Tom Miller opened the Bella Union Saloon. On April 7, 1877, Al Swearengen, who controlled Deadwood's
opium Opium (or poppy tears, scientific name: ''Lachryma papaveris'') is dried latex obtained from the seed capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid morphine, which i ...
trade, also opened a saloon; his was called the Gem Variety Theater. The saloon burned down and was rebuilt in 1879. When it burned down again in 1899, Swearengen left town. As the economy changed from gold panning to deep mining, the individual miners went elsewhere or began to work in other fields. Hence Deadwood lost some of its rough and rowdy character, and began to develop into a prosperous town. The
Homestake Mine Homestake Mine is the name for several mines in the United States: * Homestake Mine (Nevada), listed in the National Register of Historic Places * Homestake Mine (South Dakota) The Homestake Mine was a deep underground gold mine (8,000 feet or 2, ...
in nearby Lead was established in October 1877. It operated for more than a century, becoming the longest continuously operating gold mine in the United States. Gold mining operations did not cease until 2002. The mine has been open for visiting by tourists. On September 26, 1879, a fire devastated Deadwood, destroying more than 300 buildings and consuming the belongings of many inhabitants. Many of the newly impoverished left town to start again elsewhere. In 1879, Thomas Edison demonstrated the first successful incandescent lamp in New Jersey, and on September 17, 1883, Judge Squire P. Romans took a gamble and founded the "Pilcher Electric Light Company of Deadwood". He ordered an Edison dynamo, wiring, and 15
incandescent lights An incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is an electric light with a wire filament heated until it glows. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb with a vacuum or inert gas to protect the filament from oxida ...
with globes. After delays, the equipment arrived without the globes. Romans had been advertising an event to show off the new lights and decided to continue with the lighting, which was a success. His company grew. Deadwood had electricity service fewer than four years after Edison commercialized it, less than a year after commercial service was started in
Roselle, New Jersey Roselle (, ) is a borough located in Union County in the U.S. state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 21,085, In 1888, J.K.P. Miller and his associates founded a narrow-gauge railroad, the Deadwood Central Railroad, to serve their mining interests. In 1893,
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...
purchased the railroad. In 1902, a portion of the railroad between Deadwood and Lead was electrified for operation as an interurban passenger system, which operated until 1924. In 1930, the railroad was abandoned, apart from a portion from Kirk to Fantail Junction, which was converted to
standard gauge A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), International gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge and European gauge in Europe, and SGR in Ea ...
. In 1984,
Burlington Northern Railroad The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a Mergers and acquisitions, merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996. Its historical lineage begins in the e ...
abandoned the remaining section. Some of the other early town residents and frequent visitors included
Martha Bullock Martha Marguerite Eccles Bullock (1851–1939) was an American pioneer woman who was the wife of Seth Bullock, one of the leading citizens in early Deadwood, South Dakota. She and Bullock were married in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1874. Martha Bul ...
, Aaron Dunn,
E. B. Farnum Ethan Bennett Farnum (November 10, 1826 – after 1900) was one of the first residents of Deadwood, South Dakota, Deadwood (then in the Dakota Territory) who was not a miner or Prospecting, prospector; he was the owner of a general store. He was ...
, Samuel Fields,
A. W. Merrick Albert Walter Merrick (December 24, 1840 – February 26, 1902) was an American journalist who published the first newspaper in Deadwood, South Dakota, the '' Black Hills Weekly Pioneer'', along with W. A. Laughlin. The newspaper continues to ...
, Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy,
Reverend The Reverend is an style (manner of address), honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and Minister of religion, ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and c ...
Henry Weston Smith, Sol Star, and Charlie and Steve Utter.


Chinatown

The gold rush attracted Chinese immigrants to the area; their population peaked at 250. A few engaged in mining; most worked in service enterprises. A Chinese quarter arose on Main Street, as there were no restrictions on foreign property ownership in Dakota Territory, and a relatively high level of tolerance of different peoples existed in the frontier town. Wong Fee Lee arrived in Deadwood in 1876 and became a leading merchant. He was a community leader among the Chinese Americans until his death in 1921. The quarter's residents also included African Americans and European Americans. During the 2000s, the state sponsored an archeological dig in the area, to study the history of this community of diverse residents.


20th and 21st centuries

Another major fire in September 1959 nearly destroyed the town again. About were burned and an evacuation order was issued. Nearly 3,600 volunteer and professional
firefighter A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...
s, including personnel from the
Homestake Mine Homestake Mine is the name for several mines in the United States: * Homestake Mine (Nevada), listed in the National Register of Historic Places * Homestake Mine (South Dakota) The Homestake Mine was a deep underground gold mine (8,000 feet or 2, ...
,
Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located about northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder, South Dakota, Box Elder. The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW). Assi ...
, and the
South Dakota National Guard The South Dakota National Guard is part of the South Dakota Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. It was created in 1862 as the State Militia. Its headquarters is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. It consists of the South Dakota Army Natio ...
's 109th Engineer Battalion, worked to contain the fire. The property losses resulted in a major regional economic downturn. In 1961, the entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark, for its well-preserved collection of late 19th-century frontier architecture. Most of the town's buildings were built before 1900, with only modest subsequent development. The town's population continued to decline through the 1960s and 1970s.
Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...
bypassed Deadwood in 1964, diverting travelers and businesses. On May 21, 1980, a raid by county, state, and federal agents on the town's three remaining brothels—"The White Door", "Pam's Purple Door" and "Dixie's Green Door"—accomplished, as one reporter put it, "what Marshal Hickok never would have done", and the houses of prostitution were padlocked. A fire in December 1987 destroyed the historic Syndicate Building and a neighboring structure. The fire prompted renewed interest in the area and hopes for redevelopment. Organizers planned the "Deadwood Experiment," in which gambling was tested as a means to stimulate growth in the city center. At the time, gambling was legal only in the state of Nevada and in
Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
. Deadwood was the first small community in the U.S. to seek legal gambling revenue to maintain local historic assets. The state legislature legalized gambling in Deadwood in 1989, which generated significant new revenue and development. The pressure of development since then may have an effect on the historical integrity of the landmark district. Heritage tourism is important for Deadwood and the state.


Geography

Deadwood is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Deadwood has been assigned the ZIP code 57732 and the FIPS place code 15700.


Recreation

In the summer, there are numerous trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The northern end of the
George S. Mickelson Trail The George S. Mickelson Trail is a rail trail in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The main trail route extends , from Edgemont to Deadwood, with approximately nine miles of additional branch trails, including a three-mile (5 km) ...
starts in Deadwood and runs south through the Black Hills to Edgemont. Several man made lakes, including Sheridan Lake, provide fishing and swimming.
Spearfish Canyon Spearfish Canyon is a deep but narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, U.S., just south of Spearfish. The canyon is located within the Black Hills, located on the northern edge of the Black Hills Natio ...
to the north has many places to rock climb. In early June, the Mickelson Trail Marathon and 5K, as well as accompanying races for children, are held. During the winter, two ski areas operate just a few miles outside of nearby Lead, South Dakota:
Terry Peak per yr --> , snowmaking = , nightskiing = , external_linkterrypeak.com } Terry Peak is a mountain and ski area in the west central United States, in the Black Hills of South Dakota outside of Lead. With an elevation of above sea level, it is ...
and Deer Mountain. The Midnight Star was a casino in Deadwood owned by American film actor Kevin Costner. The casino opened in the spring of 1991, after Costner had directed and starred in the Academy Award-winning film '' Dances With Wolves'' (1990), which was filmed mainly in South Dakota. The Midnight Star was a saloon which featured prominently in the previous western Costner had acted in, ''
Silverado Silverado may refer to: Places *Silverado, California, United States, an unincorporated community *Silverado Canyon, Orange County, California, near the above community; associated with Silverado Creek * Silverado Trail, a scenic route in Napa V ...
'' (1985), one of his first major roles. International versions of many of his films' posters lined the walls. The casino closed in August 2017.


Climate

Deadwood's climate varies considerably from the rest of the state and surrounding areas. While most of the state receives less than of precipitation per year, annual precipitation in the Lead—Deadwood area reaches nearly . Despite a mean annual snowfall of , warm chinook winds are frequent enough that the median snow cover is zero even in January, although during cold spells after big snowstorms there can be considerable snow on the ground. On November 6, 2008, after a storm had deposited of snow, with a water equivalent of , of snow lay on the ground. Spring is brief, and is characterized by large wet snow storms and periods of rain. April 2006, although around hotter than the long-term mean overall, saw a major storm of , with a water equivalent , and left a record snow depth of on the 19th. Typically the first temperature will be reached at the beginning of April, the first near the beginning of May, and the first around mid-June. Despite the fact that warm afternoons begin occasionally so early, 191.1 mornings each year fall to or below freezing, and even in May 6.8 mornings reach this temperature. Over the year, is reached on 17.8 mornings per year, and 47.9 afternoons do not top freezing. The spring season sees heavy snow and rainfall, with of snow having fallen in April 1986 and as much as of precipitation in the record wet May 1982. The summer season is very warm, although with cool nights: only one afternoon in five years will top , and only 10.7 afternoons equal or exceed . Rainfall tapers off during the summer: August 2000 was one of only two months in the 30-year 1971 to 2000 period to see not even a trace of precipitation. The fall is usually sunny and dry, with increasingly variable temperatures. The last afternoon of over can be expected on October 5, but the first morning freeze can be expected as early as September 23, and the first snowfall also around October 5. Since records began in 1948, the hottest temperature has been most recently on July 10, 1954, and the coldest during the great freeze of December 1989.


Demographics


2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 1,380 people, 669 households, and 341 families resided in the city. The population density was 365.4 people per square mile (141.0/km2). There were 817 housing units at an average density of 216.3 per square mile (83.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.87% White, 1.88% Native American, 0.36%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.65% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 2.75% of the population. 29.8% were of
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
, 9.6% Irish, 9.5% English, 9.5% Norwegian and 8.7% American ancestry. There were 669 households, out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.71. In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $28,641, and the median income for a family was $37,132. Males had a median income of $28,920 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,673. About 6.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,270 people, 661 households, and 302 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 803 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.2% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.5%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.6% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 3.4% of the population. There were 661 households, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 54.3% were non-families. 44.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.60. The median age in the city was 48 years. 15% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 37.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.5% male and 47.5% female.


Law enforcement

The Deadwood Police Department consists of 23 members (including two reserve patrol officers). The structure of the department consists of a Chief of Police, Lieutenant, one Detective, two Sergeants, 15 Sworn Officers and an office manager. The current Chief of Police is Kenneth J Mertens.


In popular culture

* The Warner Bros. movie musical ''Calamity Jane'' (1953), starring
Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...
, was set in Deadwood City. * Deadwood was the setting of the eponymous television series that ran for three seasons of 12 episodes each, from 2004 to 2006, and its film '' Deadwood: The Movie'' (2019). * A season six episode of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', "
A Fistful of Datas "A Fistful of Datas" is the 134th episode of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', the eighth episode of the sixth season, which premiered in the United States on November 9, 1992. Its title is a play ...
", focused on a Holodeck program set in Deadwood.


Notable people


Gold rush period (born before 1870)

*
Granville G. Bennett Granville Gaylord Bennett (October 9, 1833 – June 28, 1910) was an American lawyer who served as a justice of the Supreme Court for the Dakota Territory and as a delegate to the United States House of Representatives. Biography Granville was b ...
(1833–1910), lawyer and politician *
Martha Bullock Martha Marguerite Eccles Bullock (1851–1939) was an American pioneer woman who was the wife of Seth Bullock, one of the leading citizens in early Deadwood, South Dakota. She and Bullock were married in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1874. Martha Bul ...
(1851-1939), frontierswoman, Seth Bullock's wife *
Seth Bullock Seth Bullock (July 23, 1849 – September 23, 1919) was a Canadian-American frontiersman, business proprietor, politician, sheriff, and U.S. Marshal. He was a prominent citizen in Deadwood, South Dakota, where he lived from 1876 until his death, ...
(1849–1919), sheriff, entrepreneur * Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Canary) (1852–1903), frontierswoman *
William H. Clagett William Horace Clagett (September 21, 1838 – August 3, 1901) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from various places in the United States. He was the uncle of Samuel B. Pettengill. Born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Clagett mov ...
(1838–1901), lawyer and politician * Richard Clarke (1845–1930), frontiersman *General
George Crook George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...
(1828–1890), in 1876, pursued the Sioux Indians from the Battle of Little Big Horn, on an expedition that ended in Deadwood in early September, known as the
Horsemeat March The Horsemeat March of 1876, also known as the Mud March and the Starvation March, was a military expedition led by General George Crook in pursuit of a band of Sioux fleeing from anticipated retaliation for their overwhelming victory over George ...
; several locations associated with Deadwood are Crook's namesakes * Indiana Sopris Cushman (1839–1925), pioneer teacher in Colorado *
Charles Henry Dietrich Charles Henry Dietrich (November 26, 1853April 10, 1924) was the 11th Governor of Nebraska. Dietrich in mercantile pursuits and in banking. After serving as governor, he was elected U.S. Senator from May 1, 1901 to March 3, 1905. Personal life ...
(1853–1924), 11th Governor of Nebraska *Dirty Em, a madam who owned a brothel in Deadwood Gulch * Dora DuFran (1868–1934),
brothel A brothel, bordello, ranch, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. However, for legal or cultural reasons, establishments often describe themselves as massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, body rub par ...
owner in Deadwood * Wyatt Earp (1848–1929), American investor and law enforcement officer *
E. B. Farnum Ethan Bennett Farnum (November 10, 1826 – after 1900) was one of the first residents of Deadwood, South Dakota, Deadwood (then in the Dakota Territory) who was not a miner or Prospecting, prospector; he was the owner of a general store. He was ...
(1826–1878), pioneer * Samuel Fields supposed Civil War figure and prospector *
Arthur De Wint Foote Arthur De Wint Foote (1849–1933) was an American civil engineer and mining engineer who impacted the development of the American West with his innovative engineering works and entrepreneurial ventures. In Northern California in the late 189 ...
(1849–1933), engineer *
Mary Hallock Foote Mary Hallock Foote (1847–1938) was an American author and illustrator. She is best known for her illustrated short stories and novels portraying life in the mining communities of the turn-of-the-century American West. Biography Overview Mar ...
(1847–1938), author and illustrator * George Hearst U.S. Senator from California * Wild Bill Hickok (1837–1876), gambler and gunslinger *
Mollie Johnson Mollie Johnson was a 19th-century madam in Deadwood, South Dakota. Johnson was born in Alabama, and migrated west due to the demand for working prostitutes. Indications are that she began working that trade in her early teens, around the age of 15 ...
(d. after 1883),
madam Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for Woman, women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ...
in Deadwood * Freeman Knowles (1846–1910), politician *
Joseph Ladue Joseph Francis "Joe" Ladue (July 28, 1855 – June 27, 1901) was a prospector, businessman and founder of Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. Ladue was born in Schuyler Falls, New York. His mother died when he was seven years old, and his father in 1874. ...
(1855–1901), prospector, businessman, and founder of
Dawson City, Yukon Dawson may refer to: People and fictional characters *Dawson (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name *Dawson (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name Places Antarctica ...
*
Jack Langrishe John Sewell "Jack" Langrishe (September 24, 1825 – December 12, 1895), popularly known as the "Comedian of the Frontier", was an Irish-American actor and impresario who travelled extensively throughout the American West and later in life becam ...
(1825–1895), actor * Wong Fee Lee (died 1921), a leading Deadwood merchant and a community leader among the Chinese Americans until his death *
Kitty Leroy Kitty Leroy (1850 – December 6, 1877) was a dancer, gambler, saloon owner, prostitute, madam, and trick shooter of the American Old West. Leroy was born in Michigan and by the age of 10 she was dancing professionally. By the time she was fo ...
(1850–1878), gambler, trick shooter, and frontierswoman * H. R. Locke (1856–1927), photographer * Jack McCall (1852/1853 – March 1, 1877), also known as "Crooked Nose" or "Broken Nose Jack", gambler who murdered "Wild Bill" Hickok *
Valentine McGillycuddy Valentine Trant McGillycuddy (February 14, 1849 – June 6, 1939) was a surgeon who served with expeditions and United States military forces in the West. He was considered controversial for his efforts to build a sustainable relationship betw ...
, surgeon *
A. W. Merrick Albert Walter Merrick (December 24, 1840 – February 26, 1902) was an American journalist who published the first newspaper in Deadwood, South Dakota, the '' Black Hills Weekly Pioneer'', along with W. A. Laughlin. The newspaper continues to ...
, journalist who published the first newspaper in Deadwood *Tom Miller opened the Bella Union Saloon, in September 1876 *
Madame Moustache Eleanor Dumont (born Simone Jules; 1829–1879), also called Eleonore Alphonsine Dumant, was a notorious gambler on the American Western Frontier, especially during the California Gold Rush. She was also known by her nickname Madame Moustache du ...
(1834–1879), gambler * K. P. Miller and his associates founded a narrow-gauge railroad, the Deadwood Central Railroad, in 1888, to serve their mining interests, and in 1893, sold it to
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...
. * Judge Squire P. Romans, on September 17, 1883, founded the Pilcher Electric Light Company of Deadwood; consequently, Deadwood had electricity service fewer than four years after Edison invented it, less than a year after commercial service was started in
Roselle, New Jersey Roselle (, ) is a borough located in Union County in the U.S. state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 21,085, * Reverend Henry Weston Smith (1827–1876), early frontiersman and preacher * Sol Star, entrepreneur, politician *
William Randolph Steele William Randolph Steele (July 24, 1842 – November 30, 1901) was a Delegate from the Territory of Wyoming. Born in New York City, Steele received an academic education. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced. During the Civi ...
(1842–1901), former resident, mayor of Deadwood, lawyer, soldier, and politician * Al Swearengen (1845–1904), entertainment entrepreneur *
Charlie Utter Charles H. "Colorado Charlie" Utter (March 14, 1838 – July 3, 1915) was a figure of the American Wild West, best known as a great friend and companion of Wild Bill Hickok. He was also friends with Calamity Jane. Early life Utter was born i ...
(c. 1838 – aft. 1912), frontiersman who, with his brother Steve, led a wagon train to and set up shop in Deadwood, where they ran an express delivery service


Later

* Jerry Bryant (died 2015), historian *
Philip S. Van Cise Philip S. Van Cise (October 25, 1884 – December 8, 1969), was a U.S. Army colonel, crimebusting district attorney, and private practice lawyer in Denver, Colorado, Denver, Colorado. He is best known for arresting and prosecuting the notoriou ...
(1884–1969), Colorado district attorney * Charles Badger Clark (1883–1957), poet *
Mary McLaughlin Craig Mary McLaughlin Craig (1889–1964) was an architect, working throughout California despite her lack of formal training as a proponent of the Spanish Colonial style. The archive of her correspondence, specifications, drawings, notes, and photogr ...
(1889–1964), architect * Rowland Crawford (1902–1973), architect *
Gary Mule Deer Gary Mule Deer (born Gary C. Miller; November 21, 1939) is an American comedian and country musician. Biography During a career spanning six decades, Gary Mule Deer has performed on many major concert stages in the United States, and has made o ...
(b. 1939), comedian and country musician * Amy Hill (b. 1953), Japanese- Finnish-American actress * Carole Hillard (1936–2007), Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 1995–2003 *
Ward Lambert Ward Louis "Piggy" Lambert (May 28, 1888 – January 20, 1958) was an American basketball and baseball coach. He served as the head basketball coach at Purdue University during the 1916–17 season and from 1918 to 1946. Lambert was also the head ...
(1888–1958), college basketball coach * William H. Parker (1905–1966), former police chief of Los Angeles * Dorothy Provine (1935–2010), actress and dancer *
Craig Puki Craig Alan Puki (January 18, 1957 – May 14, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Cardinals He was selected by ...
, former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Cardinals *
Angelo Rizzuto Angelo Antonio Rizzuto (December 19, 1906–1967) was an American photographer who worked in Manhattan from 1952 until his death. His street photography opus of 60,000 images lay in file cabinets unviewed until 2001. Early life Rizzuto grew up ...
(1906–1967), photographer * Bill Russell (b. 1949), lyricist *
Bob Schloredt Robert Schloredt (October 2, 1939 – May 16, 2019) was an American football quarterback in the NCAA Division I and CFL and coaching in both the NCAA and World Football League. Early years Schloredt was born in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1939 and ...
(1939–2019), former college football player for the Washington Huskies *
Jim Scott Jim or Jimmy Scott may refer to: Music * Jimmy Scott (1925–2014), American jazz vocalist * Jim Scott (producer), music engineer and producer * Jim Scott (musician), acoustic guitar player and songwriter * Jimmy Scott (songwriter), British-born mu ...
(1888–1957), played with the Chicago White Sox *
Jeff Steitzer Jeffrey Steitzer (born November 28, 1951 in Deadwood, South Dakota) is an American voice actor, stage actor, and director. He is best known for being the voice of the multiplayer announcer in the ''Halo'' series. Career Jeff Steitzer studied thea ...
(b. 1951), voice actor *
Chuck Turbiville Charles M. Turbiville (July 13, 1943 – October 20, 2018) was an American politician, Vietnam combat veteran and member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2005-2013 and 2017-2018, as well as the mayor of Deadwood, South Dakota. Ba ...
(1943-2018), mayor of Deadwood and member of the South Dakota House of Representatives *
Alfred L. Werker Alfred L. Werker (December 2, 1896 – July 28, 1975) was a film director whose work in movies spanned from 1917 through 1957. After a number of film production jobs and assistant directing, Werker co-directed his first film, ''Ridin' the Wind ...
(1896–1975), film director * Cris Williamson (b. 1947), singer/musician


See also

* List of cities in South Dakota


References


External links

*
Deadwood Chamber of Commerce

Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission

Deadwood Digital Media Archive
(
creative commons Creative Commons (CC) is an American non-profit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has release ...
-licensed photos, laser scans, panoramas), data from a DHPC/
CyArk CyArk (from "cyber archive") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Oakland, California, United States founded in 2003. CyArk's mission is to "digitally record, archive and share the world's most significant cultural heritage and ensure ...
partnership
Adams House and Museum

Enjoy Deadwood South Dakota
* {{Authority control American folklore American frontier Black Hills Cities in South Dakota County seats in South Dakota Cities in Lawrence County, South Dakota National Historic Landmarks in South Dakota Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in South Dakota National Register of Historic Places in Lawrence County, South Dakota