Custer County, SD

The early history of Custer County forms the story of the discovery of gold in the Black Hills and the subsequent development of that area. In July 1874, Gen. George A. Custer led his famous expedition of 1,000 men, including a military band, 2,000 animals, and 110 wagons in to the Black Hills investigate the rumors of gold ore there.  While camping on French Creek near the present of Custer City, the prospector of the expedition, Horatio N. Ross, found gold in the creek.  General Custer spread the magic word – Gold! – The rush was on.  The Gordon party , 26 men, a woman and a boy from Sioux City in December, despite the efforts of the Federal Government to keep white people out of the Indian owned country.  In 1875 Custer City was staked out and several thousand people arrived within a few weeks to pan gold.  The town was enjoying a boom when, in the spring of 1876, a rich strike was made in Deadwood Gulch, and within a week’s time Custer City was almost depopulated.

The county with an area of 1,573 square miles, comprises much of the southern Black Hills. Over a third of the county is in the Harney National Forest, and Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are all within its borders.  Harney Peak, highest point in the state with an altitude of 7,242 feet, beautiful Sylvan Lake Hotel, and many other points of interest attract thousands of tourist vacationists each year.  Since 1933, several Civilian Conservation Corps camps have been located in the county, clearing the forests, building roads, forming lakes, and making campgrounds.