Welcome to Whitewood, South Dakota
Whitewood
Whitewood (population 841; elevation 3,648 feet) was actually the first Black Hills “suburb,” since it was only two miles from Deadwood Gulch overland. It was a place to spread out and raise families, crops and livestock. Interestingly, Whitewood still is an ideal place to do just that and still is considered a commuting community.
The Pioneer Townsite Company bought the land, originally an orchard, where Whitewood is now, from early settler William Selbie in 1877, with town lots sold at auction on Thanksgiving Day of that year. It was no coincidence that the Northwestern Railway came to town simultaneously, making Whitewood Junction its base of operations and supply and shipping point in the Northern Hills.
Grains and fruits grew abundantly in the Whitewood valley without irrigation. They were nourished by cool, clear springs above the townsite.
When the railroad extended its lines to Belle Fourche, Whitewood lost out on the growth it had hoped to realize, though there was still enough diversity to maintain a comfortable way of life for most.
Today, Whitewood retains its neighborly, small-town atmosphere. There is a baseball diamond, a city park, tennis courts, a library and senior living accommodations.
Whitewood, SD Events
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Whitewood, SD Quick Facts
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