There are so many abandoned places in South Dakota! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in South Dakota. Browse through all abandoned places in South Dakota
The Manchester community was a small town that was also called the Fairview town during the early days before it was changed to its current name. In 2003, the town was hit by a tornado that rated F4 causing distractions at unimaginable lengths. Since that day, the community was abandoned.
Manchester town was formerly known as Fairview town in the heydays before it was changed to Manchester. The establishment and the rapid growth of the town were influenced by the construction of the railroad. Houses, a town hall, lumber yards, grain elevators, a gas station, and churches were some of the social amenities in the town. Township schools were also established which included the Manchester High School. The train schedule changed at the beginning of the 20th century and this led to a decline in the town’s growth. Many of the town’s locals left for other stable towns. However, this was not the only factor that led to the slow but steady decline in the population of the town. The worldwide economic downturn also played a role in this as many businesses were closed. The business owners who closed their business also relocated to other towns. To drive the nail on the coffin, a road was built through the Manchester town in the late 1930s but this did not attract people back to the town as they anticipated. Those residents left in the town relocated to De Smet and Huron. The population was reduced to less than 100 residents by 1986. This is the year the railroad was officially abandoned and the line sold to other railroad authorities. Two operating businesses and a few buildings are still operational in the town.
In 2003 a huge tornado (rated F4) struck the town of Manchester. Due to its poor planning and congestion at the center, the tornado hit to the north causing death and major destruction that saw only one business premise left standing. It is estimated that only five families resided in the town during the tornado strike. Although lives were lost, it would have been worse if the tornado would have struck during its heydays.
The town lies abandoned with nothing in it apart from the buildings that were spared by the tornado and the Manchester town pump that was also spared during the strike. There are no plans to rebuild the ruins of the town. Some people live in the farmlands that surround the town. In 2007 a granite monument was erected in the townsite to remember the existence of the town and to honor the residents who lived in the town during the heydays. The town is open to the public to visit or tour.
The area was first called Elkhorn Prairie by General George A. Cluster before its name was changed to Silver City. The city was established because of mining activities in the area during the operation days. Silver Town would later be abandoned and the Pactola Dam constructed at the townsite.
The town was established by General George A. Cluster when he moved to the hills in 1874 after discovering minerals in the area. The town was called Silver city since silver metal was the mineral that dominated the site (only silver metal was exploited). George established a campground and the mining activities started immediately. Apart from the buildings in the camps ground, cabins for renting, a school, and a church were also built. The city of Silver boomed and its growth rose as the miners kept on relocating into this town. There was a further increase in population when a settlement scheme was introduced in the town in 1876. Over the years, it was business as usual by the mines until a directive was sent by the government for the residents to relocate. The relocation was enacted to create room for the construction of the Pactola Dam. This relocation led to the rise of Volksmarch town when some of the residents relocated to the region from Silver City. Miner's campgrounds and the buildings in the town were all deserted by the residents after the downfall of the town. Silver city boomtown was located on the Black Hills and Western Railroad.
Today, the town is today a resort with a church, camping grounds, and rental cabins. A fishing ground was established in the Rapid Greek for those fishing enthusiasts who may want to visit the historic place. A community center was also established in the old schoolhouse. The rest of the buildings which were unsalvageable were demolished by the state of South Dakota to prevent injuries if they would collapse. Apart from the old schoolhouse which has been turned into a community center, some of the other structures like the church are on the list of restoration. Several investors in conjunction with the local government want to turn the old townsite into a modern habitable community for the locals. Though it is not going to be a walk in the park, they are willing to give it a try. The town site is open to the general public for visits. The former mines that were left unattended have remnants of toxic chemicals that can result in poisoning or even death. Despite that, one can easily fall in the deep pits which may also cause injuries.
Tigerville is an abandoned town in Pennington County, South Dakota. It was a mining town that was involved in the production of gold and quartz minerals in its operational days. The town started in the annex but later on, was abandoned and is currently a ruin.
The Tigerville was established in 1878 in place of the King Solomon mine which was the principal mine in the region. A mining town was in turn established to support the miners who dealt with the extraction of gold and quartz minerals. The boom was so intense that social amenities like the town’s post office, stores, saloons, blacksmith shops, school, and a stage barn were all established within a year. By 1880, the residents in the town were more than 190 people. Many of which were miners from different locations looking to get rich quicker from the extraction of gold and quartz. Over the years further, the increase in the Tigerville population was recorded to be more than 580 people. The mine would later close in 1885. The town which had nothing else to offer its residents was rejected and disowned. In 1974 the only standing building was the town’s sawmill and one house.
The town of Tigerville after being established did not operate for a long time (it operated for only seven years). The exploitation of the gold and quartz did not last for long either as the mines were depleted resulting in decline in production. The mining sites were all later closed permanently by 1885. This rendered the miners jobless and as a result, they relocated together with their families to other towns. Some of them moved to new towns while others to the nearby ranches. The town of Tigerville was disowned from that period to this date. The mines and the houses were left intact though some have been subjected to vandalism.
The town of Tigerville is an official ghost town with no residents living in the area at the time. Almost all the former old structures of the building have collapsed over time leaving behind old termite-eaten construction logs and concrete ruins. The town's sawmill can still be seen as it still stands in a dilapidated state. Visits at these old town sites require prior planning and emergency contacts in case of an accident. The ghost town is located at the meeting point of the roads leading to Hill City, Deerfield Lake, and Rockford town. One can visit the place and have a view of the old townsite and mines. For those who do not like to get themselves tired, you sit under the old shed that was used by the miners as you enjoy the breeze from the hills.