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Amherst, South Dakota facts for kids

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Amherst
Amherst is located in South Dakota
Amherst
Amherst
Location in South Dakota
Amherst is located in the United States
Amherst
Amherst
Location in the United States
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Marshall
Elevation
1,309 ft (399 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
57421
Area code(s) 605
GNIS feature ID 1253644

Amherst is a small place in Marshall County, South Dakota, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a settlement that doesn't have its own local government, but it's still a recognized place where people live.

A Look Back at Amherst's History

Amherst has been around for a while! A post office was opened here in 1887. This was an important step, as it helped connect the community with the rest of the country through mail.

How Amherst Got Its Name

The community most likely got its name from a town called Amherst, Massachusetts. It's common for new settlements to be named after older, established places.

A Notable Event Near Amherst

On November 16, 2017, a significant event happened about two and a half miles southeast of Amherst. A pipeline, called the Keystone Pipeline, had a leak. This caused what was described as the largest oil spill in South Dakota's history.

The oil spill covered an area about 100 yards wide. It happened in a special field set aside for conservation. After the spill, a lot of work was done to clean up the area and protect the environment.

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