Amherst, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amherst
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 Amherst
Location in South Dakota
Amherst
Location in the United States
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| 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
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| 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.
