Ardmore, South Dakota facts for kids
Ardmore is a small, quiet place in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. It's a "census-designated place," which means it's a community that the government counts for population, even though it's not officially a city or town. European-American settlers founded Ardmore in 1889. In 2020, only one person lived there.
About Ardmore
Ardmore is located in a pretty spot, about 3,556 feet above sea level. People believe its name came from Dora Moore, who was a teacher in the area a long time ago.
This small community was even featured in the famous National Geographic Magazine in May 2004! Ardmore is very close to the border between South Dakota and Nebraska, about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of it. It sits right next to a BNSF railroad track. You can still see about 15 to 25 old, empty houses there, and the town sign is still standing.
Ardmore's History
Ardmore has a past that includes a visit from a US President! In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge stopped in Ardmore.
The town faced tough times during the Great Depression, which was a period when many people lost their jobs and money. But Ardmore managed to get through it without any families needing welfare help. Over time, fewer people worked in farming, and young people moved away to find jobs in other places. This caused the population to shrink. The last time the government officially counted Ardmore's population was in 1980, when 16 people lived there.
Even though it's a very small place now, Ardmore still holds memories for many. On September 4, 2010, people who used to live there or had connections to the town gathered for a reunion at the Ardmore Volunteer Fire Department.
Famous Person from Ardmore
- Doc Middleton, a former resident.
