Blacktail, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blacktail, South Dakota
Black Tail
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 Blacktail, South Dakota
Location in South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lawrence |
| Elevation | 4,777 ft (1,456 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
Blacktail (also known as Black Tail) is a fascinating ghost town located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty.
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What is Blacktail?
Blacktail was named after the black-tailed deer. A settler saw these deer near where the town was built. It started as an early mining camp. This means it was a temporary town where miners lived and worked.
Blacktail's Mining History
Some of the mills for the famous Homestake Mine operated in Blacktail. Mills are like big factories that process rocks to get valuable minerals out of them. For a while, Blacktail was a busy place because of all the mining activity.
Why Did Blacktail Become a Ghost Town?
Even though Blacktail was busy for a time, it eventually became a ghost town. This often happens when the mines run out of minerals, or when it becomes too expensive to get them out. People then move away to find work elsewhere.
Where Was Blacktail Located?
Blacktail was located in a specific area in South Dakota. It was found between two other places: Central City and Gayville. The town was also near where two streams, Blacktail Gulch and Bobtail Gulch, meet. The land where Blacktail once stood is about 4,777 feet above sea level.
