Capa, South Dakota facts for kids
Capa is a small, unincorporated community located in Jones County, South Dakota, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
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History of Capa
How Capa Started
Capa was first planned in 1908. This happened soon after a railroad line was built into the area. The railroad helped new communities grow. A post office for Capa opened a little earlier, in 1907. It served the community until it closed in 1976.
What's in a Name?
The exact reason for Capa's name isn't fully known. There are two main ideas about where the name "Capa" came from:
- Some people believe the name "Capa" comes from a Sioux word. This word means "beaver."
- Another story says the name came from railroad workers. They noticed that when train car doors opened, the word "capacity" looked like "capa city." This funny observation might have led to the town's name.
Capa's Population Changes
Capa grew quite a bit in its early years. By the 1950s, about 300 people lived there. However, things changed in 1960. The passenger train service to Capa was stopped. This made many people leave the town. Long periods of dry weather, known as drought, also hurt farming in the area. This also contributed to the town's decline. By 2006, only one person lived in Capa. This person was a descendant of the town's first settlers.
Capa's Hot Springs
In the 1920s, Capa had a special feature: hot water from underground. A well was dug in 1906 that brought up this warm water. The town's train station, a hotel, and a public bathhouse all used this geothermal water. In 1922, some local business people formed a group. They called it the "Capa Hydro Sanitarium." They wanted to tell people about Capa's "hot medicinal waters."
