Faith, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Faith, South Dakota
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City
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A sculpture of Sue stands on U.S. Route 212 in Faith, across from the Prairie Oasis Hotel,
April 2010 |
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| Motto(s):
"Welcome to the Prairie Oasis!"
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Location in Meade County and the state of South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Meade |
| Established | 1910 |
| Incorporated | 1912 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.20 sq mi (3.11 km2) |
| • Land | 1.20 sq mi (3.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,579 ft (786 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 367 |
| • Density | 306.09/sq mi (118.20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code |
57626
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| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-20980 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267388 |
Faith is a small city in the northeastern part of Meade County, South Dakota, United States. In 2020, about 367 people lived there. Faith is famous for being near where "Sue," the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found, was discovered in 1990.
Contents
History of Faith
Faith was established in 1910. The town got its name from Faith Rockefeller. She was the daughter of a main investor in the railroad that helped start the town. This was a common way to name towns along that old railroad line. Faith was the very end of this railroad route.
When the railroad arrived, Faith became a busy place. Many people came to settle on the land between 1910 and 1920. However, the weather changed. Dry conditions in the 1920s led to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Also, the winters were very harsh. Many settlers, called "sodbusters," moved away to places with better weather.
Even though it didn't grow as much as expected, Faith is still important. It's a central spot for ranch families in the area. They can find schools and stores closer than in bigger towns like Sturgis. Faith is also well-known for its rodeos and livestock sales. It was once a necessary stop on the historic Sunset Trail, also known as the Yellowstone Trail.
Geography and Nature Around Faith
Faith covers about 1.20 square miles (3.11 square kilometers) of land. It is located in the "West River" region of South Dakota. This is the part of the state west of the Missouri River. It's also in the Great Plains, a large flat area.
The city sits on a ridge. To the south is the Cheyenne River. To the north are the Grand River and the Moreau River. These rivers all flow into the Missouri River.
Faith is the main community for a huge area of cattle and sheep ranches. It's in the far northeast corner of Meade County, which is South Dakota's largest county. The county seat, Sturgis, is about 100 miles (160 km) away. Faith is also right next to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. This reservation is home to several Lakota groups.
The area around Faith is popular for hunting. You can find deer, pheasant, elk, and even prairie mountain lions. A small lake called Durkee Lake is about three miles south of Faith. It's a great place for fun activities. You can go boating, fishing, or visit the golf course and beach. There's also camping available.
People of Faith
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 575 | — | |
| 1930 | 607 | 5.6% | |
| 1940 | 522 | −14.0% | |
| 1950 | 599 | 14.8% | |
| 1960 | 591 | −1.3% | |
| 1970 | 576 | −2.5% | |
| 1980 | 576 | 0.0% | |
| 1990 | 548 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 489 | −10.8% | |
| 2010 | 421 | −13.9% | |
| 2020 | 367 | −12.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 421 people living in Faith. These people lived in 192 households. About 28.6% of these households had children under 18. Many households (47.9%) were married couples. About 36.5% of all households had just one person living there. Around 17.2% of households had someone 65 years or older living alone.
The average age of people in Faith was 43.6 years old. About 25.4% of residents were under 18. And 19.5% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (51.1%) and females (48.9%). Most residents (91.0%) were White. About 4.0% were Native American.
Education in Faith
Students in Faith attend schools that are part of the Faith School District (South Dakota). The district has two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Students usually go to Faith High School.
Buildings and Travel
The Faith Municipal Building is an important building in the city. It was designed by U. L. Freed and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building with historical importance.
How to Get to Faith
You can reach Faith by driving on U.S. Route 212 and South Dakota Highway 73. If you need to fly, the closest airports are in Pierre (the state capital) and Rapid City. Rapid City is about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Faith. The railroad that helped start Faith was built in 1910 but was no longer used by the 1960s. Today, there are no regular passenger bus or freight train services to the city.
Famous People from Faith
- Catherine Bach, an actress
- Cole Elshere, a rodeo cowboy
- Marie C. Ingalls, a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
- Boyd Raeburn, a jazz bandleader and saxophone player
See also
In Spanish: Faith (Dakota del Sur) para niños
