Roubaix, South Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roubaix, South Dakota Lewisville, Perry
unincorporated community
Roubaix, South Dakota Location in South Dakota
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Lawrence
Founded	August 1885
Elevation	5,381 ft (1,640 m)
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code(s)	605

Roubaix (pronounced ro-BAY) is a small, unincorporated community in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It used to be called Perry or Lewisville.

What's in a Name? The Story of Roubaix

Roubaix has had a few different names over the years.

From Lewisville to Perry

The community was first known as Lewisville. Later, when a post office was opened there, its name was changed to Perry.

Why Roubaix? Avoiding Confusion

When the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad started building tracks into the Black Hills, the town needed another name change. This was to avoid confusion with a nearby place called Terry. The name Roubaix was chosen to honor Pierre Wibaux. He was a French businessman and a major investor in the local Uncle Sam Mine. Roubaix was his hometown in France.

A Look Back: The History of Roubaix

Roubaix began as a mining camp and went through many changes.

How Roubaix Started and Grew

The first settlers arrived in 1876. They were looking for gold through a method called placer mining in nearby Elk Creek. The town almost disappeared in 1880 when the Uncle Sam Mine closed. A big forest fire also destroyed much of the town.

Roubaix had a grand reopening in August 1885. There was a celebration with a dance at a beer hall. After 1891, mining problems almost made the town empty again.

By 1899, Roubaix had about 500 residents. It had a post office, several stores, a hospital, and places for miners to stay. There was also a newspaper, a barber shop, churches, and its own city hall. The town even had a tennis club, a literature group, and a miners' union. Before the early 1900s, classes for children were held in different buildings.

Gold Mining in Roubaix

Roubaix's success depended a lot on the Uncle Sam Mine. This mine was found in 1878 and produced gold.

Early Mining Efforts

At first, a small stamp mill was used to crush quartz rock. It produced $50,000 worth of gold. But by 1880, the mine closed and filled with water.

In 1885, more stamp mills were brought in. A large 60-stamp mill came from Esmeralda. By October 1886, the mine had problems with its water pumps. This slowdown almost made Roubaix a ghost town.

The Clover Leaf Gold Mining Company

In 1898, the Clover Leaf Gold Mining Company arrived. It was led by Pierre Wibaux. They bought the mine and fixed the 60-stamp mill. They also repaired buildings, brought in a sawmill, and added electricity. From 1889 to 1905, Wibaux mined $900,000 worth of gold. Most of the ore was pure, and a simple process using mercury helped recover 90% of the gold. This new activity brought the town back to life. However, some miners started stealing the gold, which caused Wibaux to lose money.

The Mine's Final Days

On June 4, 1905, a big problem happened at the mine. The lower levels flooded, and the pumps broke. A dam also broke, making the flooding worse. The mine had to be abandoned. This destruction led to Roubaix's decline.

In 1934, the mine reopened briefly. But it closed again in 1935 after producing only $10,000 in gold. The land was sold to a private owner in 1937.

Roubaix Today

The post office in Roubaix stayed open until the 1940s. The building where the mine's shaft was located was destroyed by a windstorm in 1953. The school building was torn down in the 1960s.

Today, only a few old houses remain. You can still see the foundations of the mine. Only a couple of large wheels from the mills are left. Roubaix still has a very small population, but there are no businesses in the community.

Where is Roubaix? Geography and Climate

Roubaix is located in the Black Hills of western Lawrence County.

Location and Surroundings

It is found at coordinates 44°16′33″N 103°39′59″W / 44.2758183°N 103.6663058°W / 44.2758183; -103.6663058. Roubaix is on the east side of U.S. Route 385 along Elk Creek. It is about seven miles south of Pluma.

Roubaix's Weather