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Silver City, South Dakota facts for kids

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Silver City, South Dakota

Elkhorn Prairie
Place
Silver City, 1948. Photo by George A. Grant.
Silver City, 1948. Photo by George A. Grant.
Silver City, South Dakota is located in South Dakota
Silver City, South Dakota
Silver City, South Dakota
Location in South Dakota
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Pennington
Elevation
4,626 ft (1,410 m)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
Area code(s) 605
GNIS feature ID 5769045

Silver City is a small community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located near Rapid City. Silver City sits at the top of Pactola Lake along Rapid Creek. You can find it about 5 miles west of U.S. Route 385.

History of Silver City

How Silver City Got Its Start

The area where Silver City is now was first mentioned in 1874. General George A. Custer explored the Black Hills and called this spot Elkhorn Prairie. The first people settled in Silver City in 1876.

Silver City as a Mining Town

For many years, Silver City was a busy mining town. It was once connected by the Black Hills and Western Railroad. However, the railroad was removed before Pactola Dam was built.

Silver City Today

What is Silver City Like Now?

Today, Silver City is a popular place for vacations. It has a campground and cabins that people can rent. There is also a church in the community.

Outdoor Activities and Services

You can find more campgrounds run by the USFS nearby. There's also a special area along Rapid Creek where you can go fishing for trout. Silver City has its own volunteer fire department. The old schoolhouse now serves as a small community center.

Community Life in Silver City

Even though it has its own community center, Silver City is part of the Hill City School District. With about 80 homes, the community is becoming a place where people live but travel to work in Rapid City. Silver City is also the starting point for a Volksmarch, which is a long walk or hike around Pactola Lake.

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