Spokane, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spokane, South Dakota
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 Spokane, South Dakota
Location in South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Custer |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Elevation | 4,521 ft (1,378 m) |
| Demonym(s) | Spokanite |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1262481 |
Spokane is a ghost town in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. It was founded in 1890 as a mining camp in the Black Hills. The town was abandoned in the mid-20th century.
What's in a Name?
Spokane got its name from a silver mine nearby. This mine was named after Spokane, Washington, a city far away.
A Look at Spokane's History
Spokane was first planned as a gold mining town. But the Spokane Mine also found other valuable materials. These included silver, lead, beryl, copper, mica, hematite, graphite, and zinc. Both the town and the mine started in 1890.
The year 1927 was a great time for Spokane. The town earned a lot of money, about $144,742. With these earnings, the town built a school. Many new miners also moved to the area.
However, the mine soon started to have problems. It closed down in 1940. By this time, most people had already left the town. In the 1950s, a few companies tried to open the mine again, but they were not successful.
Over time, the mine's buildings burned down. Other buildings that were unsafe were torn down by the U.S. Forest Service. A watchman stayed in the town until the mid-1980s. After that, Spokane was officially abandoned.
Where Was Spokane Located?
Spokane was in the Black Hills of Custer County. It was about 16 miles east of Custer. The old town site is near where Iron Mountain Road, County Road 330, and U.S. Route 16A meet.
Today, only a few buildings are left. You can still see the barn, the watchman's house, and the old school. Some parts of the mine also remain.
