Wanamaker, South Dakota facts for kids

Wanamaker is a ghost town in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of South Dakota. This means it's a place where people used to live and work, but now most or all of them have moved away, leaving behind empty buildings or just traces of a former community.

Wanamaker: A South Dakota Ghost Town

Wanamaker is a fascinating example of a ghost town located in Jackson County, South Dakota, a part of the U.S. state of South Dakota. Ghost towns like Wanamaker often tell stories of how communities grew and then faded away, sometimes because of changes in jobs, transportation, or the environment.

The Town's Beginning and End

The small community of Wanamaker got its start with the establishment of a post office. This post office opened in 1914. In those days, a post office was a very important part of any town. It connected people to the outside world by sending and receiving letters and packages.

However, like many small towns in the American West, Wanamaker did not continue to grow. The post office, which was the heart of the community, eventually closed its doors in 1951. After the post office shut down, most people moved away, and Wanamaker became a ghost town.

Who Was John Wanamaker?

The town of Wanamaker was named after a very important person named John Wanamaker. He was a famous American businessman and a leader in the postal service.

John Wanamaker was well-known for owning a large and successful chain of department stores called Wanamaker's. These stores were like very big shops that sold many different kinds of products all in one place. He was also the 35th United States Postmaster General. This means he was the main person in charge of all the mail services for the entire United States. It was a very important job, making sure letters and packages could travel across the country.

Naming the town after him was a way to honor his contributions, especially given the importance of the post office to the town's existence.