Big Bottom, South Dakota

Big Bottom (1878–1887) is a ghost town in Meade County, South Dakota, United States.[2]

Big Bottom, South Dakota
Big Bottom is located in South Dakota
Big Bottom
Big Bottom
Location of Big Bottom in South Dakota.
Coordinates: 44°35′08″N 103°31′22″W / 44.5855403°N 103.5226908°W / 44.5855403; -103.5226908[1]
CountryUnited States of America
StateSouth Dakota
CountyMeade
Founded1878 (1878)
Abandonedc. 1887
Founded byThomas D. Pryor
Elevation2,995 ft (913 m)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)

History

edit

Big Bottom was founded in 1878 by Thomas D. Pryor. He built a two-story frame house for himself and added a dance hall and saloon, both of which became very well known to the locals. In 1880, a post office was established, and a school soon followed. However, the anticipated railroad bypassed the town, and in 1887, the store and saloon closed their doors. Today, the town is completely abandoned, and little remains.[2]

Geography

edit

Big Bottom is located on the Great Plains in western Meade County, South Dakota. The only remaining structure is the basement foundation of Pryor's house.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "GNIS Detail - Big Bottom (historical)." USGS. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey., 23 Sept. 1986. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Web. 20 Aug. 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Parker, Watson, and Hugh K. Lambert. Black Hills Ghost Towns. First ed. Vol. 1. Chicago, IL: The Swallow Press Incorporated, 1974. 46. 1 vols. Print.