Sturgis, South Dakota Explained

Sturgis
Official Name:Sturgis, South Dakota
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:South Dakota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Meade
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Angela Wilkerson
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1878
Established Title3:Incorporated
Established Date3:1888[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:16.86
Area Land Km2:16.63
Area Water Km2:0.24
Area Total Sq Mi:6.51
Area Land Sq Mi:6.42
Area Water Sq Mi:0.09
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:7020
Population Density Km2:422.17
Population Density Sq Mi:1093.46
Timezone:Mountain (MST)
Utc Offset:−7
Timezone Dst:MDT
Utc Offset Dst:−6
Coordinates:44.4114°N -103.5003°W
Elevation Ft:3458
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:57785
Area Code:605
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:46-62100[3]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1267596
Website:City of Sturgis

Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 7,020 as of the 2020 census.[4] It is the county seat of Meade County[5] and is named after Samuel D. Sturgis, a Union general during the Civil War.

Sturgis is notable as the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which lasts for 10 days beginning on the first Friday of August. It attracts large numbers of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world. Sturgis is also noted for hosting WCW's Hog Wild/Road Wild events from 1996 to 1999.

History

Sturgis was founded in 1878. An early nickname for the town was "Scooptown." Scooptown had been an earlier settlement at the base of Bear Butte, that supplied the soldiers at Camp Sturgis an outlet for their vices. When it became apparent that Sturgis was going to be the city that supplied the newly formed Fort Meade, the occupants of Scooptown moved en masse to Sturgis and set up their shops.[6] Sturgis was named in honor of the Civil War Union General Samuel D. Sturgis.[7] In 1889, Sturgis was designated as the county seat of the newly formed Meade County.[8]

As part of the vast Ellsworth Air Force Base complex, the land north of Sturgis was dotted with 50 Minuteman missile silos. Minuteman missile silo L-5 is located 3.5miles from the center of the town.

Towards the end of the summer of 2015, the Full Throttle Saloon, described as the world's largest biker bar[9] and the subject of the reality television series Full Throttle Saloon, burned down,[10] but was rebuilt on 600 acres in nearby Vale near Bear Butte.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.99sqmi, all land.[12]

Climate

Sturgis has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa.) The hardiness zone is 5a.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 6,627 people, 2,916 households, and 1,687 families living in the city. The population density was 1660.9PD/sqmi. There were 3,154 housing units at an average density of 790.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 0.2% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 2,916 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,442 people, 2,738 households, and 1,708 families living in the city. The population density was 1723.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 799.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 0.20% African American, 2.48% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

There were 2,738 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $30,253, and the median income for a family was $38,698. Males had a median income of $25,856 versus $18,582 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,763. About 11.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Public sculptures

Media

Radio stations

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SD Towns. South Dakota State Historical Society. February 15, 2010.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 15, 2022.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau: Sturgis city, South Dakota . www.census.gov . United States Census Bureau . 26 February 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: Find a County. 2011-06-07. National Association of Counties.
  6. Book: Lee, Robert . Fort Meade and The Black Hills . University of Nebraska Press . 1991 . 0-8032-2896-1 . 35 . English.
  7. Book: Chicago and North Western Railway Company. A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. 1908. 128.
  8. Book: Historical Gazetteer of the United States . Routledge . May 13, 2013 . 30 November 2013 . Hellmann, Paul T. . 999. 978-1135948597 .
  9. News: Full Throttle Saloon . . December 14, 2012 . 14 May 2023. Cutbertson, Ian.
  10. Web site: Staff. Owner says power cord caused Full Throttle Saloon fire. newscenter1.tv . December 22, 2015 . KNBN / AP. 15 May 2023.
  11. News: Ramsey . Sarah . The Full Throttle Saloon in South Dakota is an Adult Playground . 15 May 2023 . Wide Open Country . Wide Open Media Group . June 18, 2021.
  12. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. 2012-06-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt. 2012-01-25.
  13. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-06-21.