Welcome to Belle Fourche Cowboy town features rich history and a hometown feel
When visitors arrive in Belle Fourche, they are welcomed with open arms and invited to immerse themselves in the cowboy lore and all of the Wild West history area residents have come to embrace. This gateway to the Northern Hills has so much to offer, while still providing a hometown atmosphere and an enriching way of life. Whether it’s taking in a rodeo, perusing a museum, shopping at all of the unique downtown shops, or enjoying a nice meal — there is truly something for everyone. Belle Fourche, which translates from French into “beautiful fork” is nestled between the Redwater and Belle Fourche rivers and surrounded by Hay Creek. One of its claims to fame is the Black Hills Roundup, one of the oldest outdoor rodeos in the country. Known as the greatest show on dirt, the rodeo started 1918 and decades later the event still draws thousands of visitors to the community every year surrounding the Fourth of July. The other is the fact that Belle Fourche is truly the geographical center of the nation, and a beautiful monument was constructed at
Courtesy PHoto
the Tri-State Museum and Visitor Center to highlight the fact and provide an experience for visitors. The breadth of history that Belle Fourche is known for, is something to experience. It all began when some of the area’s first settlers found the area to be profitable in the fur trade, and soon it became a rendezvous point. Then, during the Black Hills gold rush in 1876 treasure seekers quickly realized that the fertile valleys around Belle Fourche
provided land for farmers and ranchers to prosper. When the cattle business picked up across the United States, a stage line was constructed between Medora, N.D., and Deadwood in 1884 and a weigh station was built on a ranch owned by Sol Star and Seth Bullock. A few years later, news of a possible freight stop in the area and in 1890 a railroad terminal was built where the Belle Fourche Livestock Auction sits today.
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2018 Belle Fourche Destination Magazine | 5