Belle Fourche Chamber/CVB
Howdy!
The name is French for "beautiful fork" because of its site on the "forks" of Redwater River, Hay Creek, and the Belle Fourche River.
The town of Belle Fourche was only a dream until the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley railroad reached the Black Hills and began looking toward the plains to the west. Seth Bullock, frontier marshall and rancher, quietly worked at persuading officials to build a depot on the site of De Mores, an early day stage station. A large amount of land was donated as a right-of-way across his SD ranch. Only a saloon remained at De Mores. On December 28, 1890, this was joined by the depot and the new town of Belle Fourche was underway. The thriving little town of Minnesela, three miles away, which was established in 1881, had expected to become railroad headquarters but was bypassed. Four years later it also lost it's county seat of Butte County to Belle Fourche which had imported over a hundred "citizens" to vote in the election. Minnesela is now a ghost town.
The new settlement was located at the forks of Haycreek, Redwater River and Belle Fourche River, hence the name of Belle Fourche which is French for "beautiful fork." It was soon platted and lots were sold. Free lots were offered to businesses moving in from Minnesela and in spite of the hatred generated by the struggle, many merchants accepted.
Early day Belle Fourche was a cow town, catering to the needs and wishes of the cattlemen and cowboys. One street, now 5th Avenue, is still called by Saloon Street by old-timers.
Today, the Center of the Nation, is denoted with a plaque at the Belle Fourche Chamber's Visitor Information Center - the nearest community to the exact center of the world's lone remaining Superpower. The 21-foot diameter structure is made of etched South Dakota granite with a 12-inch bronze marker from the National Geodetic Survey. The Monument is located at the Belle Fourche Chamber and Visitor Information Center/Tri-State Museum buliding.
In addition to outstanding antique shops, motels, museums, campgrounds and restaurants, Belle Fourche is home to one of America's premier rodeos - the Black Hills Roundup held each July. When you're ready for a place where the West still rings true, say "howdy" to Belle Fourche. We'll be waiting for you.
