Hot Springs, South Dakota

Hot Springs is located in Fall River County at the southern edge of South Dakota's Black Hills.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-date=2019-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|url-status=live}} The Fall River runs through the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}

File:South Dakota - Dickinson through Hot Springs - NARA - 68148928 (cropped).jpg

The Sioux and Cheyenne people had long frequented the area, appreciating its warm springs. According to several accounts, including a ledger art piece by the Oglala Lakota artist Amos Bad Heart Bull, Native Americans considered the springs sacred.{{cite web|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2954&context=greatplainsquarterly|title=The Sacred Black Hills – An Ethnohistorical Review|publisher=Great Plains Quarterly via Digital Commons at University of Nebraska – Lincoln|author=Linea Sundstrom|date=1997-07-01|access-date=2014-08-25|archive-date=2021-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162437/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2954&context=greatplainsquarterly|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url= http://www.nps.gov/wica/historyculture/upload/-11C-13-Chapter-Thirteen-Sacred-Ground-Chronology-and-Contr.pdf|title= The black hills as sacred ground: the chronology and controversy|publisher= National Park Service|access-date= 2014-08-25|archive-date= 2014-08-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113533/http://www.nps.gov/wica/historyculture/upload/-11C-13-Chapter-Thirteen-Sacred-Ground-Chronology-and-Contr.pdf|url-status= live}}

European settlers arrived in the second half of the 19th century. They first named the city "Minnekahta" after its Lakota name. It was renamed Hot Springs in 1882, which is a translation of the Native American name.{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA84|year=1908|page=84|access-date=2015-11-22|archive-date=2016-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513090705/https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA84|url-status=live}} A variety of health resorts were built on the tourism offered by the springs.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Hot Springs, South Dakota|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/683054/Hot-Springs|access-date=2009-07-26|archive-date=2011-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126120754/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/683054/Hot-Springs|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|last=Lund|first=John W.|title=Hot Springs, South Dakota|journal=Geo-Heat Center Quarterly Bulletin|date=December 1997|volume=8|issue=4|pages=6–11|url=http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull18-4/art2.pdf|access-date=2014-02-09|archive-date=2014-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222171214/http://geoheat.oit.edu/bulletin/bull18-4/art2.pdf|url-status=live}}

File:Detroit Photographic Company (0784).jpg

File:Evans Plunge, Hot Springs, South Dakota.JPG

Attractions in the Hot Springs area include The Mammoth Site, which boasts the world's largest collection of mammoth bones.{{cite web|date=September 29, 2023|title=Tribal gambling and tourism in South Dakota|url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/brandavestudios/tribal-gambling-and-tourism-in-south-dakota/article_6acd1fa9-d285-5de5-8add-fbd82c658b0c.html|access-date=November 14, 2023|work=Rapid City Journal}} Along with that are natural natural hot spring destinations, like Moccasin Springs Spa and Evans Plunge, built in 1890, with its naturally warm {{convert|87|°F}} spring water. The town is also a gateway to the attractions of the southern Black Hills, particularly Wind Cave National Park. Hot Springs holds the annual Miss South Dakota pageant. In recognition of its historic value, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed Hot Springs as one of its 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. The city center contains over 35 sandstone buildings.{{cite web|title=National Trust for Historic Preservation Names Hot Springs, South Dakota to its 2009 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations|url=http://press.nationaltrust.org/content/view/350/162/|publisher=National Trust for Historic Preservation|access-date=2009-07-26|archive-date=2009-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605055225/http://press.nationaltrust.org/content/view/350/162|url-status=live}}

The Angostura Reservoir, a 4,407 acres (17.83 km2) lake is located 10 miles southeast of the city and is a popular fishing, camping, and recreation area.{{cite web|url=http://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/angostura-recreation-area/|title=Angostura Recreation Area | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks|website=gfp.sd.gov|access-date=Oct 29, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026050304/https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/angostura-recreation-area/|url-status=live}} Cold Brook Dam, which creates Cold Brook Lake is a 36-acre lake is located just north of the city, and Cottonwood Springs Dam and lake is located about 5 miles west.{{cite web|url=https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dam-and-Lake-Projects/Additional-Dams-Lakes/|title=Omaha District's Additional Dams & Lakes|website=www.nwo.usace.army.mil|access-date=Oct 29, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031035927/https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dam-and-Lake-Projects/Additional-Dams-Lakes/|url-status=live}}

Hot Springs is also the home of a United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital (Black Hills Healthcare System - Hot Springs Campus), which was designated in 2011 as a National Historic Landmark. Formerly known as the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, the 100-bed center was built in 1907 for patients with rheumatism or tuberculosis. In the early 21st century, it offers extensive outpatient treatment, acute hospital care, PTSD treatment, and an alcohol and drug treatment facility. The Battle Mountain Sanitarium was declared a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation following a December 2011 proposal announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs to close the facility. Community and state leaders, including Senator Tim Johnson, Senator John Thune, and Representative Kristi Noem opposed the closing. A concerned group of veterans and citizens organized a "Save the VA" Campaign; they have countered the VA's proposal based on the results of multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, getting as far as meeting with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to show how they believe VA leadership manipulated data to justify the proposed closure of the Landmark. After the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014, Hot Springs was visited by members of the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for a Congressional field hearing regarding the proposed closure and the committee heard testimony from members of the Save the VA Committee and others opposed to the closure, as well as two VA administrators in favor of the closure.{{cite web|url=http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/hot-springs-va-gains-at-least-one-new-friend/article_f16fa0fa-fd11-5c0e-99a5-3fea3e63384e.html|title=Hot Springs VA gains at least one new friend|date=August 15, 2014 |access-date=2014-09-10|archive-date=2021-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162439/https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/hot-springs-va-gains-at-least-one-new-friend/article_f16fa0fa-fd11-5c0e-99a5-3fea3e63384e.html|url-status=live}}

{{Overly detailed|section|date=September 2019}}

{{more citations needed|section|date=September 2019}}

Hot Springs has a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) bordering on a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dwa). Owing to its location in an area particularly prone to chinook winds, Hot Springs is one of the warmest places in South Dakota, with an annual mean temperature of {{convert|48.6|°F}}.{{cite web|title=Hot Springs, South Dakota 1961-1990 NCDC Monthly Normals|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?sd4007|publisher=Western Regional Climate Center|access-date=2009-11-24|archive-date=2012-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321173820/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?sd4007|url-status=live}} During the three winter months from December to February, twenty-five afternoons can be expected to exceed {{convert|50|F|C|disp=or}} and five winter afternoons will climb to {{convert|60|F|C|1|disp=or}} due to these warm winds. Nonetheless, extreme cold occurs frequently during the winter when the Föhn effect is absent: the average window for minima below or reaching {{convert|0|F|C|1|disp=or}} is from December 3 to February 27, and fifteen mornings get this cold during an average winter, with {{convert|−20|F|C|1|disp=or}} reached twice per winter on average. Thirty afternoons each winter stay below {{convert|32|F|C|disp=or}}, with all but seven in the severe month of January 1937 not topping the freezing point.

Snowfall averages {{convert|31.1|in|m|2|disp=or}} – vastly less than the extremely snowy high parts of the Black Hills – due to the very dry winters and relatively warm temperatures. The record for snowfall in a single month was {{convert|29.6|in|m|2}} in April 2013, and the most in one full season was {{convert|72.3|in|m|2}} from July 1975 to June 1976; in contrast, the 1988–89 season had less than {{convert|11|in|m|2|disp=or}} of snow all winter. The record for snowfall in a single day was {{convert|15.0|in|m|2}} on March 12, 2006. The most snow on the ground was {{convert|22|in|m|2}} on April 18, 1920, and the mean in January peaks at a mere {{convert|1.2|in|m|disp=or}}.

Spring warms up early: the first afternoon climbing to {{convert|70|F|C|1|disp=or}} can be expected as early as March 22, and the first {{convert|80|F|C|1|disp=or}} maximum as early as April 22. Spring is usually the wettest season, especially in its later stages, due to occasionally very heavy thunderstorm rains. The wettest month on record was May 1935, which saw {{convert|9.65|in|mm|1}} of precipitation, whilst the wettest calendar year overall was 1915, with {{convert|32.01|in|mm|1}}, and the driest was 1960, with only {{convert|6.15|in|mm|1}}. The most precipitation in a single day occurred on April 19, 2000, when {{convert|4.31|in|mm|1}} fell, part of which fell as {{convert|10|in|m|2}} of snow.

Summers are generally hot, at times uncomfortably so, although mornings tend to be fairly comfortable. On average, only two mornings each year will stay above {{convert|20|C|F|disp=or}}, with only three mornings on record remaining at or above {{convert|77|F|disp=or}}, although five afternoons each summer top {{convert|100|F|C|1|disp=or}} and forty afternoons will top {{convert|90|F|C|1|disp=or}}. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Hot Springs is {{convert|112|F|C|1}}, which was achieved on each of three separate occasions: July 25 of 1931, July 10 of 1933, and July 10 of 1939. The fall season is usually dry and sees increasingly variable temperatures: the first freeze can be expected as early as September 23, but maxima in the eighties Fahrenheit have occurred as late as November 8 (in 1999).

{{Weather box

|location = Hot Springs, South Dakota (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 71

|Feb record high F = 72

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 102

|Jun record high F = 108

|Jul record high F = 112

|Aug record high F = 111

|Sep record high F = 103

|Oct record high F = 94

|Nov record high F = 80

|Dec record high F = 72

|year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 58.7

|Feb avg record high F = 61.8

|Mar avg record high F = 73.7

|Apr avg record high F = 81.0

|May avg record high F = 88.2

|Jun avg record high F = 94.9

|Jul avg record high F = 99.6

|Aug avg record high F = 97.9

|Sep avg record high F = 95.3

|Oct avg record high F = 83.8

|Nov avg record high F = 70.4

|Dec avg record high F = 59.3

|year avg record high F = 101.0

|Jan high F = 40.4

|Feb high F = 43.3

|Mar high F = 54.1

|Apr high F = 61.6

|May high F = 70.2

|Jun high F = 80.6

|Jul high F = 88.5

|Aug high F = 87.5

|Sep high F = 79.7

|Oct high F = 64.7

|Nov high F = 50.5

|Dec high F = 40.5

|year high F = 63.5

|Jan mean F = 27.3

|Feb mean F = 29.3

|Mar mean F = 38.8

|Apr mean F = 46.4

|May mean F = 55.8

|Jun mean F = 65.7

|Jul mean F = 72.9

|Aug mean F = 71.3

|Sep mean F = 62.5

|Oct mean F = 49.0

|Nov mean F = 36.6

|Dec mean F = 27.6

|year mean F = 48.6

|Jan low F = 14.1

|Feb low F = 15.4

|Mar low F = 23.6

|Apr low F = 31.2

|May low F = 41.4

|Jun low F = 50.8

|Jul low F = 57.4

|Aug low F = 55.2

|Sep low F = 45.4

|Oct low F = 33.3

|Nov low F = 22.7

|Dec low F = 14.8

|year low F = 33.8

|Jan avg record low F = -9.4

|Feb avg record low F = -8.7

|Mar avg record low F = 1.9

|Apr avg record low F = 15.6

|May avg record low F = 25.9

|Jun avg record low F = 37.6

|Jul avg record low F = 45.9

|Aug avg record low F = 43.5

|Sep avg record low F = 30.6

|Oct avg record low F = 15.6

|Nov avg record low F = 2.3

|Dec avg record low F = -6.9

|year avg record low F = -18.7

|Jan record low F = −41

|Feb record low F = −41

|Mar record low F = −22

|Apr record low F = −11

|May record low F = 13

|Jun record low F = 26

|Jul record low F = 36

|Aug record low F = 28

|Sep record low F = 13

|Oct record low F = −18

|Nov record low F = −21

|Dec record low F = −37

|year record low F = −41

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.41

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.57

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.05

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.12

|May precipitation inch = 3.28

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.05

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.41

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.00

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.40

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.40

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.43

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.49

|year precipitation inch = 18.61

|Jan snow inch = 5.2

|Feb snow inch = 6.3

|Mar snow inch = 5.6

|Apr snow inch = 4.7

|May snow inch = 0.4

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.1

|Oct snow inch = 1.7

|Nov snow inch = 2.5

|Dec snow inch = 5.5

|year snow inch = 32.0

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 4.1

|Feb precipitation days = 5.2

|Mar precipitation days = 5.9

|Apr precipitation days = 8.3

|May precipitation days = 10.6

|Jun precipitation days = 9.6

|Jul precipitation days = 8.2

|Aug precipitation days = 7.0

|Sep precipitation days = 5.4

|Oct precipitation days = 6.1

|Nov precipitation days = 3.6

|Dec precipitation days = 4.0

|year precipitation days = 78.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 2.9

|Feb snow days = 3.7

|Mar snow days = 2.3

|Apr snow days = 1.5

|May snow days = 0.1

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.6

|Nov snow days = 1.4

|Dec snow days = 3.1

|year snow days = 15.6

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=unr

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = October 28, 2021

| archive-date = November 24, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162522/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=unr

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00394007&format=pdf

| title = Station: Hot Springs, SD

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = October 28, 2021

| archive-date = 2021-11-24

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162441/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00394007&format=pdf

| url-status = live

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1890= 1423

|1900= 1319

|1910= 2140

|1920= 2141

|1930= 3486

|1940= 4083

|1950= 5030

|1960= 4943

|1970= 4434

|1980= 4742

|1990= 4325

|2000= 4129

|2010= 3711

|2020= 3395

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 23, 2013|archive-date=October 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003185009/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}
2017 Estimate{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2017/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328165215/https://census.gov/data/tables/2017/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:46&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 15, 2022}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-06-21|archive-date=1996-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}} of 2010, there were 3,711 people, 1,730 households, and 910 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1028.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,958 housing units at an average density of {{convert|542.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.4% White, 1.1% African American, 9.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 1,730 households, of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.4% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 49.8 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.8% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,129 people, 1,704 households, and 962 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,417.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,900 housing units at an average density of {{convert|652.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.06% White, 0.39% African American, 7.82% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.

There were 1,704 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $27,079, and the median income for a family was $35,786. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,618. About 8.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

File:Mammoth Site Hot Springs.jpg

• Albert R. Anderson, U.S. Representative, mayor of Lead, and lawyer
• Joseph Bottum, writer
• Dan Dryden, educator and politician
• Charles S. Eastman, attorney and member of the South Dakota House of Representatives{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/eastman.html|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Eastman|website=politicalgraveyard.com|access-date=Oct 29, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162535/https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/eastman.html|url-status=live}}
• Jarrod Emick, musical theater actor
• Orlando Ferguson, proponent of the Flat Earth Theory{{Cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg/1280px-Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-11-01 |archive-date=2021-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124162438/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg/1280px-Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg |url-status=live }}
• Charles Hargens, painter
• Leslie Jensen, 15th Governor of South Dakota
• Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, Continental Counselor and Chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States
• Jess Thomas, American operatic tenor{{cite book|last=Sirvaitis|first=Karen|title=South Dakota|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X1al2lXC6NYC&pg=PA69|date=1 September 2001|publisher=Lerner Publications|isbn=978-0-8225-4070-0|page=69}}

• List of cities in South Dakota

{{Reflist|22em}}

{{commons category|Hot Springs, South Dakota}}

• [http://www.hotsprings-sd.com/ Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce]

{{Fall River County, South Dakota}}

{{Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota}}

{{Black Hills, South Dakota}}

{{South Dakota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in South Dakota

Category:Cities in Fall River County, South Dakota

Category:Hot springs of South Dakota

Category:County seats in South Dakota

Category:Black Hills

Category:Bodies of water of Fall River County, South Dakota