Minnesela, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Minnesela was once the county seat
of Butte County
, South Dakota
, United States
. It was founded in 1881, and is located three miles from Belle Fourche with which it has a closely entwined history.
Minnesela was once a thriving town, until Seth Bullock decided to create the town of Belle Fourche in competition. To this end Bullock offered residents of Minnesela free land in Belle Fourche, resulting in its rapid growth. Further, Minnesela was originally on the proposed route of the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad, but by offering free land for the line, Bullock ensured it went through Belle Fourche instead, further contributing to the decline of Minnesela.
Eventually, Belle Fourche won the election for the county seat after importing citizens from Minnesela, and deprived of any further reason for existing, Minnesela became a ghost town. Now Minnesela has one building still standing.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Butte County
Butte County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,094 people, 3,516 households, and 2,468 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 4,059 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded in 1881, and is located three miles from Belle Fourche with which it has a closely entwined history.
Minnesela was once a thriving town, until Seth Bullock decided to create the town of Belle Fourche in competition. To this end Bullock offered residents of Minnesela free land in Belle Fourche, resulting in its rapid growth. Further, Minnesela was originally on the proposed route of the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad, but by offering free land for the line, Bullock ensured it went through Belle Fourche instead, further contributing to the decline of Minnesela.
Eventually, Belle Fourche won the election for the county seat after importing citizens from Minnesela, and deprived of any further reason for existing, Minnesela became a ghost town. Now Minnesela has one building still standing.