Edgemont in Fall River County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Edgemont: Where the Trail Begins
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2012
1. Edgemont: Where the Trail Begins Marker
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad created the town of Edgemont in 1890 and used it as the terminal and yard for their extension into the Black Hills. Located on the southernmost part of the Black Hills near the Cheyenne River, this community is known for its ranching and farming operations.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Edgemont was the center of an energy boom when uranium ore used for nuclear development was mined in the area. By 1980, mining the ore was no longer profitable.
Stay on the trail to avoid poison ivy and rattlesnakes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 43° 17.897′ N, 103° 49.477′ W. Marker is in Edgemont, South Dakota, in Fall River County. Marker is on 2nd Avenue (State Highway 471) north of G Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the George S. Mickelson Trailhead, in Edgemont City Park. Touch for map. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Teddy Roosevelts's Visit to Edgemont (a few steps from this marker); Siding 7 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cheyenne River Crossing (approx. 0.8 miles away); Camp Collier (approx. 3.6 miles away); MAFFS 7 (approx. 7.1 miles away); Battle the Blaze (approx. 7.1 miles away).
More about this marker. This is a large "poster-style" marker, mounted at eye-level in the Mickelson Trailhead kiosk.
Also see . . . Black Hills Railroad History. The standard-gauge Burlington branch was built in several portions between Hill City and Keystone during the central Black Hills mining boom in the 1890s. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad pushed its line into the southwestern corner of the newly created state of South Dakota in November of 1889. In the spring of 1890, construction of this began at Edgemont as the first phase of the "High Line." (Submitted on September 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Courtesy of Rick Mills Collection
2. Marker detail: Edgemont Depot in the 1960s
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2012
3. Edgemont: Where the Trail Begins Marker (marker is in kiosk beyond milepost zero sign)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2012
4. Mickelson Trail: Milepost Zero Plaque (located near marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2012
5. Mickelson Trail: Starting Point (located near marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2012
6. Edgemont City Park sign (located near marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
