Buffalo in Harding County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Harding County Post Offices
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2023
1. Harding County Post Offices Marker
Wherever American people live, they take for granted their right to receive their mail and expect Uncle Sam to provide them with that service.
The mail eventually got here when the broad prairie was welcoming the first few straggling cow punchers who came here with herds of Texas cattle. They set up camps and round-up outfits, and their mail would get to Deadwood, over 100 miles to the south in the Black Hills, or Dickinson, North Dakota, over 120 miles to the north. It was carried the last stretch to this area by saddle horse, team and wagon, stage coach, or by whoever happened to have an idea of the whereabouts of the addressee and took the mail along with them to help reach its destination.
The first mail carried by government men was from Minnesela to Camp Crook. As the area became more thickly settled, many small post offices were established to serve the growing population.
Mail was distributed as soon as the settlers could be informed of its arrival in the county. The mailman's regular arrival at the prairie post office signaled the gathering of homesteaders and honyokers, who watched up the trail for the mailman who was the carrier of news, both local and distant.
The mail carrier always enjoyed a special sort of distinction as his job was of far greater importance than merely to bring sacks of letters and parcel post. He brought word of events in the distant communities over the horizon. He brought hardy pioneer-minded passengers into the county, and took discouraged and disillusioned adventurers out. He brought telegrams, mailed from the railroad station, usually with a sad message, and often was accompanied on his return trip by the recipient on his way back to the railroad and back east called by family sickness or death.
Throughout the years, the mailman's buggy, later his fliver (car),
this page online
Perhaps nothing else over the span of 100 years has continued with such regularity and stability as Uncle Sam's mail service to this prairie country.
Post Offices in Harding County:
Amburn: 1913-1915 Anvil: 1911-1912 Ashcroft: 1889-1919 Bloom: 1909-1921 Bratsberg: 1913-1921 Buffalo: 1909-Open Bullock: 1911-1957 Cadyville: 1911-1913 Cammack: 1911-1918 Camp Crook: 1885-Open Cave Hills: 1889-1894 Cory: 1911-1911 (Mar-Sept) Cox: 1908-1923 Dobin: 1910-1911 Dorfman: 1910-1911 Elder: 1915-1928 Erickson: 1911-1912 Fladmoe: 1913-1924 Gallup: 1911-1923 Gertrude: 1885-1885 (Feb-Sept) Gill: 1912-1945 Glenlevit: 1909-1937 Govert: 1910-1954 Grossville: 1910-1912 Gustave: 1899-1954 Harding: 1896-1965 Karinen: 1907-1953 Ladner: 1910-1965 Line: 1911-1920 Lone Butte: 1910-1911 Ludlow: 1896-2003 Mainville: 1915-1916 Murchison: 1910-1935
2. Marker detail: Gallup Post Office
Erected by Buffalo & Harding County, South Dakota.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list.
Location. 45° 34.866′ N, 103° 32.779′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, South Dakota, in Harding County. It can be reached from Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (CanAm Highway) (U.S. 85) just south of Connel Street (State Highway 20), on the left when traveling north. The marker is in Centennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 91 US Highway 85, Buffalo SD 57720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark
3. Marker detail: Harding to Camp Crook Fliver, 1911
With Charley Mackey, L.W. Shevling, Henry McCold and Jim Ashcroft.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Harding County, South Dakota (here, next to this marker); The Buffalo "Paints Himself Red" (a few steps from this marker); Cattle Ranching in Harding County (a few steps from this marker); Energy Production in Harding County (a few steps from this marker); The Establishment of Harding County (a few steps from this marker); Tex Fletcher, the "Singing Cowboy" (a few steps from this marker); Centennial Park (a few steps from this marker); Sky Ranch for Boys (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.
4. Marker detail: Ralph Post Office
5. Marker detail: Reva Post Office, 1915
Art Mendenhal, Mr. & Mrs. W.W. Mitchell, and Philip Moss Bonniwell who established it in 1896.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2023
6. Harding County Post Offices Marker
The marker is on the heritage walkway in Centennial Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 27, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
