If any town can claim to be an icon of the Old West, it's Belle Fourche South Dakota. Founded by Deadwood's Seth Bullock and Sol Star, the community has served the business demands of the western cattle trade since the 1880s.
This video clip describes the wheeling and dealing that led to the establishment of Belle Fourche when the first rail lines were making their way west across the state. The clip outlines the major events in the town over the years, including an 1895 fire that burned nearly the entire downtown business district. Belle Fourche recovered from that fire and prospered. Located near the geographical center of the United States, the town is still a hub for agricultural trade, mining, and tourism.
