Editing Belle Fourche, South Dakota

{{short description|City in South Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Belle Fourche, South Dakota
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Narrow building in Belle Fourche.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = Belle Fourche's Business District in 2009
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Butte_County_South_Dakota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Belle_Fourche_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Belle Fourche, South Dakota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[South Dakota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in South Dakota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Butte County, South Dakota|Butte]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=Belle Fourche City Common Council 2024-2025 |url=https://www.bellefourche.org/council |publisher=City of Belle Fourche, South Dakota |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Randy Schmidt
|leader_title1            = [[Councillor|Councilmembers]]
|leader_name1             = <small>Ward 1: Rhonda Schild & Monte Talkington<br>Ward 2: Pam Somervold & Clark Sowers<br>Ward 3: Larry Schmaltz & Don Elliott<br>Ward 4: Tricia Fowler & Bob Somervold</small>
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1884
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = April 20, 1903<ref>{{cite web|title=SD Towns |publisher=[[South Dakota State Historical Society]] |access-date=February 14, 2010 |url=http://history.sd.gov/Archives/forms/exhibits/SD%20Towns.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210030454/http://history.sd.gov/Archives/forms/exhibits/SD%20Towns.pdf |archive-date=February 10, 2010}}</ref>
<!-- Area -----------------> 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_46.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 23.504
|area_land_km2            = 23.311
|area_water_km2           = 0.192
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.075
|area_land_sq_mi          = 9.001
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.074
|area_water_percent       = 0.82
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 5873
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 5617
|population_density_km2   = 256.09
|population_density_sq_mi = 663.29
|population_urban         = 5089<ref name="urban area">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications |publisher=Federal Register |date=December 29, 2022 |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 10891
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = –7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 950
|elevation_ft             = 3117
|coordinates              = {{Coord|44.663798|-103.859143|region:US-SD_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 57717
|area_code                = [[Area code 605|605]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 46-04380
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1267280<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1267280}}</ref>
|blank_name_sec1          = [[Sales tax]]
|blank_info_sec1          = 6.2%<ref>{{cite web|title=South Dakota Department of Revenue · Municipal Tax Guide |url=https://dor.sd.gov/media/x2rc2tek/2025-01_municipal-tax-guide.pdf |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.bellefourche.org/|bellefourche.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Belle Fourche''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɛ|l|ˈ|f|uː|ʃ}}; {{respell|bel|FOOSH|'}})<ref>{{cite web|title=Broadcast Pronunciation Guide and South Dakota Pronunciations |url=http://www.ap.org/southdakota/prono.html |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=November 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614020153/http://www.ap.org/southdakota/prono.html |archive-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref> is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Butte County, South Dakota|Butte County]], South Dakota, United States. The population was 5,617 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Belle_Fourche_city,_South_Dakota?g=160XX00US4604380 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 7, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and was estimated to be 5,873 in 2023,<ref name="USCensusEst2023"/> making it the [[List of cities in South Dakota|18th most populous city]] in South Dakota. It is near the [[geographic center of the United States]], which moved some 550 miles (885 km) northwest from the [[geographic center of the contiguous United States]] in [[Lebanon, Kansas]] with the admission of Alaska and Hawaii in the mid-20th century.

==History==
Belle Fourche, [[French language|French]] for "beautiful fork",<ref>{{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=PA43|year=1908|page=43}}</ref> was named by French explorers from [[New France]], referring to the confluence of what is now known as the Belle Fourche and Redwater Rivers and the Hay Creek. Beaver trappers worked these rivers until the mid-19th century, and Belle Fourche became a well-known fur-trading rendezvous point. During and after the [[Black Hills Gold Rush|gold rush of 1876]], farmers and ranchers settled in the fertile valleys, growing food for the miners and their animals. At the time, the open plains for hundred of miles in all directions were also being filled with huge herds of Texas and Kansas cattle. Towns sprang up to serve the ever-changing needs of the farmers and ranchers. In 1884, the [[Marquis de Mores]], a French nobleman and contemporary of [[Theodore Roosevelt]], established a [[Stagecoach#United States|stagecoach]] line between [[Medora, North Dakota]] and [[Deadwood, South Dakota]]. The Belle Fourche way station included a stage barn and a saloon.

[[Image:Belle Fourche.jpg|thumb|Commemorating the geographic center of the fifty states|left]]

Knowing the cattle barons and the railroad would need a place to load cattle onto freight cars for shipment to packing plants in the Midwest, [[Seth Bullock]] effectively founded the city of Belle Fourche.  After serving in the Montana legislature in 1871–1873 (and being instrumental in the establishment of a National Park at [[Yellowstone]]), he had come to the Black Hills to sell supplies to the Deadwood miners. He arrived there August 2, 1876, the day [[Wild Bill Hickok]] was murdered.

During the next 14 years, Bullock acquired land as homesteaders along the Belle Fourche River "proved up" and sold out. When the railroad came to the Hills and refused to pay the prices demanded by the nearby township of [[Minnesela]], he was ready. He offered the railroad free right-of-way and offered to build the terminal if the railroad placed it on his land, near the present Belle Fourche Livestock Exchange. In 1890, the first trainload of cattle headed east. By 1895, Belle Fourche was shipping 2,500 carloads of cattle per month in the peak season, making it the world's largest livestock-shipping point. This was the start of the agriculture center of the Tri-State area for which Belle Fourche would become known.

After winning a competition with Minnesela over the railroad which now goes through Belle Fourche, Bullock's town went on to win the [[county seat]] in the election of 1894. Still, cowboys rode into Minnesela and stole the county books.
 
Belle Fourche today serves a large trade area of ranches and farms. The wool, cattle, and [[bentonite]] industries have been important to the growth of Belle Fourche. The city serves as gateway to the northern Black Hills.<ref>Information was taken from the Belle Fourche America's Hometown Booklet (1998)</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.075|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|9.001|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.074|sqmi}} (0.82%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Geographic center of U.S.===
In 1959, the [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]] officially designated a point 20 miles (32 km) north of Belle Fourche as the [[geographic center of the United States]]. It is the center of the nation because the admission of [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]] to the United States moved the location of the official center of the nation. The [[Geographic center of the contiguous United States|geographic center of the 48 contiguous U.S. states]] is [[Lebanon, Kansas]].

===Climate===
Belle Fourche has a climate lying on the boundary between [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] (Köppen ''Dfb''/''Dfa'') and [[semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|cool semi-arid]] (''BSk''). It is characterized, like most of South Dakota, by summers with mild mornings giving way to very warm to hot and occasionally sweltering afternoons, and chilly, though extremely variable, winters. When cold arctic air masses move south from [[the Yukon]] unhindered by geographic obstacles, winter temperatures can fall below {{convert|0|F|C|1|disp=or}} for prolonged periods: in the extremely cold month of January 1950 all but six mornings fell below {{convert|0|F|C|1}}. Contrariwise, when warm [[chinook wind]]s descend from the [[Rocky Mountains]] and the [[Black Hills]], winter temperatures can become extremely warm given the latitude and far inland location. On average, twenty afternoons in the three winter months top {{convert|50|F|C|disp=or}} but in the record warm February 1954 23 of 28 afternoons topped that maximum and {{convert|70|F|C|1}} was reached on the 8th. The extreme warming effect of the chinook winds can be seen in {{convert|74|F|C|1|disp=or}} – the hottest winter temperature recorded in the city – being reached on December 18, 1979 only two days after the minimum had been {{convert|&minus;27|F|C|1|disp=or}}. The coldest month has been January 1937 with a mean of {{convert|4.5|F|C|1|disp=or}} and the coldest temperature on record {{convert|&minus;44|F|C|1}} on December 22, 1989 – following which a chinook drove temperatures up to {{convert|49|F|C|1|disp=or}} the following afternoon, or an increase of {{convert|93|F-change|C-change|1}} in less than 48 hours.

Spring warms up in fits and starts, with the first maximum of {{convert|70|F|C|1|disp=or}} expected on March 24, and the first of {{convert|80|F|C|1|disp=or}} expected on April 17; however, the last frost is not expected to have passed until May 10. Owing to frequent thunderstorms, the spring season is the wettest part of the year, and the wettest months since records began in 1908 has been May 1982 with {{convert|10.70|in|mm|1|disp=or|sp=us}} of precipitation, and the highest daily precipitation has been {{convert|4.25|in|mm|1|disp=or|sp=us}} on May 20, 1982. The summer is generally more settled than the spring, although heavy rains can occur in this period, as when {{convert|7.62|in|mm|1|sp=us}} fell in August 1923. Extremely hot and dry spells sometimes occur in the summer: the hottest month of July 2012 averaged {{convert|81.3|F|C|1}} and July 1936 had a mean maximum of {{convert|98.7|F|C|1}}; in contrast, the summer of 1993 got no hotter than {{convert|92|F|C|1|disp=or}}. The wettest calendar year in Belle Fourche has been 1946 with {{convert|25.41|in|mm|1|sp=us}} and the driest 1931 with {{convert|7.77|in|mm|1|sp=us}}, and 1931 also saw Belle Fourche reach its record high of {{convert|112|F|C|1}} on July 27.

Fall cooling is rapid: the first freeze can be expected on September 22, the first measurable snowfall on October 25 and the first zero temperature on November 28. Snowfall is moderate throughout the winter and spring: the annual mean is {{convert|53.9|in|m|2|disp=or|sp=us}}. The snowiest month has been October 2013 with {{convert|34.2|in|m|2|sp=us}} and the most snowfall in one day {{convert|24.0|in|m|sp=us}} during that month’s early cold snap on the 5th. The snowiest season has been from July 1970 to June 1971 with {{convert|84.5|in|m|2|sp=us}}.

{{Weather box
|location = Belle Fourche, South Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present)
|single line = y
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 73
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 74
|year record high F = 112
|Jan avg record high F = 59.2
|Feb avg record high F = 60.9
|Mar avg record high F = 72.1
|Apr avg record high F = 80.4
|May avg record high F = 86.8
|Jun avg record high F = 95.5
|Jul avg record high F = 99.3
|Aug avg record high F = 98.5
|Sep avg record high F = 95.2
|Oct avg record high F = 84.0
|Nov avg record high F = 69.4
|Dec avg record high F = 59.5
|year avg record high F = 101.7
|Jan high F = 36.5
|Feb high F = 39.1
|Mar high F = 49.7
|Apr high F = 59.0
|May high F = 68.5
|Jun high F = 79.3
|Jul high F = 87.3
|Aug high F = 86.6
|Sep high F = 77.8
|Oct high F = 62.2
|Nov high F = 47.5
|Dec high F = 37.1
|year high F = 60.9
|Jan mean F = 24.7
|Feb mean F = 27.1
|Mar mean F = 36.8
|Apr mean F = 45.9
|May mean F = 56.0
|Jun mean F = 66.5
|Jul mean F = 73.5
|Aug mean F = 71.7
|Sep mean F = 62.2
|Oct mean F = 48.6
|Nov mean F = 35.6
|Dec mean F = 26.0
|year mean F = 47.9
|Jan low F = 12.9
|Feb low F = 15.1
|Mar low F = 23.9
|Apr low F = 32.8
|May low F = 43.5
|Jun low F = 53.7
|Jul low F = 59.7
|Aug low F = 56.8
|Sep low F = 46.5
|Oct low F = 35.0
|Nov low F = 23.6
|Dec low F = 14.9
|year low F = 34.9
|Jan avg record low F = -12.9
|Feb avg record low F = -9.9
|Mar avg record low F = 0.8
|Apr avg record low F = 15.4
|May avg record low F = 28.1
|Jun avg record low F = 41.1
|Jul avg record low F = 48.3
|Aug avg record low F = 44.7
|Sep avg record low F = 31.2
|Oct avg record low F = 16.8
|Nov avg record low F = 1.6
|Dec avg record low F = -9.0
|year avg record low F = -20.0
|Jan record low F = −39
|Feb record low F = −41
|Mar record low F = −30
|Apr record low F = −5
|May record low F = 15
|Jun record low F = 21
|Jul record low F = 33
|Aug record low F = 31
|Sep record low F = 10
|Oct record low F = −12
|Nov record low F = −26
|Dec record low F = −44
|year record low F = −44
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.44
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.51
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.16
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.11
|May precipitation inch = 3.04
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.96
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.96
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.50
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.34
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.72
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.66
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.59
|year precipitation inch = 17.99
|Jan snow inch = 5.5
|Feb snow inch = 6.7
|Mar snow inch = 7.2
|Apr snow inch = 5.2
|May snow inch = 1.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 2.6
|Nov snow inch = 3.9
|Dec snow inch = 9.8
|year snow inch = 42.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 4.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.0
|Mar precipitation days = 4.9
|Apr precipitation days = 7.2
|May precipitation days = 9.6
|Jun precipitation days = 10.0
|Jul precipitation days = 8.4
|Aug precipitation days = 6.8
|Sep precipitation days = 5.6
|Oct precipitation days = 7.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.1
|Dec precipitation days = 5.2
|year precipitation days = 80.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.6
|Feb snow days = 3.7
|Mar snow days = 2.6
|Apr snow days = 1.4
|May snow days = 0.2
|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 = 2.1
|Dec snow days = 3.6
|year snow days = 17.8
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web|title=NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=unr |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>{{cite web|title=Station: Belle Fourche, SD |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00390559&format=pdf |work=U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 451
|1910= 1352
|1920= 1616
|1930= 2032
|1940= 2496
|1950= 3540
|1960= 4087
|1970= 4236
|1980= 4692
|1990= 4335
|2000= 4565
|2010= 5594
|2020= 5617
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5873
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=www.census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 2,407 estimated households in Belle Fourche with an average of 2.33 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $59,920. Approximately 7.1% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Belle Fourche has an estimated 69.0% employment rate, with 15.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 83.9% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Belle Fourche, South Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bellefourchecitysouthdakota/PST045224 |access-date=April 30, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.1%), Spanish (2.1%), Indo-European (0.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the city was 36.8 years.

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Belle Fourche, South Dakota – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Belle Fourche city, South Dakota|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US4604380|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Belle Fourche city, South Dakota|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4604380&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Belle Fourche city, South Dakota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4604380&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 4,252
| 5,121
| style='background: #ffffe6; |4,877
| 93.14%
| 91.54%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |86.83%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 7
| 9
| style='background: #ffffe6; |11
| 0.15%
| 0.16%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 80
| 97
| style='background: #ffffe6; |120
| 1.75%
| 1.73%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2.14%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 7
| 15
| style='background: #ffffe6; |14
| 0.15%
| 0.27%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 2
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2
| 0.00%
| 0.04%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 0
| style='background: #ffffe6; |15
| 0.00%
| 0.00%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 50
| 120
| style='background: #ffffe6; |279
| 1.10%
| 2.15%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |4.97%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 169
| 230
| style='background: #ffffe6; |299
| 3.70%
| 4.11%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |5.32%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''4,565'''
|'''5,594'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''5,617'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 5,617 people, 2,342 households, and 1,443 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Belle%20Fourche%20city,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=April 30, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|634.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,585 housing units at an average density of {{convert|292.09|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.42% from some other races and 6.43% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 5.32% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Belle Fourche, South Dakota |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/belle-fourche-city-south-dakota/160-4604380/ |access-date=April 30, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,594 people, 2,322 households, and 1,461 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|655.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,511 housing units at an average density of {{convert|294.37|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.06% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.25% from some other races and 2.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 4.11% of the population.

There were 2,322 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
[[File:JOHNNY SPAULING CABIN, BELLE FOURCHE, BUTTE COUNTTY.jpg|thumb|Johnny Spaulding Cabin in Belle Fourche]]
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 4,565 people, 1,854 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1446.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of {{convert|672.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.03% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.15% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.91% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.33% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.27% from some other races and 1.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 3.70% of the population.

There were 1,854 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $26,875, and the median income for a family was $35,506. Males had a median income of $26,763 versus $15,275 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,051. About 9.0% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Radio and TV stations==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-1-of-3}}
''AM radio''

* [[KBHB]] 810
* [[KKLS (AM)|KKLS]] 920
* [[KDSJ]] 980
* [[KTOQ]] 1340
* [[KBFS]] 1450
{{Col-2-of-3}}
''FM radio''

* [[KRCS]] 93.1
* [[KKMK]] 93.9
* [[KSQY]] 95.1
* [[KZZI]] 95.9
* [[KOUT]] 98.7
* [[KFXS]] 100.3
* [[KDDX]] 101.1
* [[KFMH]] 101.9
* [[KYDT]] 103.1
* [[KIQK]] 104.1
{{Col-3-of-3}}
''Television''

* [[KOTA-TV]] Ch. 3 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
* [[KCLO]] Ch. 16 [[CBS]]
* [[KNBN]] Ch. 21 [[NBC]]
* [[KBHE-TV]] Ch. 26 [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]
{{col-end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Dianne Dorland]], engineer, 1st female president of the [[American Institute of Chemical Engineers]]
* [[Lloyd Eaton]], former resident, football player, executive, and coach
* [[Jason Kubel]], born in Belle Fourche, retired Major League Baseball player
* [[Lem Overpeck]], born in Belle Fourche, 29th [[Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota]]
* [[Bill Pearson (American writer)|Bill Pearson]], born in Belle Fourche, comics artist
* [[Emily E. Sloan]], former resident, rancher, lawyer, author
* [[John Strohmayer]], born in Belle Fourche, former baseball [[pitcher]]
* [[Francis Townsend]], former resident, [[physician]] and political activist

==See also==
* [[List of cities in South Dakota]]
* [[Geographic centers of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Belle Fourche, South Dakota}}
* {{official website|https://www.bellefourche.org}}
* [http://www.bellefourchechamber.org/ Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050128051733/http://www.northernblackhillsweeklygroup.com/belle_fourche Belle Fourche Post & Bee], local newspaper
* [http://www.bellefourche.k12.sd.us/ Belle Fourche School District]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080512020021/http://www.deadwoodmagazine.com/archivedsite/Archives/TwoTowns.htm "Tale of Two Towns"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061024015137/http://www.atmstravelnews.com/ClientView.asp?ClientId=324 Belle Fourche]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/us/02land.html?pagewanted=all In the Middle of Nowhere, a Nation’s Center], New York Times

{{Butte County, South Dakota}}
{{Black Hills, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Cities in Butte County, South Dakota]]
[[Category:County seats in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Black Hills]]