Scenic is an unincorporated community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located within Scenic Township, which had a 2010 census population of 58 inhabitants. The community is located adjacent to the Badlands National Park, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Rapid City,[3] or about one hour by car,[4] along Highway 44.
Scenic, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Scenic Location within the state of South Dakota  Scenic Scenic (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 43°46′46.6″N 102°33′13″W / 43.779611°N 102.55361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Pennington |
| Area | |
• Total | 134.2 sq mi (347.6 km2) |
| • Land | 133.9 sq mi (346.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,900 ft (884 m) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 10 |
| • Density | 0.6/sq mi (0.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 57780 |
| Area code | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-57820[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1268730[2] |
History
edit
The community was so named for the "scenic" setting of the town site.[5]
As an economic decline hit the town in the 21st century, local businesswoman Twila Merrill acquired more and more of the town property until she owned most of it.[4]
In July 2011, the 12-acre (4.9 ha) town and surrounding area—about 46 acres (19 ha) total—was listed for sale at $799,000. The sale included the post office (ZIP code 57780), Longhorn Saloon, a dance hall, bunkhouse, museum, and two stores.[3][6][7] It also included a train depot[7] that is on an abandoned line that was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and is the subject of a 104-mile (167 km) rails-to-trail project between Rapid City and Kadoka.[8]
In August 2011, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, English: Church of Christ), an independent, nontrinitarian Christian denomination based in the Philippines, bought the property for nearly $800,000, Pennington County records show.[9][10] The church never disclosed why it acquired the property. In 2014, Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of the Rapid City Journal wrote that the INC "has done little with the town since its purchase."[4]
In April 2015, an INC minister moved to the area and soon afterwards began leading services for 10–15 congregants who live near Scenic.[11]
See also
edit- Swett, South Dakota, another town put up for sale
- Johnsonville Village, Connecticut, an abandoned community also purchased by the Iglesia ni Cristo
References
edit- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b Got $799,000? You could buy a town in South Dakota, a July 27, 2011 CNN article
- ^ a b c Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Got a spare $400,000? Buy your own town: Swett, South Dakota." Rapid City Journal. Circa June 28/29, 2014. Retrieved on June 30, 2014. "In 2011, the town of Scenic, about an hour southeast of Rapid City, was put on the selling block for $799,000. The town was largely owned by Twila Merril, a woman who slowly acquired the town's property as it fell on hard times.[...]called Iglesia Ni Cristo, which has done little with the town since its purchase. The church has never publicly commented on why it bought the town."
- ^ Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.1–3. American guide series. University of South Dakota. p. 60.
- ^ Small South Dakota Town on Sale for $799,000 from ABC News
- ^ a b "Township". BuyScenicSD.com. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
Overview of Longhorn Enterprises, LLC various properties included in the sale: 46-Acres (approximately 12 acres in town-lots & 34 acres surrounding) U.S Post Office Land Lease…..Longhorn Fuel & Food Convenience Store, World Famous Longhorn Saloon, Very Large Dance Hall with basketball court, Large Museum with knotty pine interiors, Bunkhouse sleeps 8–10, 2 freestanding Retail Stores, Historic Train Depot, One Working Jail, One Abandoned Historic Jail, Many Out-Buildings, Residence Home, Residence Modular Home.
- ^ About The Trail Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine from The West River Trails Coalition
- ^ O'Connor, Clare (August 19, 2011). "Sold! $799,000 South Dakota Town Finds A Buyer". Forbes.
- ^ staff, Barbara Soderlin Journal. "Filipino church buys Scenic property". Rapid City Journal Media Group.
- ^ O'Connell, Max B. (July 12, 2015). "Church begins services in Scenic". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
