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Spearfish, South Dakota

What It Is Like to Retire in Spearfish

Spearfish is a growing town of 10,500 located on the western South Dakota border with Wyoming. This is in the Black Hills area famous for the gold rush that displaced so many native Americans. Livability.com named it as one of the top 10 Best Small Towns in 2015. Picture of the Historic Commercial District courtesy of Wikipedia and Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD; picture of Spearfish Falls in Sperafish Canyon courtesy of Wikipedia and Yanktonranger, both pictures Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Where to Retire in Spearfish and Home Prices

It is hard to get a good fix on real estate prices in Spearfish. In mid-2021 Zillow reported the median home value to be $284,064.

What Is Special about Spearfish

Frank Llloyd Wright visited the area and remarked about its beauty - "unique and unparalleled elsewhere in our country." Spearfish holds the record for the biggest and fastest temperature change. in January of 1943 a Chinook wind took the temperature from -4 (F.) to 45 degrees in the space of 2 minutes, then after rising slightly promptly dropped back to -4 in just a few minutes.

What Is Not Special about Spearfish

It's a little isolated with the nearest large city, Rapid City 50 miles away. Winters are long and cold.

Who Will Like Retirement in Spearfish

The town is known for it's beautiful views as it is surrounded by three mountains- Lookout Mountain, Spearfish Mountain, and Crows Peak. Retireees who like the outdoors including hiking and biking, may enjoy living here. Spearfish Creek offers great fishing, and there is a campground within walking distance of downtown. Black Hills State University is also located here making it a college town.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Retail and Construction

Climate and Physical Environment

January's average temperature is 27 degrees, July's average is 66 degrees. Spearfish gets over 60 inches of snow annually.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Matthews Opera house, which opened in 1906, is the centerpiece of the Spearfish Arts Center and provides concerts and live theater; the Spearfish Area Historical Society provides programs with speakers concerning the area's history and development; downtown spearfish offers restaurants, shops, and breweries.