Faith, South Dakota

Faith is a city in the northeastern corner of Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 367 at the 2020 census. The most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known, Sue, was discovered approximately northeast of Faith in August 1990.

History

According to folk etymology, the town was named Faith because it took faith to live out on the prairie. However, the story of the city as documented in various informal, locally published histories, is that the town was named for Faith Rockefeller, one of the daughters of a major investor in the railroad responsible for founding the town. This is in keeping with the names of other towns on the route of the old railroad (now abandoned), such as Isabel, South Dakota. Faith was the permanent end of the railroad, a local spur off the Milwaukee Road Railroad. The city was established in 1910.

Faith is located in the West River region of South Dakota, the section of the state located west of the Missouri River, and in the Northern Great Plains, on a ridge dividing the Cheyenne River to the south and the Grand River and its major tributary, the Moreau River to the north (both are tributaries of the Missouri).

Faith is the center of a vast cattle and sheep ranching area, and is the community center for hundreds of scattered ranchsteads. It is located in the extreme northeast corner of Meade County, South Dakota's largest: it is approximately 100 miles (160 km) to Sturgis, the county seat. It is also located immediately west of the boundary of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, home to several Lakota bands organized into the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST). The region is well known for deer hunting and also offers pheasant, elk, and recently, prairie mountain lion hunting. A small reservoir, Durkee Lake, is approximately three miles south and offers a local recreation venue, with its boating, fishing, golf course, beach, and camping. Durkee Lake receives runoff water from Spook Creek, which is located about 6.2 miles (10 km) south of Faith.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Faith had a population of 367. The median age was 46.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.1 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 164 households in Faith, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.7% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 328 || 89.4%

| Black or African American || 2 || 0.5%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 19 || 5.2%

| Asian || 4 || 1.1%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%

| Some other race || 6 || 1.6%

| Two or more races || 8 || 2.2%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 14 || 3.8%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 421 people, 192 households, and 117 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 236 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.0% White, 4.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 192 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. Of all households, 36.5% were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 43.6 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Infrastructure

thumb|right|Looking north along [[South Dakota Highway 73|SD 73 in Faith, April 2007]]

The Faith Municipal Building, designed by U. L. Freed, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Transportation

Faith is accessed from U.S. Route 212 and South Dakota Highway 73. The nearest commercial airports are located at Pierre, the state capital, and Rapid City, the major market city of the region, located to the southwest. The railroad was constructed in 1910 and abandoned in the 1960s; there is presently no scheduled passenger bus service or freight service to the city.

Notable people

Catherine Bach, actress
Cole Elshere, rodeo cowboy
Marie C. Ingalls, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
Boyd Raeburn, jazz bandleader and baritone saxophonist