Interior (Lakota: makȟóšiča otȟúŋwahe; "Badlands village") is a town in Jackson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 65 at the 2020 census.
Interior got its start in 1907 when the Milwaukee Railroad was extended to that point.
History
Norwegian immigrants George and Louis Johnson moved from Chamberlain, South Dakota to the banks of the White River just north of the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1883 to establish a way-station for freighting between Chamberlain and the Black Hills. In 1886, the area was connected by rail to Gordon, Nebraska. In 1891, the former way-station was called Black, with Mary Johnson as its first postmaster. In 1893, the town was renamed "Interior" by George Johnson because he did not think the name "Black" fit the description of the White River that surrounded the town. In 1907 and 1908, the town was moved two miles and half northwest along the White River to meet the Milwaukee Railroad. The former location of the town became known as "old Interior".
The town went through major developments in the 1910s: in 1910, an efficient water system transporting water directly from the White River to Interior was installed and an electric grid was installed in 1912. Now with unlimited freshwater combined with being situated along the Milwaukee Railroad and near the Badlands, local committees seized the opportunity to use the town's advantage. In 1919, 21 and 22, the town hosted roundups that tourists traveled by train as far from Minneapolis to see. The events hosted cowboys from across the country and Native Americans in traditional clothing also participating.
thumb|Interior city jail
Geography
Interior is located along the White River approximately one mile from Badlands National Park.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 94 people, 40 households, and 24 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 55 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 70.2% White, 19.1% Native American, and 10.6% from two or more races.
There were 40 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median age in the town was 41.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census