South Dakota Highway 50
Encyclopedia
South Dakota Highway 50 is a state route serving south central and southeast South Dakota
. The current alignment begins at the junction of South Dakota Highway 34
at "Lee's Corner" east of Fort Thompson
, and ends at the Iowa
border near Richland
, where it continues as Iowa Highway 3. It is currently 215 miles (346 kilometers) in length.
border west of Edgemont
, to the Iowa border at Sioux City
.
When U.S. Highway 18 was designated in the late 1920s, it replaced the SD 50 designation from the Wyoming border at Ravinia (east of Lake Andes
). SD 50 continued in southeast South Dakota.
Around 1940, SD 50 was extended northwest of its old terminus. It assumed a portion of alignment of South Dakota Highway 45
through Geddes
, and South Dakota Highway 47
through Academy; the northern terminus became U.S. Highway 16 near Pukwana
.
Around 1950, the east terminus was rerouted. At U.S. Highway 77 (with which it had previously shared a dual alignment to Sioux City), SD 50 was extended east to the Iowa border.
In 1976, the northwest terminus was again extended. It was routed west to Chamberlain
, then assumed a segment of SD 47 (which had been realigned west) to its new northern terminus at SD 34 east of Fort Thompson.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. The current alignment begins at the junction of South Dakota Highway 34
South Dakota Highway 34
South Dakota Highway 34 is a state route that runs across the entire state of South Dakota, parallel to Interstate 90. It begins at the Wyoming border west of Belle Fourche, as a continuation of Wyoming Highway 24. The eastern terminus is at the Minnesota border east of Egan, or southwest of...
at "Lee's Corner" east of Fort Thompson
Fort Thompson, South Dakota
Fort Thompson is a census-designated place in Buffalo County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,282 at the 2010 census, making it the largest settlement on the Crow Creek Reservation.-Geography:...
, and ends at the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
border near Richland
Richland, South Dakota
Richland is a small unincorporated community in Union County, South Dakota, United States. The population according to the 2010 Census was 89.-History:...
, where it continues as Iowa Highway 3. It is currently 215 miles (346 kilometers) in length.
History
South Dakota 50 was designated on the route known as the Sunshine Highway. When it was created in the 1920s, it ran the entire length of southern South Dakota, from the WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
border west of Edgemont
Edgemont, South Dakota
Edgemont is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 774 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Edgemont is located at ....
, to the Iowa border at Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
.
When U.S. Highway 18 was designated in the late 1920s, it replaced the SD 50 designation from the Wyoming border at Ravinia (east of Lake Andes
Lake Andes, South Dakota
Lake Andes is a city in, and the county seat of, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 879 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lake Andes is located at ....
). SD 50 continued in southeast South Dakota.
Around 1940, SD 50 was extended northwest of its old terminus. It assumed a portion of alignment of South Dakota Highway 45
South Dakota Highway 45
South Dakota Highway 45 is a state route that runs north to south across much of central South Dakota. The northern terminus is at the North Dakota border as a continuation of North Dakota Highway 3, and runs south to South Dakota Highway 44 at Platte. It is 198 miles in length.-History:South...
through Geddes
Geddes, South Dakota
Geddes is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 208 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Geddes is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and South Dakota Highway 47
South Dakota Highway 47
South Dakota Highway 47 is a state route that runs north to south across the central portion of South Dakota. It begins at an unnumbered highway at the North Dakota border north of Eureka, and ends at the Nebraska border, where it becomes Nebraska Highway 137...
through Academy; the northern terminus became U.S. Highway 16 near Pukwana
Pukwana, South Dakota
Pukwana is a town in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 285 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pukwana is located at ....
.
Around 1950, the east terminus was rerouted. At U.S. Highway 77 (with which it had previously shared a dual alignment to Sioux City), SD 50 was extended east to the Iowa border.
In 1976, the northwest terminus was again extended. It was routed west to Chamberlain
Chamberlain, South Dakota
Chamberlain is a city in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,387 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brule County. Chamberlain is home to the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, which profiles the lives of nomadic Plains Indians...
, then assumed a segment of SD 47 (which had been realigned west) to its new northern terminus at SD 34 east of Fort Thompson.
List of counties
Present day South Dakota 50 passes through the following counties:- Buffalo
- BruleBrule County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,364 people, 1,998 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 2,272 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
- Charles Mix
- Bon HommeBon Homme County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,260 people, 2,635 households, and 1,786 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were 3,007 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
- YanktonYankton County, South DakotaYankton County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,438. It's county seat is Yankton.Yankton County is the only county in the Yankton Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Clay
- UnionUnion County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 12,584 people, 4,927 households, and 3,517 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,345 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...