Spearfish, South Dakota

Spearfish is the home of Black Hills State University, a four-year liberal arts college. Founded as Spearfish Normal School in 1883, it is still largely a teacher training institution, although its mission has expanded far beyond to include a master’s program in Business Services Management. Although Spearfish has only one gaming establishment, nearby Deadwood has an abundance of this form of entertainment. According to the Spearfish tourism city, “Spearfish Canyon’s narrow, 1000-foot walls are among the most spectacular scenery in the Black Hills and home to cascading waterfalls thick with trout.” Prior to the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans (primarily bands of Sioux but others also ranged through the area) who would spear fish in the creek (hence the name of the creek and subsequently the town).