“Whitewood’s Cattle Industry”

Cattle began arriving in the 1860s when the cattle drives came up from the south bringing large herds of long horned cattle, and in the 1870s homesteaders brought small herds to the Whitewood area. The natural tall prairie grass of the High Plains enabled cattle to thrive.

Buyers from the Omaha and Sioux City stockyards came to Whitewood to buy this prime beef. 1921 – Black Hills Sales Pavilion, one of the first livestock sales barns West of the Missouri River in WY, MT, ND, and SD was built in Whitewood with capital stock of $10,000 raised by selling $50.00 shares and local stockmen buying $100 shares. In 1922 the Black Hills Purebred Livestock Breeders held their annual meeting at this Pavilion.

Lawrence County, just north of RR track on Laurel Street in Whitewood