Deadwood, city, seat of Lawrence County, western South Dakota, in the Black Hills; incorporated 1876. The city is set in a narrow canyon (Deadwood Gulch), with many streets built up its steep sides. Industries include gold mining and lumbering; tourism is also important to the economy. Of interest are an old gold mine, several historical museums, and a cemetery containing the graves of Wild Bill Hickok (who was killed here) and Calamity Jane. The city, founded following the discovery of gold here in 1876, is named for the dead trees that then filled the canyon. Reached by railroad in 1891, the city developed as a trading center for the northern Black Hills region. In 1989, limited-wage gambling began in an effort to rejuvenate tourism. Population 2,035 (1980); 1,830 (1990); 1,380 (2000).
