Box Elder, SD

Quick City Facts

County: Pennington, Meade
Population (2019): 10,119
Population (2010): 7,800

Data provided by US Census Bureau (2019)

Originally a stop on the Milwaukee Railroad, Box Elder later became home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, a multi-wing, multi-mission defense base, now it is the home of the B1B Bomber. The skies over Box Elder are often filled with all types of military aircraft, B-1, B-2, T-38, T-37, helicopters, tankers, and all types of visiting aircraft from around the country. The Air and Space Museum is located just outside the gates of Ellsworth AFB. There are many types of aircraft on display at the museum to examine.

History

In the late 1800s, the present day Box Elder was only a fertile valley. Lone Tree, a few miles east of Box Elder, was a stop for the covered wagons and horsemen who were going from Fort Pierre to the Black Hills Stage and Wagon Road. In 1907, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad built its track from Wasta to Rapid City. This was the beginning of the present day Box Elder. Box Elder got its name from the large number of boxelder trees, from the Ashleaf Maple to the Acer Negundo, along Box Elder Creek flowing through the valley.

Recreation/Community Activity

There are three city parks they are located on South Ellsworth Road, Vucurevich Drive (off of Line Rd), and in the Thunderbird Homes development. The park on S. Ellsworth Road has a basketball court and baseball diamonds, and is home to the “Bandit Ball Little League.” The park on Vucurevich Drive is near Box Elder Creek and has swings, merry-go-rounds, horseshoe pits, and other playground equipment. It has a nice picnic area facility. The Boykin park and Veterans Memorial in Thunderbird Homes are newly developed.

Contact Information

  • City Hall, 520 N. Ellsworth Rd, Ste 9C
  • Box Elder SD 57719-2017
  • Phone: 605-923-1404
  • dknapp@boxelder.us

Popular Attractions

The Green Bean Coffeehouse

The Green Bean Coffeehouse

Spearfish

Big Stone Pumpkin Patch

Big Stone Pumpkin Patch

Big Stone City

Aunt-T’s-Ques Wayside Shoppe

Aunt-T’s-Ques Wayside Shoppe

Hartford

RedRossa Napoli Pizza

RedRossa Napoli Pizza

Sioux Falls

High Plains Western Heritage Center

High Plains Western Heritage Center

Spearfish

Gold Country Inn

Gold Country Inn

Deadwood

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Pierre

GeoFunTrek Tours

GeoFunTrek Tours

Keystone

Minervas Restaurant & Bar

Minervas Restaurant & Bar

Rapid City

The Hillside Steakhouse & BluCabana Bar

The Hillside Steakhouse & BluCabana Bar

Wentworth

Howard Johnson Inn & Suites

Howard Johnson Inn & Suites

Rapid City

Corona Village

Corona Village

Mitchell

Native West Trading Company

Native West Trading Company

Interior

Shooters Wood Fire Grill

Shooters Wood Fire Grill

Rapid City

Parker’s Bistro

Parker’s Bistro

Sioux Falls

Hickok’s Hotel and Casino

Hickok’s Hotel and Casino

Deadwood

1872 Saloon

1872 Saloon

Yankton

Legion Lake Lodge

Legion Lake Lodge

Custer

Great Faces. Great Places.

South Dakota is an incredibly unique state in that each region offers a completely different experience then the others. Check out each of the regions to see what each has to offer!

Badlands

Western South Dakota

Featuring the Black Hills, Badlands, the Sturgis Rally. This region tends to be the most popular.

CENTRAL REGION

This region of South Dakota offers some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire central US. 

Eastern Region

The eastern region is home to the largest city in the state and provides visitors with a true "prairie" experience.