LEAD

city, Lawrence county, western South Dakota, U.S. It lies in the northern Black Hills, 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Rapid City. Situated just southwest of Deadwood at the head of Gold Gulch Run, it spreads out over the tops of the nearby hills. Established in 1876 following the discovery of gold, its name was inspired by the lode mines in the area, a ledge or outcrop of ore being termed a lead. It is the site of the Homestake Mine, one of the largest gold mines in the Western Hemisphere. The basic economy, which depends on mining and allied industries, is supplemented by tourism, ranching, and lumbering. Inc. 1890. Pop. (1990) 3,632.