Sturgis, South Dakota

Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,627 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Meade County and is named after General Samuel D. Sturgis. Sturgis is famous for being the location of one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world, which is held annually on the first full week of August. Motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world flock to this usually sleepy town during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis is also famous for hosting the 1996 edition of WCW Hog Wild.

History

Sturgis was founded in 1878. It was originally named Scooptown, because many of the residents "scooped up" their pay from nearby Fort Meade. Its name was later changed to Sturgis in honor of the Civil War Union General Samuel D. Sturgis. In 1889, Sturgis was the designated county seat of the newly formed Meade County.

As part of the vast Ellsworth Air Force Base complex, the land north of Sturgis was dotted with 50 Minuteman missile silos, with the closest (L5) only 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the center of the town.