Black Hills meridian, Principal meridian in South Dakota, United States.
The Black Hills meridian is a principal meridian running through western South Dakota at approximately 104°03' west longitude and serves as a reference line for surveying land in the region. It divides the territory into systematic sections that help establish property boundaries.
The meridian was established to improve land surveying in western South Dakota when existing systems from the 5th and 6th Principal Meridians could not keep pace with growing settlement demands. Its creation marked an important step in systematically mapping and opening the region for development.
The meridian intersects territories that hold significance for multiple Native American tribes, including areas north and west of the White River.
The meridian line is used primarily by surveyors and property assessors as a reference point and is located in a sparsely settled, rural region. To understand its location in the landscape, it helps to bring maps or a smartphone navigation app.
The starting point of this meridian line sits at the Wyoming-South Dakota border and is marked by a Mile Post 69. Specific bearing trees were established at this border location to help future surveyors verify the exact position.
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