History of Custer City
In 1874 Custer, followed by a thousand regulars of the 7th Cavalry, entered the Black Hills. Lt. Col Custer wrote busily on a flowery report - "this valley presents a most wonderful and beautiful aspect, the like of which has never been seen". Just then a prospector entered the tent and spilled yellow dust under the commander's eyes. GOLD! Custer wrote more busily than ever. A few weeks later the paper blazed with headlines about the new El Dorado. Custer ordered the camp struck, pleased with the success of his adventure. He did not dream that pinch of yellow sand had started a chain of events which would leave him dead by the Little Bighorn River in Montana.
In 1875 the town of Custer supported a population of approximately 10 thousand people. The people decided to incorporate to give the town a name. They had a vote to decide the name and the two names that were chosen were Stonewall (a famous Confederate General) and Custer (for the famous Union general). Because more Union Veterans inhabited Custer than Confederate the name Custer was chosen.
Lieutenant Colonel
George A. Custer
1839-1876
Custer died June 25th, 1876 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn near Hardin, Montana.
Custer is buried at West Point Military Academy in New York.