2 elcome from all of us living in Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy the beautiful city of Custer, S.D. Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Black Table of Contents We invite everyone to come and Elk Wilderness, Norbeck Wildlife Pre - spend some time in Custer City and ex - serve, Jewel Cave National Monument, Community Profile 3 W Custer City Map 4 perience the magnetic draw of the South - Wind Cave National Park and Black Elk Doing Business in Custer City 5 ern Black Hills region. Peak (the highest point between the Recreation, Attractions 6-8 Calendar of Events 9 In 1874, gold was first discovered in Rockies and the Pyrenees Mountains), Community Information 10-13 the Black Hills just one mile from the cur - can be found just minutes from your Business Listings rent city of Custer City. In 1875, Custer doorstep. The Black Hills feature unique Advertising & Printing 14 Architecture 14 became the first city in the Black Hills. rock formations known for their beauty, Arts & Design 14 People rushed to Custer to find their hiking and world-class rock climbing. Attorneys 15 Automotive & Transportation 15-16 treasure. Little did they know that the Year-round activities are plentiful. Our Child Care 16 place itself is one of the greatest treas - restaurants and lodging are some of the Construction & Landscaping 16-17 Convenience Stores & Gas Stations 17 ures. best known in the entire Black Hills. Make Employment 17 The city of Custer has a population of plans to spend some time in the city of Financial Services 17 Grocery Stores 17-18 1,956 and it is in the middle of 1.2 million Custer; join us in our backyard and make Health Care & Fitness 18-19 acres of Black Hills National Forest. The it your own. Industrial Minerals 19 Insurance 19 Custer area has something to offer every - Corbin Herman Jewelry Repair 19 one. Most things that might interest you Custer City Mayor Laundromat 19 Meeting Rooms 20 about living in the Black Hills, such as Mt. News & Media 20 Pet Care 20 Photography 20 Real Estate 21 Rentals 21-22 Services 22-23 Shipping 23 Tours 23-24 Utilities 24 Shopping 25-26 Food & Spirits 27-28 Attractions & Recreation 29-31 Lodging 32-37 3 Black Hills National Forest, Custer City has he popular refrain, “Oh, give me a three city parks, ball fields, horseshoe pits, home where the buffalo roam, volleyball and tennis courts, community where the deer and the antelope swimming pool, nine-hole public golf course, play, where seldom is heard a discouraging disc golf course, skateboard park and aero - wTord and the skies are not cloudy all day,” bics/activities at the YMCA. could well have been written about Custer As one Custer High School graduate, who County, South Dakota. now lives and works in Texas, said, “I miss It was gold that brought the first settlers the Hills very much. The air is so different to Custer County, as they followed the wagon from anywhere else. It makes you feel more tracks of the 1,000-strong 1874 Expedition alive, and every day you wake up in the Hills, led by Lt. Col. George A. Custer. But it has there always seems to be this scent of fresh - other, less tangible lures enticing residents to ness or newness, like a new experience or the area today: spectacular scenery, a wide adventure to be found. It’s almost magical, variety of recreational opportunities, world- and in a lot of ways it’s just downright sa - class attractions, a healthy environment, a cred. I was so fortunate to grow up in such sense of community and an indefinable a great place within a good community.” essence which is often described as an aura For those of us who are fortunate enough of spirituality. to live and work here, it truly is the gold at Surrounded by 1.2 million acres of the the end of the rainbow. Community Profile Leading Employers Tax Structure Government County Seat: Custer City (established 1875) Regional Health Custer Hospital 200 City Mill Levy Tax: Owner occupied 5.95 Type of Local Government: Mayor & City Oldest City in the Black Hills Black Hills National Forest 130 per 1,000 Council Elevation: 5,318 Feet Custer School District 167 % of Full Value Assessed: 100% Sheriff’s Office: 18 (including reserves) Custer County 71 Fire Department Personnel: 25 Volunteers Average Temp: High: 56F Low 32F Education Lynn’s Dakotamart 45 Fire Insurance Rating: Class 5 city Average summer temperature: 62.2 degrees Custer School District (605) 673-3154 Crazy Horse Memorial 220 (summer) 5Y outside city limits Average winter temperature: 29.2 degrees Pupil: Teacher Ratio 13:1 Custer State Park 105 (summer) City Zoning Ordinance: Yes Avg. Coldest Month: High 37F Low15F Elementary: 1 school, enrollment 341 Custer Hospitality 150 (summer) County Zoning Ordinance: No (January) Jr./Sr. High School: 1 school, enrollment 350 Percentage of City Paved Streets: 95% Avg. Warmest Month: High 80F Low 54F Labor Management Relations Hermosa: 1 school, enrollment 204 (July) South Dakota is a right to work state. Ambulance Service: 21 members Water Average Precipitation: 19.68” Percentage of workers organized City of Custer 605-673-4824 Average Growing Season: May - September All workers 0% Housing Source: Well Manufacturing 0% Average monthly rent for 2 bedroom house: Demographics City County Wastewater $700-$750 Population (2018) 1,956 8,446 Taxation City of Custer 605-673-4824 Average monthly rent for 2 bedroom apart - Median Age 47.7 53.9 Sales Tax Type of treatment: Lagoon-primary ment: $750-$850 Median Household State - 4.5% Local 2% B&B - 1% Average cost of homes (purchase price): Income (2018) $42,550 $52,891 Tourism 1.5% $140,000 city; $163,500 county 4 5 to open their own restaurant so he could cally-raised goats ... and pretty much or Eliza and Joseph Raney, have the autonomy to do what he everything in between. Skogen Kitchen has become an wanted as a chef. And Skogen was born. Eliza and Joseph say without the sup - overnight and rampant suc - Nine months after moving to Custer, port of the community to see them cess. In just over a year and a half, Sko - and with tremendous support from many through the often-tough winter months, genF Kitchen has established itself as not local businesses, Eliza and Joseph had they wouldn’t be where they are today. only one of the best restaurants in the two soft openings for their new restau - And yes, people are driving to Custer Black Hills, but also, according to some rant, inviting members of the community from Mitchell just to eat at Skogen diners, the world. When compared with and friends to come try out Joseph’s Kitchen, but there are also plenty of lo - Michelin-rated restaurants in Europe, one food. Needless to say, they were a suc - cals who are dining there regularly be - couple proclaimed Skogen was better. cess. cause they, too, know the food Joseph is Eliza and Joseph met while working at Word spread fast and before they making something special. a restaurant in California. After dating for knew it, their little restaurant was thriving In addition to the community, they are a while, they made the decision they and people were driving hours just for a deeply appreciative of their employees, wanted to return to the Midwest (Eliza is meal there. It’s grown so much that in calling them “amazing.” Eliza said it’s cru - from Minnesota) and chose three loca - order to continue to offer the level of cial they are happy, so both she and tions they wanted to explore before de - service they want, they’ve had to make Joseph are at the restaurant for every ciding: Texas, Chicago and the Black reservations mandatory. Joseph’s food, single shift. This offers their employees Hills. Eliza says, is only as good as the service both the direction and support they need. Joseph visited the Black Hills first and they can offer and they want everyone Being present as business owners also the couple never made it to the other two who dines there to have not just a good affords them the opportunity to speak locations. This was to become home and or great experience, but an exceptional with every single diner who enters the it was clear to him. They moved eight one. restaurant. Eliza tries to visit every table, months later and Eliza found a job at The food itself is progressive. A com - both learning the customers’ stories as Black Hills Burger & Bun, while Joseph plex blend of local, upscale and common well as sharing their own. And this, in began working at Sage Creek Grille. ingredients, as well as blending distinct turn, weaves their fabric into the com - The couple knew that if Joseph was to cuisines, ensures entrees like no other. munity and region even more. continue his career (and yes, he had Traditional and contemporary ingredi - “It’s been beyond what we ever could taken the complete culinary career path, ents, styles and cuisines often mingle on have imagined,” Eliza said. “And there is attending culinary school and working in one plate, with everything from foie gras no other place we would rather be.” restaurants) as a chef, they would have to Corn Nuts to sausages made from lo - 6 6 to 7,242-foot-high Black Elk Peak, the five states. A recently constructed hiking hen it comes to recreation, highest point east of the Rocky Moun - trail goes from the Custer Area Chamber Custer County offers oppor - tains.