Minnesela, South Dakota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Founded 1881
- Located 3 miles from Belle Fourche
Minnesela was once the county seat of Butte County. Now Minnesela is a ghost town with one building still standing. The town has a great deal of history in connection to Belle Fourche. Minnesela was once a thriving little town, but Seth Bullock soon changed all this when he started the town of Belle Fourche. Bullock offered residents of Minnesela free land in Belle Fourche, which caused his town to grow. Minnesela originally won the rights to the railroad but Belle Fourche out competed the town and eventually won the rights to the railroad. Being bypassed by the railroad was the nail in the coffin for the small town. Belle Fourche would later win the election for the county seat after importing citizens from Minnesela.
