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Posted in South Dakota Attractions, Small Towns April 28, 2017 by Catherine Armstrong

The Small Town In South Dakota That’s One Of The Coolest In The U.S.

South Dakota is just brimming with natural beauty, and our larger cities have amazing art, craft beer, restaurants, parks and museums. But is South Dakota cool? It’s not usually a word you hear associated with the state that’s best known for its huge faces of presidents carved into the side of a mountain. However, we do have one small town that is the epitome of cool. Take a look.

The little town of Sturgis is home to fewer than 7,000 people. Its Main Street is quaint and quiet.

It's a town with a rich, vibrant history of nearby Fort Meade and the U.S. Cavalry.

Sturgis is a close-knit community that celebrates throughout the year. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your name.

Eight city parks provide safe play spaces for kids and adults alike.

The Community Center is another gathering place, with its pool, weight and cardio rooms, and gym.

The town is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Black Hills, which provide plenty of fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Volunteerism is a regular occurrence in Sturgis - you'll even find high school kids getting in on the action.

Even the liquor store has a community vibe, hosting regular wine tastings. The store has more than 1,400 varieties of locally-produced wine.

While all of these features make Sturgis an amazing place to be, most of South Dakota's small towns can boast similar amenities and cherish a true sense of community. So what makes Sturgis cool? Maybe its huge motorcycle rally.

Motorcycle enthusiasts consider Sturgis their Mecca - it is THE place to be every August. This small town of 7,000 turns into a huge party with more than 700,000 happy revelers. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been going strong for 77 years, and the legend continues.

Fabulous food, events and bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ozzy Osbourne are just a few of the cool things you'll find at the country's largest motorcycle rally.

Is there anything cooler than this?

What’s your favorite thing about Sturgis?

South Dakota has lots of other cool towns. Here are 15 towns where everyone knows your name.

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Catherine Armstrong

Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.