What is it like to live in Lead or Deadwood? (Custer: crime rates, camping)

[sozme]

Looking to get out of Missouri and trying to move to a very rural place above 5,000 feet in elevation. Wondering what it is like culturally in the above towns, and whether there is any crime or other issues. Also what the people are like. I've heard it said that Western SD is much more conservative than Eastern, which isn't a problem for me.

[SD4020]

If you like lots of snow, it is a great place. If I was wanting to live about 5,000 feet, I'd look at Custer. Nice quiet town little more open space and not on a hill.

[artillery77]

Is that the elevation with or without snowbank?

[jdhpa]

How is the crime in each? I've heard it's much lower in Lead than either Deadwood or Custer.

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by artillery77

Is that the elevation with or without snowbank?

The northern part of mountain rages receive more snow on average.

Talking crime rates. Deadwood is a tourist destination. So, arrests for things like DUI, drugs and assaults will be higher in Deadwood. It is a town that runs year round. There are concerts, gamblings and folks are there to have a good time.

Custer is a also a tourist town, with a different bent. That is town where folks stop to spend the night or two, camping, doing the Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park thing. It is a family stop. It is alway seasonal. In the “off” season, logging, some mining, other thins keep the town floating. Custer also has about half the snow as Lead/Deadwood, metaphorically speaking.

Lead, at the top of the Hill. Has some logging, mining, skiing in the winter, along with snowmobiling. Guests will either stay at lodges, or in Deadwood. Lead has steep streets which is not my idea of a good time in Winter.