The population, as of the last survey, was forty-six. The big town in the county is Murdo, with 475 people. The total population of the county is 917.

Not much to be had here. I decided to look at some very small South Dakota towns, just to remind ourselves of those little places that never quite got off the ground.

The portal to the great wide world beyond.

 

Wish books, seed catalogs, letters from Johnny overseas.

You might wonder why they had to put the letter box so far away, but that’s for the folks who want to drive up and mail without getting out of the car. Except they still had to get out of the car.

It used to have a sign that said “Welcome to Draper” but they painted over it.

 

Maybe you’re not welcome anymore, or there just aren’t enough people to do the welcoming.

I can’t figure this one out. Looks as if one window used to be bigger, and they got tired o having a wide view of nothing in particular.

 

 

If the ground floor was a store, wouldn’t you want the windows to show what you had? If it was a bar or a restaurant, who was foolhardy enough to set one up here?

More scenes from “Walking Dead: Dakota Days”

 

This has the look of a structure that’s engaged with the present day in some way or another.

 

 

No need to tell anyone what it is; if they need to know, they know.

I’m stunned to see it’s still in business.

 

 

I’m delighted by the old-timey typeface. As if it’s still the 19th century and the outlaws might come up hootin’ and hollerin’ to rob it.

Two. There are two banks in town. Two.

 

 

Another modernist box, the only sign of the 20th century in town.

Folks come from miles around to see the shows! And no one leaves without a headache or a soaked shirt, because there’s not a lick of ventilation in there.

 

 

I’ll bet there’s a brick church under there.

 

 

Looks like it’s boxed up for shipping.

And that’s Draper.