Geographic Center of the 50 United States of America, South Dakota

The Geographic Center of the USA is generally accepted to be at this point, in a field, 20.8 miles north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. This was determined as the point at which an arc connecting the geographic center of the 49 states and the geographic center of Hawaii would balance. This point was established on the admittance of Hawaii into the Union, in 1959, and a small ceremony was held here to celebrate. A flag pole was installed near the bronze surveyor disc marking the spot, and a light was wired to keep the flag lit at night, for a while. The town of Belle Fourche eventually raised money to make a more elaborate monument closer to town, that is more convenient to most visitors.