[6] A very old western South Dakota town, Buffalo Gap was founded in 1877.

A resident's cow kicked over a lantern and it burned the town to the ground, as happened with the Great Chicago Fire and many others.

The name comes from a gap to the west of town that sheltered buffalo herds in earlier times.

Although Buffalo Gap burned down several times, there are a number of historic buildings still standing.

Located on State Hwy 79 between Hermosa and Hot Springs, Buffalo Gap intersects with County Road 656, an “off the beaten path” that travelers can take into the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Badlands National Park and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation [7] Part of the action of the French book La Brèche aux buffles takes place in Buffalo Gap.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2), all land.

The racial makeup of the town was 90.85% White, 6.71% Native American, and 2.44% from two or more races.

Media related to Buffalo Gap, South Dakota at Wikimedia Commons