Illegal Settlements, 1876
The Deadwood settlement in South Dakota began illegally in the 1870s on land that was granted to Native Americans. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the expedition into the Black Hills in 1874 and a little while later, he made the announcement of gold on French Creek, near what is presently called Custer, South Dakota.
The Colonel’s announcement triggered the historic Black Hills Gold Rush which gave rise to the lawless town of Deadwood. The town is best known for attracting Old-West figures like Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok.