Badlands NP: History (Appendix A)

BADLANDS
History of Badlands National Monument

Appendix A:
ANNUAL NUMBER OF VISITS TO BADLANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT [273]

Year	Total Visits	Percent increase or decrease over previous year
1938*	175,000
1939	205,100	17.2
1940	190,243	-7.2
1941	252,878	32.9
1942	87,231	-65.5
1943	10,149	-88.4
1944	10,349	2.0
1945	31,377	203.2
1946	230,403	634.3
1947	339,843	47.5
1948	384,133	13.0
1949	373,076	-2.9
1950	447,654	20.0
1951	607,965	35.8
1952	580,902	-4.5
1953	658,691	13.4
1954	664,997	1.0
1955	630,881	-5.1
1956	663,246	5.1
1957	701,094	5.7
1958	810,837	15.7
1959	825,184	1.8
1960	878,625	6.5
1961	833,279	-5.2
1962	1,044,768	25.4
1963	1,073,971	2.8
1964	1,079,837	0.5
1965	1,091,261	1.1
1966	1,094,754	0.3
1967	1,188,666	8.6

Average annual increase in number of visits in the last 15 years has been about 5%.

In September 1954, 15-1/2 years after the national monument was established, the five millionth visit was recorded. A total of ten million visits was attained just seven years later in July 1961. On August 16, 1966, Superintendent Frank A. Hjort officially welcomed a traveler and his family who represented the 15 millionth visit to Badlands National Monument. At the present rate of travel increase, the 20 millionth visit is expected in 1970. As of December 31, 1967, the total number of visits to the national monument since its establishment in 1939 is 16,991,394.

The NPS travel year has been the same as a regular calendar year since January 1, 1953. Before that date, the NPS travel year was from October through September. However, total visits prior to 1953 have been recalculated to show actual calendar year totals.

* The figures for 1938 have not been used to calculate total visitation to the national monument since the year is before the area was officially established.


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*History of Badlands National Monument* ©1968, Badlands Natural History Association badlands/appa.htm — 04-Feb-2005 Copyright © 1968 by the Badlands Natural History Association and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the Badlands Natural History Association.