8 Coziest Small Towns In South Dakota
For many, the state of South Dakota is where the western frontier meets legends of cowboys, Native Americans, and the American West of the past. Today, the Midwest state, built on the Great Plains, draws visitors as one of the country's most picturesque places. The state has welcomed all kinds since joining the Union in 1889, from fortune-seekers and homesteaders to international students and road-trippers. Add to that natural wonders like the Black Hills, urban parks and gardens, and scenic canyons, and South Dakota is the ideal place to find a cozy small town for all tastes. In these ways, the state's tourism motto — "Great Faces, Great Places" — is very well chosen.
Pierre
The South Dakota state capital, Pierre, has 14,000 inhabitants, making it the nation's second smallest (after Montpelier, Vermont, with just 8,000). Founded in 1880 and located in central South Dakota, its foundations were built from the fort of Pierre Chouteau, a trader who worked the Missouri River. Today, the town is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Oahe, one of the world's largest man-made lakes, is a favorite among local fishermen and boaters. For families with children and for students of all ages, the Lewis and Clark Family Center in south Pierre offers lessons in local and regional Plains history.
Spearfish
Spearfish, with 12,900 souls, lies in the Black Hills area on the state's western border. Founded in 1876, the "Queen City," as it is sometimes called, offers the visitor historic buildings like the Matthews Opera House, a working performance space. Fans of the Old West should seek out the High Plains Western Heritage Center, which commemorates the area's earlier days of pioneers, cattle ranchers, and westward wanderers of all kinds. Nature fans should seek out Spearfish Canyon, while drivers can take the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Links lovers will enjoy the Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club east of town. Spearfish is likewise home to Black Hills State University.
Sturgis
The name of Sturgis is synonymous with its annual motorcycle rally. But the town, founded in 1878, traces its roots back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. The mineral boom brought speculators, traders, and fortune-hunters of all varieties. Today, Sturgis, with 7,200 residents, is famous for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, an annual celebration of bikes, which has been running since 1938. Bikers and their supporters arrive each August, sometimes as many as 700,000 strong.
For nature, Sturgis is a starting point for the Black Hills scenic region. An hour's drive south is Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where the faces of four of the country's most influential presidents stand etched forever in the face of a cliff. Other park options include Fort Meade Recreation Area Park, west of town, as well as Black Hills National Forest to Sturgis' south.
Deadwood
Deadwood, with a mere 1,200 people, sits just a twenty-minute drive, or motorcycle ride, west of Sturgis. First founded in 1876, Deadwood was associated with the Black Hills Gold Rush of the same era and took its name from the lifeless trees in the town's nearby gulch, suggesting the toughness needed to survive here in pioneer times.
From those hardscrabble beginnings, Deadwood eventually grew into a respectable place for businesses, families — and tourists. Deadwood's town center is a western movie coming to life, with casinos, historic buildings, and saloons that recall the bygone frontier. The Adams Museum exhibits artifacts on the town's rough-and-tumble history. For some very western scenery, the Black Hills National Forest awaits south of town.
Vermillion
Vermillion, population 11,900, sits in South Dakota's far southeast. Founded in 1859 along the Missouri River, the town — its name another word for the color red — takes its cue from the language of Lakotas, a local Native American tribe, meaning 'red stream.' Vermillion boasts a fascinating cultural history through venues like the National Music Museum, which since 1973 has operated on the campus of the University of South Dakota. Art lovers will further enjoy the town's handful of public murals, some of which reflect local Native American stories and folklore. For fresh air, Vermillion offers nine parks, with facilities for games as diverse as baseball and golf.
Aberdeen
The northeast town of Aberdeen, population 28,200, is named after the Scottish city and birthplace of one Alexander Mitchell, the 19th-century railroad tycoon who helped put South Dakota on the map. The town, incorporated in 1882, is home to Northern State University, making it one of South Dakota's college towns, like Spearfish. Cultural interests abound in Aberdeen, not least through its proud ties to movie-making. The South Dakota Film Festival, held each fall, has welcomed major actors like Kevin Costner.
For nature lovers, Aberdeen's parks and gardens include the Richmond Lake Recreation Area and Kuhnert Arboretum, a popular field trip destination for South Dakota schoolkids. Families with children should not miss Storybook Land, a park that brings kids' fables and other stories to life, with rides themed after tales from The Wizard of Oz and Humpty Dumpty.
Brookings
East-central Brookings has 24,000 inhabitants and stands out from other South Dakota towns. As the site of South Dakota State University — the state's largest college — a wide diversity of foreign students make Brookings their home during their student years. Incorporated in 1883, Brookings has drawn a wide set of immigrant populations, notably Norwegians and Germans. The town's museums cover both art and commerce, especially at two standouts, the South Dakota Art Museum and the South Dakota Agricultural Museum. Families will enjoy the Children's Museum of South Dakota, which is also in town. For fresh air and a little exercise, travelers must visit McCory Gardens or Dakota Nature Park, each in downtown Brookings. Lake Campbell offers a beach and more golf at the lakeside Brookings Country Club.
Mitchell
For the traveler who thinks they have seen it all, this town has something totally new: a Corn Palace. Mitchell, population 15,700, is famous for its Corn Palace, also known by its more grandiose name, The World's Only Corn Palace. Constructed in 1892, the place serves as a convention center for the region's agricultural and other industries. The center hosts the Corn Palace Festival every summer. The town itself, incorporated in 1883, lies in the state's southeast along the James River Valley.
For other points of interest, check out the Dakota Discovery Museum, which educates visitors on the natural and human pasts of the Great Plains region. However, the exhibit does not aim to cover everything: it spans the dates of 1600 to 1939, which marked the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II, which the United States would enter after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
South Dakota's Best Is Found In Its Small Towns
As this list shows, the best of the state of South Dakota may just lie across its vibrant, cozy towns. From the modestly-sized capital Pierre to the western-themed tourist draws in Spearfish and Deadwood, and finally, the outdoors havens like the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota offers a great deal to visitors, whether they are making a first-time trip — or the latest trip of many in the past. The state's open spaces, western essence, and diverse cultures make it a place that any curious traveler should want to see soon.
