Brookings, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brookings, South Dakota
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Main Avenue in downtown Brookings
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| Nickname(s):
Scoreboard Town
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Location in Brookings County and the state of South Dakota
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 Brookings, South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Brookings |
| Incorporated | 1883 |
| Area | |
| • City | 13.66 sq mi (35.38 km2) |
| • Land | 13.58 sq mi (35.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,660 ft (510 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 23,377 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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23,993 |
| • Density | 1,721.30/sq mi (664.59/km2) |
| • Metro | 35,484 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
57006-57007
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| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-07580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267299 |
Brookings is a city in South Dakota, United States. It is the main city in Brookings County, South Dakota. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota. About 23,377 people lived there in 2020.
The city is home to South Dakota State University. This is the biggest college in the state. Brookings also has the South Dakota Art Museum and the Children's Museum of South Dakota. Every year, the Brookings Summer Arts Festival takes place here. Many companies, especially in manufacturing and farming, have their main offices in Brookings.
Contents
History of Brookings
Early Settlers and the City's Name
The city and county of Brookings are named after Wilmot Brookings. He was an important person in the early days of Dakota Territory. Wilmot Brookings came to Sioux Falls in August 1857. He was one of the first people to settle there.
In 1858, Brookings went on a trip to find a new town site. During this trip, he got caught in a bad snowstorm. Both of his feet were badly frozen and had to be removed.
Even after this, Brookings became a very important leader. He helped build a road from Minnesota to the Missouri River. This road helped many people settle in the area that is now Brookings County.
Medary: The First Town
The first town in Brookings County was called Medary. It was started in 1857. Before this, only Native Americans lived in the area. Medary was one of the first European settlements in South Dakota.
In 1857, a group from Minnesota set up homes in Medary. More settlers arrived in 1858. But a large group of Native Americans later forced them to leave. Medary was almost empty for 11 years.
In 1869, Norwegian pioneers came and resettled Medary. It was about four and a half miles south of where Brookings is today. Brookings County was officially formed in Medary in 1871.
The Railroad Arrives
Three small towns, Medary, Oakwood, and Fountain, hoped the new railroad would pass through them. But the railroad decided to bypass all three.
Business leaders from Medary and Fountain worked hard to find a new central spot. They convinced the railroad to build its tracks through what became the city of Brookings.
On October 3 and 4, 1879, Brookings was officially planned out. Many businesses from Medary and Fountain moved to the new city. Fountain disappeared completely. Medary and Oakwood slowly faded away. A monument still marks the old site of Medary.
The first train reached Brookings on October 18, 1879. The railroad station opened a month later. Brookings was officially laid out in 1880.
Jobs in Brookings
Brookings has many job opportunities. The city's unemployment rate is very low, which means most people who want to work can find jobs.
Here are some of the biggest employers in Brookings:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota State University | 3,973 |
| 2 | Daktronics | 1,329 |
| 3 | 3M | 1,156 |
| 4 | Walmart | 538 |
| 5 | Brookings Health System | 496 |
| 6 | Brookings School District | 492 |
| 7 | Hy-Vee Food Store | 450 |
| 8 | Larson Manufacturing | 448 |
| 9 | Aramark | 384 |
| 10 | Swiftel Center | 355 |
A company called Bel Brands USA built a large Babybel cheese factory here in 2014. This factory created 250 new jobs. Rainbow Play Systems, which makes playground equipment, also has its main office in Brookings.
Geography and Climate
Brookings covers about 13 square miles (35 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
What is the Climate Like?
Brookings has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, somewhat humid summers. Winters are cold and dry.
Temperatures can range a lot. The average temperature in January is about 13°F (minus 11°C). In July, it's about 71°F (21°C). The city gets about 36 inches (91 cm) of snow each year. Most rain falls in the warmer months.
| Climate data for Brookings, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
69 (21) |
85 (29) |
93 (34) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
109 (43) |
106 (41) |
102 (39) |
93 (34) |
79 (26) |
68 (20) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.2 (6.2) |
48.8 (9.3) |
65.1 (18.4) |
78.9 (26.1) |
86.7 (30.4) |
90.8 (32.7) |
92.4 (33.6) |
91.3 (32.9) |
87.2 (30.7) |
80.7 (27.1) |
63.6 (17.6) |
47.1 (8.4) |
94.5 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.2 (−5.4) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
39.1 (3.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
66.8 (19.3) |
76.8 (24.9) |
81.4 (27.4) |
79.3 (26.3) |
72.0 (22.2) |
57.6 (14.2) |
41.0 (5.0) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
53.7 (12.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.8 (−10.7) |
17.1 (−8.3) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
43.1 (6.2) |
56.0 (13.3) |
66.6 (19.2) |
70.7 (21.5) |
68.4 (20.2) |
60.1 (15.6) |
45.9 (7.7) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
43.3 (6.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 3.5 (−15.8) |
7.4 (−13.7) |
19.9 (−6.7) |
32.1 (0.1) |
45.2 (7.3) |
56.3 (13.5) |
60.1 (15.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
48.2 (9.0) |
34.2 (1.2) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
33.0 (0.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −19.9 (−28.8) |
−14.7 (−25.9) |
−5.4 (−20.8) |
16.8 (−8.4) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
42.8 (6.0) |
46.7 (8.2) |
44.1 (6.7) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
2.1 (−16.6) |
−13.2 (−25.1) |
−23.5 (−30.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −41 (−41) |
−41 (−41) |
−23 (−31) |
−2 (−19) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
28 (−2) |
12 (−11) |
−9 (−23) |
−22 (−30) |
−36 (−38) |
−41 (−41) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.43 (11) |
0.50 (13) |
1.06 (27) |
2.17 (55) |
3.45 (88) |
4.29 (109) |
3.61 (92) |
3.22 (82) |
3.10 (79) |
1.97 (50) |
0.80 (20) |
0.61 (15) |
25.21 (640) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.5 (14) |
7.1 (18) |
6.4 (16) |
4.1 (10) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.1 (2.8) |
4.7 (12) |
6.8 (17) |
35.8 (91) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.0 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 9.6 | 12.5 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 98.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.2 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 27.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Brookings
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,518 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,846 | 87.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,971 | 4.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,921 | 32.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,376 | 11.6% | |
| 1940 | 5,346 | 22.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,764 | 45.2% | |
| 1960 | 10,558 | 36.0% | |
| 1970 | 13,717 | 29.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,951 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 16,270 | 8.8% | |
| 2000 | 18,504 | 13.7% | |
| 2010 | 22,056 | 19.2% | |
| 2020 | 23,377 | 6.0% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 23,993 | 8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, about 22,056 people lived in Brookings. The city had 8,159 households.
Most people in Brookings are White (92.1%). There are also people of African American, Native American, and Asian backgrounds. About 1.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Brookings is 23.5 years old. This is because many young people attend the university here.
Where Do People Come From?
The two largest groups of people by ancestry in Brookings are:
Religion in Brookings
Many people in Brookings are part of a religious group. In 2010, about 60.7% of the population belonged to a church or religious community.
The largest religious groups are:
Brookings is also home to the Institute of Lutheran Theology. This is a seminary where people study to become Lutheran pastors.
Education
The Brookings School District teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way through high school. There is also a Catholic school for younger students (pre-kindergarten to fifth grade).
South Dakota State University is the biggest college in South Dakota. It is located right in Brookings.
Media
Newspapers
The Brookings Register is the local newspaper. It comes out every weekday morning. It focuses on local news and sports for Brookings County and nearby areas.
Radio Stations
Brookings has several radio stations you can listen to.
AM Radio
| AM radio stations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | City |
| 910 AM | KJJQ | The Ranch AM 910 | Classic Country | Alpha Media | Volga/Brookings |
| 1430 AM | KBRK | KBRK 1430 AM | Adult standards | Alpha Media | Brookings |
FM Radio
| FM radio stations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | Target city/market | City of license |
| 88.3 FM | KESD | South Dakota Public Broadcasting | NPR | SD Board of Directors for Educational Telecommunications | Brookings | Brookings |
| 89.1 FM | K206EQ | VCY America | Christian KVCH translator |
VCY America, Inc. | Brookings | Brookings |
| 89.7 FM | K209DX | Sonlife Radio | Christian WJFM-FM translator |
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries | Brookings | Brookings |
| 90.7 FM | KSDJ | New Rock 90.7 | Alternative/College | South Dakota State University | Brookings | Brookings |
| 93.7 FM | KBRK-FM | B93.7 | Hot Adult Contemporary | Alpha Media | Brookings | Brookings |
| 95.5 FM | K238AX | Classical Minnesota Public Radio | Classical | Minnesota Public Radio | Brookings | Brookings |
| 99.7 FM | KARZ | 99.7 KARZ | Classic Hits | Linder Radio Group | Marshall/Brookings | Marshall, MN |
| 102.3 FM | KKQQ | K-Country 102.3 | Country | Alpha Media | Brookings | Volga |
| 105.5 FM | K288EV | The Refuge | Contemporary Christian WJRF-FM translator |
Refuge Media Group | Brookings | Brookings |
| 107.1 FM | KDBX | 107.1 The Hawk | Classic Rock | Alpha Media | Brookings | Clear Lake |
Transportation
Roads
Interstate 29 is a major highway. Exits 132 and 133 lead to Brookings.
U.S. Highway 14 runs through the city.
- There is also a U.S. Highway 14 Bypass around the city.
Airport
The Brookings Regional Airport serves the city. It was rebuilt in 2012.
Bus Service
You can travel to and from Brookings by bus. Jefferson Lines provides bus service to the city.
Fun Places to Visit
Brookings has many interesting places to see and visit:
- McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum: A beautiful garden and tree collection.
- South Dakota Art Museum: See amazing art from the region and beyond.
- South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum: Learn about farming history in South Dakota.
- Children's Museum of South Dakota: A great place for younger kids to play and learn.
- Coughlin Campanile: A tall bell tower on the university campus.
- South Dakota State University: Explore the campus of the state's largest university.
- Frost Arena: A sports arena where college games are played.
- Coughlin-Alumni Stadium: Another stadium for sports events.
- Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium: A modern football stadium.
Famous People from Brookings
- Jacob M. Appel: A writer who worked on a book in the Brookings Public Library.
- Stephen Foster Briggs: He helped start the company Briggs & Stratton. He studied in Brookings.
- Robert H. Burris: A biochemist who studied in Brookings.
- Ray Ellefson: A professional basketball player born in Brookings.
- Geraldine Fenn: A children's activist born in Brookings.
- Cheris Kramarae: Co-author of a famous dictionary. She was born in Brookings.
- Herman Natwick: A former mayor of Brookings.
- Gene Okerlund: A well-known professional wrestling announcer born in Brookings.
Images for kids
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Brookings County Courthouse
See also
In Spanish: Brookings (Dakota del Sur) para niños
