Emmet, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emmet, South Dakota
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Township
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Union |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.0 sq mi (93.1 km2) |
| • Land | 36.0 sq mi (93.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,299 ft (396 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 257 |
| • Density | 7.1/sq mi (2.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
57004
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| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-19500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1269001 |
Emmet is a fascinating ghost town located in South Dakota, United States. It's found within Union County, specifically in Emmet Township. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and very few, if any, remain.
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Where is Emmet Located?
Emmet is in South Dakota, a state in the central United States. It sits at a specific point on the map, which is 42.98665 degrees North and -96.7464 degrees West. This helps us pinpoint its exact location.
The area of Emmet is about 93.1 square kilometers (or 36 square miles). This entire area is land, with no water. In the year 2000, only 257 people lived here. This means there were about 2.8 people per square kilometer.
Emmet uses the ZIP code 57004 for mail. It is also part of the 605 telephone area code.
The History of Emmet
The community of Emmet began a long time ago, around 1871. It was settled by a group of people from Galena, Illinois, who had both Irish and German backgrounds.
What Emmet Once Had
In its early days, Emmet was a lively place. It had a general store where people could buy everyday items. There was also a building called Emmet Hall, which was likely a community gathering place. A very important part of the community was St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Why Emmet Became a Ghost Town
Over time, things changed for Emmet. New railroads were built, but they passed through bigger towns instead of Emmet. This meant that businesses and people started to move away from smaller communities like Emmet to be closer to the railroads. As a result, Emmet's population slowly decreased.
What Remains Today
Today, most of the old Emmet community is gone. The only buildings left are the parsonage, which was the home for the church's priest, and the St. Joseph Cemetery. This cemetery surrounds the spot where the old Catholic church used to stand. Many people still call it the Emmet Cemetery.
Emmet Hall: A Place for Music
The old Emmet Hall building was also known as Forrester's Hall. It stood for several decades and was located a bit away from the cemetery. This building was famous because the well-known musician Lawrence Welk and his band once performed there!
After the 1950s, Emmet Hall stopped being a dance hall. It was then used for farm work, like storing grain or housing sheep. The building was eventually taken down in November 2015.
