Kimball, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimball, South Dakota
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Location in Brule County and the state of South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Brule |
| Incorporated | 1889 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.44 sq mi (8.90 km2) |
| • Land | 3.44 sq mi (8.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,791 ft (546 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 572 |
| • Density | 166.42/sq mi (64.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
57355
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| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-33980 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267445 |
Kimball is a small city located in Brule County, South Dakota, in the United States. In 2020, about 572 people lived there.
Contents
History of Kimball
Early Days and Naming
Kimball started as "Stake 48" along the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad line. This railroad was built west from Mitchell. In 1880, the first settlers began to claim land in the area. Kimball officially became a village in the spring of 1883. The town was named after J. W. Kimball, who was a surveyor for the railroad.
Important Buildings
The Holy Trinity Church in Kimball was built in 1895. This church is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special building that is protected because of its history.
Major Fires in Kimball
Kimball faced two big fires that caused a lot of damage to its downtown area. These fires were important events in the town's history.
The 1890 Fire
The first major fire happened in 1890. Back then, most buildings in town were made of wood. This meant they could catch fire very easily. We don't know exactly how this fire started. It was probably an accident involving a stove or chimney, which were common fire sources. Because there wasn't a good fire department yet, the fire spread quickly. It destroyed many businesses and homes in the center of Kimball. Even though it caused a lot of damage, the town worked hard to rebuild.
The 1905 Fire
Another big fire hit Kimball in 1905. Like the first fire, it destroyed much of the downtown area. Many buildings that had been rebuilt after the 1890 fire were damaged or lost again. This second fire showed how important it was to have better fire safety. After this fire, people started building more structures using materials like brick and stone. These materials are much more resistant to fire, which helped make the town safer from future blazes.
Geography of Kimball
Kimball is easy to find because it's located right next to Interstate 90. You can take exit 284 to get there. This exit is also where South Dakota Highway 45 begins.
The city covers an area of about 3.09 square miles (8.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 593 | — | |
| 1900 | 453 | −23.6% | |
| 1910 | 713 | 57.4% | |
| 1920 | 993 | 39.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,111 | 11.9% | |
| 1940 | 997 | −10.3% | |
| 1950 | 952 | −4.5% | |
| 1960 | 912 | −4.2% | |
| 1970 | 825 | −9.5% | |
| 1980 | 752 | −8.8% | |
| 1990 | 743 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 745 | 0.3% | |
| 2010 | 703 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 572 | −18.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Kimball's Population Over Time
The chart on the left shows how Kimball's population has changed over many years. You can see how many people lived in the city during different census years.
Population in 2010
According to the 2010 census, there were 703 people living in Kimball. These people lived in 310 different homes, and 189 of those were families. The city had about 227 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Kimball were White (95%). A smaller number were Native American (3.3%), and there were also small groups of African American and Asian residents. About 1.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Kimball was 43 years old. About 26.6% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 19.2% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (51.8%) than males (48.2%).
Famous Person from Kimball
Alton Ochsner: A Medical Pioneer
Alton Ochsner was a very important person who was born in Kimball. He went to Kimball High School. Dr. Ochsner became a world-famous surgeon. He founded the Ochsner Clinic and Hospital in New Orleans.
Dr. Ochsner is well-known for helping the medical world understand the strong link between smoking cigarettes and serious health problems like lung cancer and heart disease. He worked hard to teach people about these dangers. A cartoonist even drew a picture about his efforts to spread this important health message.
See also
In Spanish: Kimball (Dakota del Sur) para niños
