Okobojo, South Dakota facts for kids

Okobojo is what we call a ghost town in Sully County, South Dakota, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. The name Okobojo comes from the Dakota word okóbožu, which means "to plant in spaces."

The Story of Okobojo

The first person to settle in the Okobojo area was Peter Brennan. He arrived in early 1882. At that time, it was not officially allowed to settle there. The government only opened the land for settlement in April 1883.

Building a New Town

The town of Okobojo was planned out in the spring of 1883. Many of the first settlers came from states like Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. Some of them did not plan to stay forever.

The first building in Okobojo was a general store. Soon, the town grew to include many other businesses. There was a hardware store, several other shops, and even a hotel. The town also had a slaughterhouse, a printing office, a cemetery, and a town hall. By October 1883, about 250 buildings were in the area.

Life in Early Okobojo

The area was first called Pymosa. Later, its name was changed to Okobojo. The first school was built in November 1883. It was located on the west side of the township.

A local newspaper started in May 1884. It kept printing until 1929. The newspaper later moved to a nearby town called Onida. That fall, a mill was built to grind flour. However, it closed later because it cost too much to run. Soldiers from Fort Sully often visited the town.

Challenges and Decline

For the first few years, the crops grown in Okobojo did very well. But by 1886, bad weather started to damage them. By 1890, the crops were not doing well at all. Many people began to leave the area. This is why Okobojo eventually became a ghost town.

Where is Okobojo?

Okobojo is located in Sully County, South Dakota. It is found to the east of the Missouri River.