Putney, South Dakota facts for kids
Putney is a small place in Brown County, South Dakota, USA. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county area.
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What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live close together, but it doesn't have its own mayor or city council. It's different from a city or town that has its own local rules and services. For example, things like roads and public safety in Putney are managed by Brown County. Many small places in the U.S. state of South Dakota are unincorporated communities.
A Look at Putney's Past
Putney has a simple but interesting history, especially regarding how it got its name and its old post office.
How Putney Got Its Name
The community of Putney was named after a place far away: Putney, Vermont. This happened because one of the very first settlers who came to live in this area was originally from Putney, Vermont. It was common for early settlers to name new places after their hometowns, bringing a piece of their past with them.
The Story of the Post Office
A post office is a place where people send and receive mail. For many years, the post office was a very important part of a community. It connected people to the outside world. The Putney post office first opened its doors in 1887. It served the people living in and around Putney for many decades. However, like many small post offices in rural areas, it eventually closed down in 1963. After it closed, people in Putney likely started getting their mail from a nearby town.