Volga, South Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Volga
City
Location in Brookings County and the state of South Dakota
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Brookings
Founded	December 27, 1879
Incorporated	July 10, 1903
Area
• Total	1.14 sq mi (2.95 km2)
• Land	1.14 sq mi (2.95 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,631 ft (497 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,113
• Estimate  (2022)	2,271
• Density	1,855.14/sq mi (716.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	57071
Area code(s)	605
FIPS code	46-67700
GNIS feature ID	1267618

Volga (pronounced VAHL-guh) is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. In 2020, about 2,113 people lived there.

History of Volga

Volga was started on December 27, 1879. A man named Col. Arthur Jacoby planned out the area in September of that year. It was first called "Bandy Town" after the Bandy family, who were early settlers.

In December 1879, the railroad gave it the name "Volga." This name might have come from the Volga River in Russia or a town and river called Volga in Iowa. From late 1879 to mid-1880, Volga was at the end of the railroad line. This helped the town grow quickly.

By 1881, about 400 people lived in Volga. A year later, the town had five general stores, two hardware stores, two hotels, and three lumber yards.

Volga is even mentioned in a famous book! It appears in the 1940 novel The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. There's a chapter called "Pa Goes to Volga."

Modern Growth and Industry

In November 1994, a big decision was made to build a soybean processing plant in Volga. This plant was expected to create 67 new jobs. Construction began in mid-1995.

In September 1996, the $32.5 million soybean processing plant officially opened. It was the first of its kind in South Dakota. This plant is a major part of farming in the Brookings area. It can process 85,000 bushels of soybeans every day.

The company that runs it, South Dakota Soybean Processors, has opened other plants too. In 2019, a company called Prairie AquaTech built a facility near the soybean plant. They make special food for fish.

Geography of Volga

Volga covers about 1.14 square miles (2.95 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

To the east of Volga, you'll find the Big Sioux River. To the northwest, there is a lake called Lake Goldsmith.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

The United States Census Bureau counts the population every ten years.

• In 2010, there were 1,768 people living in Volga.
• By 2020, the population grew to 2,113 people.

The city's population density in 2010 was about 1,943 people per square mile. Most residents (98.2%) identified as White. About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Age and Households

In 2010, the average age in Volga was 33.8 years old.

• About 26.5% of residents were under 18.
• About 30.2% were between 25 and 44 years old.
• About 13.5% were 65 or older.

There were 734 households in 2010. About 32.7% of these households had children under 18 living with them.

Culture and Fun

The Brookings County Museum in Volga

Volga has a special event called Old Timers Day. It happens every year in the second week of June. It's a day for the community to celebrate.

Cool Places to Visit

Volga has several important historical spots. Four places in the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value. These include:

• The Henry-Martinson House (added in 1977)
• The Volga Auditorium (added in 2000)
• The John L. Hall House (added in 2010)
• The Volga Hospital (added in 2023)

The Brookings County Museum is located in Volga City Park. It has six buildings filled with about 5,000 items from the county's history. The museum moved to Volga in 1969. It includes:

• The 1872 Sundet Log Cabin
• A 19th-century one-room schoolhouse
• The Vintage Farm Equipment building
• The James Hauxhurst House
• The Trygve Trooien Horse-Drawn Museum (opened in 2018)

If you like golf, there's the 106-acre Meadow Creek Golf Course. It's located just south of the city. Volga also has a winery called Schadé Vineyard, which started in 2000.

Getting Around

Volga is located on U.S. Route 14, a main highway. The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad also has tracks that go through Volga.

Education in Volga

Volga Christian School

Public Schools

Students in Volga attend schools in the Sioux Valley School District. This district includes one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Students go to Sioux Valley High School. The district serves students from Bruce, Sinai, and Volga.

The Sioux Valley Cossacks football team is known for being one of the strongest teams in their division. The Sioux Valley Cossacks competitive cheer team has won many State A Cheer titles.

Private Schools

Volga also has a private school called the Volga Christian School. It teaches students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

News and Radio

Newspapers

The Volga Tribune is the local weekly newspaper. It has been published in Volga since 1882.

Radio Stations

The KBRK radio station has been broadcasting in the Brookings area since 1955. Another station, KV91 (KVAA), started in 1983 with its studios in Volga. It later changed its name to KJJQ and moved its studios to Brookings in 1990.

Famous People from Volga

• Del Paddock, a professional baseball player

See also

In Spanish: Volga (Dakota del Sur) para niños