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Brookings, SD

Brookings, South Dakota
City
Main Street in downtown Brookings
Main Street in downtown Brookings
Nickname(s): Scoreboard Town
Location in Brookings County and the state of South Dakota
Location in Brookings County and the state of South Dakota
Brookings, South Dakota is located in the US
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings, South Dakota
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 44°18′23″N 96°47′17″W / 44.30639°N 96.78806°W / 44.30639; -96.78806Coordinates: 44°18′23″N 96°47′17″W / 44.30639°N 96.78806°W / 44.30639; -96.78806
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Brookings
Incorporated 1883
Government
 • Mayor Tim Reed
 • City Manager Jeff Weldon
Area
 • Total 13.04 sq mi (33.77 km2)
 • Land 12.94 sq mi (33.51 km2)
 • Water 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2)
Elevation 1,621 ft (494 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 22,056
 • Estimate (2015) 23,657
 • Density 1,704.5/sq mi (658.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 57006-57007
Area code(s) 605 Exchanges: 688,692,697
FIPS code 46-07580
GNIS feature ID 1254074
Website www.cityofbrookings.org

Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher education in the state. Also found in Brookings are the South Dakota State Art Museum, the Children's Museum of South Dakota, the annual Brookings Summer Arts Festival, and the headquarters of a number of manufacturing companies and agricultural operations.

The county and city were both named after one of South Dakota's pioneer promoters, Wilmot Brookings (1830 - 1905). Brookings set out for the Dakota Territory in June 1857. He arrived at Sioux Falls on August 27, 1857, and became one of the first settlers there. He and his group represented the Western Town Company. After a time in Sioux Falls, Brookings and a companion set out for the Yankton area to locate a town in an area that was soon to be ceded by the Native Americans. This trip was begun in January 1858, and the two soon encountered a blizzard that froze Brookings' feet which both had to be amputated.

He rose to a high position in the Territory, once being a member of the Squatter Territorial Legislature and later being elected Squatter Governor. Brookings then became appointed superintendent of a road that was to be built from the Minnesota state line west to the Missouri River about 30 miles north of Ft. Pierre. It was during the construction of this road that Brookings came into contact with land that was part of this county at the time. Because of his drive to settle the Dakota Territory, Brookings County and city were named for a spirited pioneer promoter. Wilmot W. Brookings made settlement of this area a real possibility for many people.


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