Overview

Introduction to Brookings, South Dakota

Brookings, South Dakota, in Brookings county, is 52 miles N of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and 180 miles W of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Brookings History

Brookings was named in honor of Wilmot Wood Brookings, a frontier judge and the first provisional governor of the Dakota Territory. The area was surveyed and platted in 1879. The first railroad reached the city on October 18, 1879. In the same year, it was named the seat of Brookings County, which was established on July 3, 1871. Prior to that, Medary was the county seat.

Brookings and nearby Attractions

  • Brookings Mall
  • South Dakota Art Museum
  • State Agricultural Heritage Museum
  • Oakwood Lakes State Park
  • Pipestone National Monument
  • Lake Poinsett Recreation Area

Things To Do In Brookings

There are several parks in Brookings. These include the Pioneer Park, Sexauer Park and Hillcrest Park. The Brookings Mall and University Mall are the local shopping destinations. The South Dakota Art Museum and the State Agricultural Heritage Museum are popular local destinations as well. One can also plan a family day trip to the Lake Poinsett Recreation Area or the Oakwood Lakes State Park. Local festivals include the Harvest Festival, the Summer Arts Festival and Hobo Days.

Brookings Transportation

Flights are available from Joe Foss Field Airport.

Brookings Higher Education

South Dakota State University is the local institution of higher education. Others in the neighborhood include Southwest State University, North Dakota State College of Science and the University of South Dakota.

Demographics

People

Total Population23,863
Male Share of the Population51.2%
Female Share of the Population48.8%
Senior Citizens9.2%
Employed Population 16+13,516
Age of the Population24

Families

% of people married34.4%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher40%
Median Earnings25+$40,915
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$16,250
Median Earnings With High School Degree$34,449

Wealth

Median Family Income$83,856
% Above Poverty Level81%
% Below Poverty Level19%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time14 minutes
% Working from Home4%
% Walking and Biking to Work8.3%
% Using Public Transportation0.5%

Housing

People Living Alone36.5%
Median Gross Rent$727
Median House Value$174,900

Ancestry

German40%
Norwegian21.4%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)13.4%
Irish10.6%
English4.6%
Swedish4.5%
Dutch4.3%
Danishn2.9%
French Except Basque2.1%
Polish1.8%
Italian1.7%
Scottish1.5%
African1.5%
Czech1.3%
Russian1%
Arab0.9%
Belgian0.8%
Welsh0.6%
Finnish0.5%
Austrian0.3%
Canadian0.3%
Egyptian0.3%
Swiss0.2%
West Indian0.2%
Turkish0.2%
South African0.2%
Ethiopian0.2%
Brazilian0.2%
Greek0.2%
Luxemburger0.2%
Iranian0.1%
Iraqi0.1%
Lebanese0.1%
Jamaican0.1%
Afghan)0.1%
Sudanese0.1%
Kenyan0.1%
Ghanaian0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Zimbabwean0.1%
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Brookings Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyBrookings County
Standard Zip Codes57006
Company Zip Codes57007
Phone Area Codes605
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude44.3
Approximate Longitude-96.78

Brookings Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationBROOKINGS 2 NE
Distance1.6 miles
Jan Temp0 to 22 F
Apr Temp33 to 56 F
Jul Temp59 to 83 F
Oct Temp34 to 59 F
Annual Precip22.8 inches
StationWENTWORTH 2 WNW
Distance22.7 miles
Jan Temp3 to 24 F
Apr Temp35 to 59 F
Jul Temp61 to 84 F
Oct Temp37 to 60 F
Annual Precip24.7 inches
StationCLEAR LAKE
Distance30.9 miles
Jan Temp-1 to 20 F
Apr Temp32 to 54 F
Jul Temp60 to 82 F
Oct Temp34 to 58 F
Annual Precip25.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Aurora736$82,727
Bruce153$78,250
Elkton727$65,385
Sinai91$0
Volga1,799$65,455
White580$76,250

Brookings Public Libraries

Brookings Public Library
515 THIRD STREET
Brookings, South Dakota
(605) 692-9407

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Brookings Hospitals

Brookings Health System
(Government - Local)
300 22nd Avenue
(605) 696-9000

Brookings Public Schools

Brookings High School - 01
530 Elm Ave
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4100
High
Total Enrollment 885
Camelot Intermediate - 06
1401 15th Street South
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4400
Primary
Total Enrollment 635
Dakota Prairie Elementary School - 07
111 26th St South
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4700
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
1801 12th St S
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4500
Middle
Total Enrollment 728
Hillcrest Elementary - 04
304 15th Ave
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4600
Primary
Total Enrollment 506
Medary Elementary - 05
718 5th St S
ZIP: 57006
(605) 696-4300
Primary
Total Enrollment 520
Sources :
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Brookings Colleges
Brookings colleges and trade schools.
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Historic Brookings

photo

Harvest scene near Brookings c1898.

Select a photo to view (Source):

Harvest scene near Brookings c1898.

Harvest scene near Brookings c1898.

A Harvest field between 1880 and 1898

Additional Resources
Info for Brookings Government Officials


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