Arlington in Kingsbury County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Kingsbury County

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Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, March 29, 2016

1. Kingsbury County South Dakota Marker

Inscription. A region of buffaloes and Indians until 1870s. Indian mounds are found at Spirit Lake. In 1838 the Nicollett-Fremont party skirted the NE corner. In 1857 Inkapaduta’s renegade Indians passed through with two white women captives, victims of the Spirit Lake massacre in Iowa. In a skirmish several of the renegades were killed by Agency Indians near Lake Thompson. In 1857 Nobles Trail was built west passing south of this lake.

The Yankton Sioux ceded the region to the government in 1859. It was part of huge Buffalo County, 1864, and of larger Hanson County in 1870. On Jan. 8, 1873 it became Kingsbury County, named for George W. Kingsbury (1837-1925) of Yankton, legislator, editor and historian. Surveyed in 1873-75, general settlement began in 1878. The railroad came in 1879-80. The county was organized Feb. 18, 1880 by H.W. Palmer, H.J. Burvee, and Benjamin Loken. De Smet, the county seat, was named for Father Peter John De Smet (1801-1873), Jesuit missionary. The county in 1880 had 1,102 people, by 1890 – 8,562. Its area is 36 by 24 miles, or 552,960 acres. Lakes include Thompson, Henry, Spirit, Preston, Whitewood, Albert

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and others. Excellent waterfowl and pheasant hunting, and fishing are found here. Pioneer days have been depicted by three former residents of the county in Rose Wilder Lane’s novels, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s children’s stories, and Harvey Dunn’s paintings.

Erected 1958 by Kingsbury County Commissioners. (Marker Number 252.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 8, 1873.

Location. 44° 21.585′ N, 97° 7.743′ W. Marker is in Arlington, South Dakota, in Kingsbury County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 81 and East Birch Street, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 81. Located at the edge of Nordland Isle Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arlington SD 57212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, March 29, 2016

2. Kingsbury County South Dakota Marker

Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brookings County (here, next to this marker); Arlington Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Lake Whitewood Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away); Sutton Home Site (approx. 8.7 miles away); Hessel and Charlotte Houtman Family Farm (approx. 8.9 miles away); Legend of the Separation of the Lakes (approx. 9.1 miles away); Ash, Ponderosa Pine (approx. 9.1 miles away); Milkweed (approx. 9.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 1,145 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on August 17, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2016, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.