Winner in Tripp County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Tripp County Centennial

October 21, 2023

1. Tripp County Centennial Marker

Inscription.

Tripp County Centennial. . In 1873 the territorial legislature designated part of this area as Tripp County, in honor of the outstanding lawyer and territorial judge, Bartlett Tripp. The present boundaries of the county were adopted in 1907. After federal consultations with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Congress, as a part of a national program, passed the Tripp County Homestead Act in 1909. Governor Vessey issued the county election proclamation., Tripp County experienced heated political controversy over the location of the temporary county seat. Lamro, because of its central location, and Colome with its proximity to the railroad, battled for this temporary seat. In a county-wide election, Lamro was selected for the honor., An extension of the railroad later played a major role in the contest for the permanent county seat. The Western Townsite Company purchased a tract of land and negotiated with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad to route to this townsite (Winner). Following a bitter dispute, a second election was held declaring Winner the permanent county seat. That election night was one to be remembered. The people in Winner took teams and wagons to Lamro to get the records from the old courthouse. The Lamro people resisted and a "free for all" broke out. The records were fought for piece by piece and those not destroyed were moved to Winner. Even these records were soon destroyed in a fire in the temporary courthouse. After the dust settled and tempers cooled it was business as usual in Tripp County., Two subsequent events involving Tripp County received considerable attention. An attempt to place the county back within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation was rejected by the United States Supreme Court in 1977. The other issue was related to the fact that Tripp County provided governmental services to the unorganized county of Todd. Pursuant to state law after problems and court cases merging the counties, another state law was approved that restored each county to its status as an independent unit of local government., In addition to Colome and Winner, other active communities in Tripp County include Carter, Clearfield, Hamill, Ideal, Millboro, Keyapaha, Wewela and Witten., The population of Tripp County in the centennial year of 1989: 6,900 residents.

In 1873 the territorial legislature designated part of this area as Tripp County, in honor of the outstanding lawyer and territorial judge, Bartlett Tripp. The present boundaries of the county were adopted in 1907. After federal consultations with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Congress, as a part of a national program, passed the Tripp County Homestead Act in 1909. Governor Vessey issued the county election proclamation.

Tripp County experienced heated political controversy over the location of the temporary county seat. Lamro, because of its central location, and Colome with its proximity to the railroad, battled for this temporary seat. In a county-wide election, Lamro was selected for the honor.

An extension of the railroad later played a major role in the contest for the permanent county seat. The Western Townsite Company purchased a tract of land and negotiated with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad to route to this townsite (Winner). Following a bitter dispute, a second election was held declaring Winner the permanent county seat. That election night was one to be remembered. The people in Winner took teams and

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wagons to Lamro to get the records from the old courthouse. The Lamro people resisted and a "free for all" broke out. The records were fought for piece by piece and those not destroyed were moved to Winner. Even these records were soon destroyed in a fire in the temporary courthouse. After the dust settled and tempers cooled it was business as usual in Tripp County.

Two subsequent events involving Tripp County received considerable attention. An attempt to place the county back within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation was rejected by the United States Supreme Court in 1977. The other issue was related to the fact that Tripp County provided governmental services to the unorganized county of Todd. Pursuant to state law after problems and court cases merging the counties, another state law was approved that restored each county to its status as an independent unit of local government.

In addition to Colome and Winner, other active communities in Tripp County include Carter, Clearfield, Hamill, Ideal, Millboro, Keyapaha, Wewela and Witten.

The population of Tripp County in the centennial year of 1989: 6,900 residents.

Erected 1989

Tripp County Centennial Marker in Jubilee Park image. Click for full size.

October 21, 2023

2. Tripp County Centennial Marker in Jubilee Park

by the Tripp County Centennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 43° 21.825′ N, 99° 49.81′ W. Marker is in Winner, South Dakota, in Tripp County. It can be reached from the intersection of 317th Avenue and U.S. 18, on the right when traveling north. Located in Jubilee Park at the Tripp County Historical Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27856 317th Ave, Winner SD 57580, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

and in East River.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern 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 6 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tripp County Historicl Museum

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Winner Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Lakeview Methodist Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shorty McDonald Playground (approx. 1.3 miles away); Tripp County Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Tripp County World War I Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2023. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 23, 2023.