Alcester, SD

Quick City Facts

County: Union
Population (2019): 755
Population (2010): 807

Data provided by US Census Bureau (2019)

A genuine Small Town Treasure nestled in the rolling hills of Union County South Dakota is the little city of Alcester. Only 40 minutes from either Sioux Falls, South Dakota or Sioux City, Iowa, Alcester offers a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. TheAlcester community is proud of its school system and the high standards it maintains. The school has produced outstanding livestock judging teams winning national honors; the school paper Dakota, now called Bear Facts, has won many yearly top ratings as well as the school annual Cubette; top honors in music events, as well as sporting events and the list goes on. The school has produced its share of impact in the world of today as its graduates have gone on to become outstanding educators, professors, doctors. editors, authors, artists, nuclear scientists and more.

History

In the late eighteen hundreds the town of Alcester was located on the west edge of the Finn School District. For the first seven years of the town’s existence, Alcester’s children went to the Finn School. When conditions became crowded there, a private school was started in Alcester. Miss Minnie Catlin conducted this school during the winter of 1888-1889 in the home of A.S. Disbrow, who provided most of the financial support. In 1889-90, the enrollment had increased so greatly that the school was moved to the Congregational Church and it was under the supervision of Mrs. Kate Amey. The citizens of Alcester saw the need for building a schoolhouse, consequently, the necessary steps were taken to organize the Alcester School District No.76. The new school house was built in 1890 at a cost of $1,223.15, at a site where the home of Albert Muller now stands.

Will Chamberlain, who has since achieved fame as a poet, writer, and newspaper columnist, was the first teacher. The enrollment continued to grow rapidly and in 1893 another room was added. The ninth grade was included in the 1896-97 school year. In 1947 the school district rebuilt some barracks, which had been secured from the Sioux Falls Air Base for a Vocational Agricultural building. Tax-wise the Alcester district became rated as one of the best in the state. In early 1969, the Alcester Independent District No. 176 was reorganized. With more elementary pupils coming to Alcester space was definitely needed. To alleviate this condition temporarily, two houses without the inside wall partitions were constructed just north of the present high school building. These were used until the new elementary school with its attached auditorium was built. One of the houses was then sold and moved off to become Mac Kratochvil’s home, the other continues being used for school purposes.

Contact Information

  • City of Alcester, 106 West 2nd, Alcester, SD 57001
  • (605)934-2851
  • alcestercity@iw.net

Popular Attractions

Belle Fourche Country Club

Belle Fourche Country Club

Belle Fourche

Karttrax Family Fun Park

Karttrax Family Fun Park

Yankton

Holy Terror Mini Golf

Holy Terror Mini Golf

Keystone

Howard Johnson Inn & Suites

Howard Johnson Inn & Suites

Rapid City

Riverview Christmas Tree Farm

Riverview Christmas Tree Farm

Canton

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurante

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurante

Huron

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Lead

Vinyl Social Club

Vinyl Social Club

Sioux Falls

Black Steer

Black Steer

Yankton

Levitt at the Falls

Levitt at the Falls

Sioux Falls

Black Hills Contraband Distillery

Black Hills Contraband Distillery

Rapid City

Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort

Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort

Deadwood

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Menno

Hills Inn

Hills Inn

Hot Springs

Termesphere Gallery

Termesphere Gallery

Spearfish

Greatest Show on H20 at Catfish Bay

Greatest Show on H20 at Catfish Bay

Sioux Falls

RedRossa Napoli Pizza

RedRossa Napoli Pizza

Sioux Falls

Sioux Pottery

Sioux Pottery

Rapid City

Great Faces. Great Places.

South Dakota is an incredibly unique state in that each region offers a completely different experience then the others. Check out each of the regions to see what each has to offer!

Badlands

Western South Dakota

Featuring the Black Hills, Badlands, the Sturgis Rally. This region tends to be the most popular.

CENTRAL REGION

This region of South Dakota offers some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire central US. 

Eastern Region

The eastern region is home to the largest city in the state and provides visitors with a true "prairie" experience.