Brookings, SD

Quick City Facts

County: Brookings
Population (2019): 24,415
Population (2010): 22,056

Data provided by US Census Bureau (2019)

The fifth largest city in South Dakota, Brookings had more than 18,000 registered residents as of the 2000 census. Named for Wilmot Wood Brookings, who supervised the building of a main roadway that traversed Brookings County, the city saw its first organized settlement, Medary, in 1857. The official city of Brookings was established near Medary to accommodate a central railroad path that would serve all of the existing communities. Today, the city functions as the official county seat.

Home to South Dakota State University, Brookings enjoys a rich academic culture. The college is the city’s second largest employer and is a major contributor to its economy. Two of the city’s main attractions, the McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum, are located on a 74-acre plot on the university’s campus. The site offers dozens of lush botanical gardens, prairie grassland, and a natural hedge maze.

The Swiftel Center serves as a multi-purpose civic and convention center, used for a variety of cultural events, entertainment performances, and business meetings in Brookings. The city’s Recreation Department provides a wide range of athletic and recreational pursuits for youths and adults, including baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, horseback riding, and cultural activities.

Art enthusiasts are serviced by four art galleries, including the South Dakota Art Museum and the Community Cultural Center. Early settlements and agricultural cultivation of the area are commemorated by such local museums as the Elkton Community Museum and the Mellette County Historical Society. A variety of local theatres, such as the Prairie Repertory Theater and the Brookings Community Theater, provide high-caliber dramatic productions throughout the year.

Downtown Brookings offers more than 150 unique dining, retail, and entertainment businesses. Avid shoppers will delight in the eclectic antiques, fine art, home furnishings, local jewelry, and literary offerings. Diverse dining establishments cater to a variety of tastes, including American, Chinese, Mexican, and Italian. Historical walking tours give visitors the opportunity to experience the rich heritage and architecture of downtown Brookings.

Popular Attractions

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

Hot Springs

Firehouse Brewing Company

Firehouse Brewing Company

Rapid City

Willa B’s Bistro & Emporium

Willa B’s Bistro & Emporium

Yankton

Buglin’ Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar

Buglin’ Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar

Custer

Sammy’s Restaurant & Omelette Shop

Sammy’s Restaurant & Omelette Shop

Aberdeen

Muddy Mo’s Coffee House

Muddy Mo’s Coffee House

Yankton

Mad Mary’s Steakhouse

Mad Mary’s Steakhouse

Flandreau

Oxbow Restaurant

Oxbow Restaurant

De Smet

The Mill Iron Coffee House

The Mill Iron Coffee House

Whitewood

The District

The District

Sioux Falls

Dacotah Prairie Museum

Dacotah Prairie Museum

Aberdeen

Broken Arrow Trading Company Inc.

Broken Arrow Trading Company Inc.

Hill City

Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC)

Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC)

Deadwood

Hilger’s Gulch

Hilger’s Gulch

Pierre

Bin 201

Bin 201

Sioux Falls

Terry Redlin Art Center

Terry Redlin Art Center

Watertown

Tri-State Museum

Tri-State Museum

Belle Fourche

Blue Bell Lodge

Blue Bell Lodge

Custer

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.