De Smet, SD

Quick City Facts

County: Kingsbury
Population (2019): 1,052
Population (2010): 1,089

Data provided by US Census Bureau (2019)

Famous for being home to the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead, De Smet, South Dakota is a small town with a big history, and is truly the little town on the prairie.

History

De Smet was settled in 1879, when the railroad was constructed through the state.  The town was named after Pierre-Jean de Smet, who was a Belgian missionary to the Native Americans in the area.  The town of De Smet was originally developed as a center for dairying, and today has an economy based on agriculture.

Recreation/Community Events

De Smet is most popularly known as the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, a legacy much celebrated by the town and its inhabitants.   Each summer De Smet celebrates Wilder and her life through a multitude of activities and events.

Tours are offered of the Ingalls homestead, and each summer a pageant is held, depicting the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family.  Covered wagon rides, an 1880’s school session, Ma’s Little house, a Prairie Exhibit, and more are all built around the family’s life in the town of De Smet.

Lake Thompson, also prominently featured in the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, provides four season’s worth of recreation in De Smet.  Snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and fishing are all popular on the lake.  Lake Thompson features a recreation area with camping and a group rental lodge.

Contact Information

  • De Smet City Hall
  • 218 Calumet Ave. SE, De Smet, SD 57231
  • (Toll Free) 1-866-528-7273
  • desmetcity@mchsi.com
  • http://desmetsd.com/

Popular Attractions

Wine Time on Main

Wine Time on Main

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Cottonwood Bistro

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Frontier Photo

Frontier Photo

Custer

Flow and Paddle

Flow and Paddle

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Minervas Restaurant & Bar

Minervas Restaurant & Bar

Watertown

Corn Maze at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park

Corn Maze at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park

Brandon

Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse

Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse

Pierre

Sabor a Mexico

Sabor a Mexico

Rapid City

Tatanka: Story of the Bison

Tatanka: Story of the Bison

Deadwood

I-90 Speedway

I-90 Speedway

Hartford

Morrie’s Steakhouse

Morrie’s Steakhouse

Sioux Falls

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

Spearfish

Hartford Steak Co. Tavern

Hartford Steak Co. Tavern

Hartford

Richie Z’s Brickhouse BBQ & Grill

Richie Z’s Brickhouse BBQ & Grill

Pierre

Nick’s Hamburger Shop

Nick’s Hamburger Shop

Brookings

Keystone Historical Museum

Keystone Historical Museum

Keystone

Strawbale Winery

Strawbale Winery

Renner

H&S BBQ N More

H&S BBQ N More

Elk Point

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.