Codington County, Administrative county in South Dakota, United States.
Codington County is an administrative division in the northeastern corner of South Dakota, shaped by rolling terrain and a high number of lakes. The county seat is Watertown, the largest town in the area and a regional hub for surrounding communities.
The county was created in 1877 and named after Reverend George S. S. Codington, a legislator in the Dakota Territory. Settlement grew quickly in the following decades as European immigrants arrived to farm the land.
Many towns in Codington County hold yearly events tied to the pioneer past and the Scandinavian and German roots of early settlers. These gatherings are a regular part of local life and give visitors a chance to see traditions that have been passed down over generations.
Watertown serves as the best base for visiting the county, with most services and road connections concentrated there. Those planning to visit the lakes should keep in mind that many are located off the main roads, so a local map or navigation app is helpful.
The county sits on a glacially shaped landscape that left behind a dense scattering of shallow depressions, locally called potholes, which filled with water over time. These wetlands are a key stopping point for migratory birds traveling along one of North America's main flyways.
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