De Smet

De Smet is the county seat in Kingsbury County, South Dakota, serving as a small administrative and commercial center for the surrounding region. The town displays a mix of buildings spanning from its early years through the 1900s, creating a landscape that reflects rural settlement patterns from that era.

The town was founded in 1880 and named after Belgian Jesuit missionary Father Pierre De Smet, whose work influenced settlements across the western frontier. By the early 1900s, the location grew from scattered farms into an important commercial and trading center for the region.

The town maintains a strong connection to Laura Ingalls Wilder's literary legacy through preserved buildings featured in her famous novels. Visitors can walk through locations mentioned in her stories and see where significant moments from her books took place.

The town is easily accessible via U.S. Route 14 and South Dakota Highway 25, which connect it well to surrounding areas and larger towns. A small airport serves the area from the north, providing a local option for air travel if needed.

The area experiences extreme swings between hot summers and brutally cold winters, with temperature records spanning from well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38°C) to far below zero. These harsh conditions shaped both the landscape and the character of people who settled this region.

Location: Kingsbury County

Inception: 1880

Elevation above the sea: 526 m

Website: http://desmetsd.com

GPS coordinates: 44.38583,-97.55167

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:19