Brookings, South Dakota

Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fifth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 18,504 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher education in the state. The mayor is Scott Munsterman.

History

The town is named for Wilmot Wood Brookings who was part of the Western Town Company, and oversaw construction of a road running from the Minnesota border, through present-day Brookings County, to the shores of the Missouri River.

Medary, the first substantive settlement constructed in the area, was organized in 1857. The location was among the first three non-in Dakota Territory. The City of Brookings formed just over four miles north of the Medary settlement when the railroad bypassed the existing townships (Medary, Oakwood, and Fountain), favoring a path between them as a compromise.

Employment

Major employers include (estimated employment):

• Daktronics, Inc.: 3,200, manufacturer of electronic signage
• South Dakota State University: 1,650
• 3M: 800, medical division, manufacturer of medical supplies
• Larson Manufacturing: 725, storm door manufacturer
• Rainbow Play Systems: 500, manufacturer of residential play equipment
• Brookings Hospital: 400

The unemployment rate in Brookings is 3.1 percent, with a projected ten-year job growth of 20.6 percent.

Geography

Brookings is located at (44.306253, -96.788105).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²), of which, 11.9 square miles (30.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.58%) is water.

Brookings has been assigned the ZIP code range 57006-57007 and the FIPS place code 07580.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,504 people, 6,971 households, and 3,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.7 people per square mile (598.4/km²). There were 7,359 housing units at an average density of 616.3/sq mi (238.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.49% White, 0.44% African American, 0.99% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 6,971 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.9% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 36.6% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 14.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,266, and the median income for a family was $49,246. Males had a median income of $31,276 versus $22,763 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,028. About 7.3% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads

Brookings is served by Interstate 29 (north-south) and U.S. Route 14 (east-west).

Airport

Brookings Regional Airport no longer offers commercial flights. Watertown, SD, Huron, SD, and Sioux Falls are the nearest cities offering air transportation.

Unique aspects

The City of Brookings owns nearly all city services and utilities including:

• Liquor store
• Garbage service
• Water/wastewater
• Hospital
• Local telephone service
• Electricity
• Landfill
• Golf course
• Brookings Area Multiplex civic and convention center (recently renamed Swiftel Center)

In addition, the city-owned telephone company, Swiftel, operates as a Sprint PCS affiliate, providing mobile telephone service to much of the Interstate 29 corridor, running from the Iowa/Nebraska border, north to Watertown. Cable TV is not provided by the city, however. The franchise holder is Mediacom.

The city has 33 places of worship, 19 ballfields, two public swimming pools, five movie screens, one daily newspaper (The Brookings Register), five commercial radio stations and one public station. In 2000, the assessed city value was $467,255,920.

On October 7, 2005, Brookings was featured on the reality-TV show Three Wishes.

Points of interest

• McCrory Gardens and South Dakota Arboretum

References

External links

• City of Brookings
• BrookingsSD.com community portal
• Brookings Register - local newspaper
• Brookings Radio - local broadcast media
• South Dakota State University website