Sioux Empire Adventure - Elkton, SD
By Jessica Gunderson
A township in Brookings County, located just 20 minutes east of Brookings, Elkton is and is home to nearly 700 people in South Dakota.
E.D. Johnson was the first settler in the area in the spring of 1877. The railroad arrived in 1879, and named the newly discovered town, Ivanhoe. Not until July 21, 1882 was its name changed officially from Ivanhoe to Elkton. The name came from Elkton, Maryland, which was the early home of one of the railroad officials. Eventually, different businesses started to bloom into the town known today as Elkton.
Elkton celebrated its 125th anniversary on July 20, 2004 with an all-high school alumni reunion and a street dance. A progressive city with a peaceful and quiet small town environment, Elkton has a volunteer fire department and ambulance, many churches, civic organizations, and businesses to fulfill various needs.
Home of the Elkton Elks, the students strive to succeed at Elkton high school, which is strong academically and athletically.
Elkton is proud to have South Dakota's first combined school and community library, which was founded in 1984. It is even open to the public during school hours. Every year, annual events and activities occur at the library.
In April, the annual Jump-a-thon and Hoop shoot is held for children in grades one through six. They collect pledges to raise money for the library. Popcorn, hot dogs, chips and pop are enjoyed as well as a prize for each participant.
Each summer, the community library holds a summer reading program for children ages preschool through sixth grade. The program runs for five to six weeks and has a different theme each summer. The theme for the 2006 summer reading program is "Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales", which is about real and imaginary pets.
The Elkton Community Museum was founded in 1989, and is part of the lasting legacy of Elkton's South Dakota Centennial Celebration. The museum and historical society had its 16th anniversary May 15, 2005. The museum's collections include genealogical materials, agricultural tools, clothing, printed materials, business machines (including a German typewriter), and school exhibit and household items. There is also an exhibit of approximately 100 shoes… from ceramic to Eskimo. The purpose of the Elkton Community Museum is to collect and preserve local history in order to be a resource for the community.
Located in Elkton, SD, visitors can tour Buffalo Ridge Ranch, which is nestled between towering bluffs along Mississippi River. The ranch is made up of 160 acres and is a facility where owner Gary Lenz raises buffalo, longhorn cattle, and elk.
For those wanting to spend some quality family time outdoors, Shean Park offers playground equipment, picnic facilities, baseball and softball diamonds, and tennis and basketball courts,
For local lake fun, Elkton is only 12 and one half miles west of Hole in the Mountain Park, located in Lake Benton, Minnesota.
The Elkton Community Center is the place to go for most of the events happening in the area. Held there are dances, suppers, parties, and holiday services for anyone wanting to attend.
Elkton is a great city with a proud past and a promising future.
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By Jessica Gunderson
A township in Brookings County, located just 20 minutes east of Brookings, Elkton is and is home to nearly 700 people in South Dakota.
E.D. Johnson was the first settler in the area in the spring of 1877. The railroad arrived in 1879, and named the newly discovered town, Ivanhoe. Not until July 21, 1882 was its name changed officially from Ivanhoe to Elkton. The name came from Elkton, Maryland, which was the early home of one of the railroad officials. Eventually, different businesses started to bloom into the town known today as Elkton.
Elkton celebrated its 125th anniversary on July 20, 2004 with an all-high school alumni reunion and a street dance. A progressive city with a peaceful and quiet small town environment, Elkton has a volunteer fire department and ambulance, many churches, civic organizations, and businesses to fulfill various needs.
Home of the Elkton Elks, the students strive to succeed at Elkton high school, which is strong academically and athletically.
Elkton is proud to have South Dakota's first combined school and community library, which was founded in 1984. It is even open to the public during school hours. Every year, annual events and activities occur at the library.
In April, the annual Jump-a-thon and Hoop shoot is held for children in grades one through six. They collect pledges to raise money for the library. Popcorn, hot dogs, chips and pop are enjoyed as well as a prize for each participant.
Each summer, the community library holds a summer reading program for children ages preschool through sixth grade. The program runs for five to six weeks and has a different theme each summer. The theme for the 2006 summer reading program is "Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales", which is about real and imaginary pets.
The Elkton Community Museum was founded in 1989, and is part of the lasting legacy of Elkton's South Dakota Centennial Celebration. The museum and historical society had its 16th anniversary May 15, 2005. The museum's collections include genealogical materials, agricultural tools, clothing, printed materials, business machines (including a German typewriter), and school exhibit and household items. There is also an exhibit of approximately 100 shoes… from ceramic to Eskimo. The purpose of the Elkton Community Museum is to collect and preserve local history in order to be a resource for the community.
Located in Elkton, SD, visitors can tour Buffalo Ridge Ranch, which is nestled between towering bluffs along Mississippi River. The ranch is made up of 160 acres and is a facility where owner Gary Lenz raises buffalo, longhorn cattle, and elk.
For those wanting to spend some quality family time outdoors, Shean Park offers playground equipment, picnic facilities, baseball and softball diamonds, and tennis and basketball courts,
For local lake fun, Elkton is only 12 and one half miles west of Hole in the Mountain Park, located in Lake Benton, Minnesota.
The Elkton Community Center is the place to go for most of the events happening in the area. Held there are dances, suppers, parties, and holiday services for anyone wanting to attend.
Elkton is a great city with a proud past and a promising future.
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