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De Smet, SD

View of De Smet, SD
Image credit: Ross Griff / CC BY 2.0
Population
1,032
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
1,718 ft
Median Home Value
$165,200
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$708/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$67,321
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
General Quality
Overall rating out of 100

Highlights

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OverallBest places in South DakotaPopulation rankingHighest population places in South DakotaNearest larger communityHuron, South Dakota33 miles away · 14,607 residents.

About De Smet

De Smet is a quiet, welcoming small town in eastern South Dakota with around 1,000 residents. As the seat of Kingsbury County, it offers a relaxed, easygoing pace of life surrounded by open prairie. Great fishing, camping, and boating spots like Lake Thompson are just down the road, while the town itself covers the essentials with local schools, a medical clinic, and independent businesses along Main Street.

Former first congregational church building de smet sd

Most people recognize De Smet as the real-life setting for several of Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic books. Historic homesteads and an annual summer pageant celebrate that frontier heritage, drawing visitors from all over. Day to day, it remains a close-knit agricultural community where neighbors know one another. For anyone looking for wide-open spaces and a slower pace, De Smet delivers authentic small-town living.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Lower County Wildfire Hazard Potential ClassA+100.0ratingLower FEMA County Hurricane Risk IndexA+100.0ratingLower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+100.0rating

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