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History · Dell Rapids Township

Dell Rapids Township dates to 1871, and 1 of its places is on the National Register

Most of Dell Rapids Township was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2001. 1 place in town is on the National Register, among them a historic district with 7 buildings. Below: maps from 1962 on and the census since 1880.

1871founded
1on the National Register
4%homes built before 1940
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Photo: AlexiusHoratius · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers

How Dell Rapids Township began

When was Dell Rapids Township founded?

1871

Dell Rapids Township dates its founding to 1871 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 260 in 18802020 census: 567155 years
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓

What stands out about Dell Rapids Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Dell Rapids Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Dell Rapids Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Dell Rapids Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Dell Rapids Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Dell Rapids Township.

Read it all →

Dell Rapids was originally named Dell City, but was renamed after the rapids of the Big Sioux River. After a fire broke out on the main street and burned most of the town, it was rebuilt out of Sioux Quartzite, a common rock in the area. The Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railroad built a railroad into the area, reaching Dell Rapids from Egan in 1881. Two large Sioux Quartzite quarries owned by LG Everist are operated via this rail line, which is now operated by LG's subsidiary, the D&I Railroad. The community celebrates its heritage with the annual "Quarry Days" in July, and in June, the city hosts "Cootie Days", where rides and games are set up and available in the city's park.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Dell Rapids Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
2010 Census Urban Cluster Reference Map for Dell Rapids, South Dakota20102010 Census Urban Cluster Reference Map for Dell Rapi…BookPink quartzite - Pink quartzite from Dell Rapids2001Pink quartzite - Pink quartzite from Dell Rapids
On the map

Dell Rapids Township on the map, 1962 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Dell Rapids Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Dell Rapids Township on the 1962 USGS mapDell Rapids Township on the 1980 USGS map1962Dell Rapids sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Dell Rapids Township.

On the National Register

1 listing protects 7 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
7
each building in a district counts
first listed
1999
Thompson Farmstead
Thompson Farmstead
Districts

Architectural styles listings

Queen Anne1
Wisconsin Dairy Barn1
All 1 listings
Thompson FarmsteadDistrict · listed 1999

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Dell Rapids Township, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,000188019001920194019601980200020203,996

Grew from 260 people in 1880 to 3,996 in 2020, more than tenfold.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Dell Rapids Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Old burying grounds

3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Dell Rapids Township
Dell Rapids - Saint Mary's CatholicSaint OlafStordahl

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

BalticIts storyC−Dell Rapids13 historic placesA−Enterprise Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townSverdrup Township4 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBurk Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLogan TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Dell Rapids Township’s history

What year was Dell Rapids Township founded?

In 1871, according to Wikidata. the census of 1880 counted 260 people here.

What is on the National Register in Dell Rapids Township?

One place: the Thompson Farmstead (listed 1999).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.