Senator Tim Johnson | Working for South Dakota

Kingsbury County South Dakota

Month: November 2009

County Name: Kingsbury

Largest City: De Smet

County Seat: De Smet

Population: 5,815

Organized: 1879

Kingsbury County was named for George W. Kingsbury, a South Dakota writer and historian. Forty years of Kingsbury's printing and publishing contributions for the area influenced officials to name the county in his honor. The county was organized on December 15, 1879 by Governor Howard.

In 1880 the census reported only twelve existing farms in the county. The land was an attractive investment that provided farmers with economic security and independence. The area became popular and a decade later, twelve farms grew into 1,761 farms within the county, creating a stable and pleasant community. The most recent census lists 599 farms in the county with a larger average size of 866 acres.
Kingsbury County maintains its rich background with several historical sites, including Buffalo Wallows, Indian Mounds Monument, Swett's Grove, and Laura Ingalls Wilder's homestead. Residents of Kingsbury have kept up with traditions including the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant, which began in 1971 in remembrance of the author of Little House on the Prairie and subsequent books.
The county seat, De Smet, was Wilder's childhood home and inspired her to write the stories, which detail the adventures of a pioneer schoolgirl. The book has given De Smet its nickname, The Little Town on the Prairie, and has also helped bring tourists to the county, where visitors and community members alike celebrate the tales that Wilder described in her books.
While agriculture is the largest industry in the county, tourism comes in second. Kingsbury County's 834 square miles offers many exciting recreational and outdoor activities to its residents and visitors. Kingsbury County is home to Lake Thompson, where fishing can be enjoyed year round. The Lake Thompson Recreation Area is also a favorite of duck and goose hunters.

Tim's Accomplishments in Kingsbury County

Funding for De Smet's Wilder Airport
In May 2009, Tim announced that De Smet's Wilder Airport would receive a $350,000 grant from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program. The funding was used to install perimeter fencing. In May of 2007, Tim announced that the airport would receive $50,000 for improvements.

Funding Sioux Valley Energy Smart Grid
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $9.5 million in funding that will be used to install a smart grid network across Sioux Valley Energy's entire customer base, a project that will involve 23,000 smart meters. These meters allow for automated electricity readings and additional monitoring of the system in the event of outages or service disruptions. Kingsbury County is within the service area of Sioux Valley Energy.

Helping to Fund the De Smet Housing Redevelopment Commission
The Capital Fund Formula Program of 2009, part of the Recovery Act, provided $49,900 for the De Smet Housing Redevelopment Commission. The organization will use this funding to make improvements and create jobs.

Continuing Funding for Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Project Conservation Easements
Tim announced earlier this year that an additional $1 million in funding will be directed toward protecting native prairie land in eastern South Dakota from the 2010 Interior Appropriations bill. Conversion of prairie land to cropland threatens to eliminate tallgrass prairie lands from the landscape of the Dakotas. This funding will reduce the current backlog of willing sellers who wish to enroll their lands in conservation easements offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To date, the Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Project has successfully completed 175 contracts for prairie habitat in Eastern South Dakota, involving more than 56,000 acres.

Expanding Weather Radio Coverage
Iroquois became the first all-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio city in the United States in 2000. Following the devastating Spencer tornado that year, Iroquois' mayor and town council purchased NOAA weather radios for the city's schools, churches, businesses and homes instead of upgrading the town's old siren system. Tim was a longtime supporter and proponent of weather radios and worked diligently to expand weather radio coverage throughout our state.

Tim Supports Inter-Lakes Community Action
In February 2007, Tim announced that Inter-Lakes Community Action Program would receive a $171,750 grant from USDA Rural Development to help low-income families find affordable housing.

Supporting the Harvey Dunn Grassland Preservation Project
In September 2008, Tim announced that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission had approved a $1 million grant to support the Harvey Dunn Grassland Preservation Project. The project protects tallgrass prairie lands on the Harvey Dunn homestead and surrounding areas that extend into Brookings and Kingsbury Counties.

Tim Supports Local Fire Departments
In August 2008, Tim announced that Arlington Volunteer Fire Department would receive a $48,070 grant, from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program funds were used to improve the safety of firefighters.

In January 2003, Tim announced that Lake Preston Volunteer Fire Department would receive a $24,462 FEMA Fire Grant. The funding was used to enhance firefighter safety. In August, Lake Preston Volunteer Fire Department received an additional $27,918 grant under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which was used to purchase bunker gear, breathing apparatus equipment, and other equipment to improve firefighter safety.

In July 2003, Tim announced that Oldham Fire Department would receive a $27,144 grant to improve personnel safety through training and equipment.

Preserving History
In December 2008, Tim announced that the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society would receive a $4,557 grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities for the First School of De Smet Blackboard Preservation project.

Improving Water Infrastructure
Tim secured $100,000 from VA/HUD Appropriations to support improvements for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in 2004. As the community continues to grow, additional property is necessary for the development of industrial property and residential areas.