Largest City:
Milbank

County Seat:
Milbank

Population: 7,598

Founded: 1873

Home to the towns of Milbank, Big Stone City, Stockholm, La Bolt, and Revillo, Grant County was founded in 1873. The railroad played a huge role in the history of the county and the towns within it. Grant County is also known for its granite, as it has some of the best granite deposits in the world. Due to the quality of granite, a number of quarries call Grant County home. Grant County today also is an important energy producer, as the home to Northern Light Ethanol and Big Stone Power Plant.

The Grant County Review has chronicled the history of the county from the difficult times that challenged the early settlers through coverage of its many successes. This newspaper continues to faithfully serve the county after 125 years.

As with many towns in the area, Milbank traces its roots back to the expansion of railroad lines into eastern South Dakota. When the Milwaukee Railroad line was extended to the present site of Milbank in 1880, all that marked the town in the middle of the prairie was a solitary sod shanty. Despite an extremely harsh winter, settlers demonstrated a resilience that would characterize many residents of Milbank in years to come, building the town of Milbank that now boasts nearly 3,500 citizens.

Milbank is also the site where the American Legion founded Legion Junior Baseball in 1925. Legion Junior Baseball has helped kids all over our country learn the game of baseball and the important life lessons it teaches. Legion Junior Baseball is a league with players under 17. Many former players have gone on to major league fame, including Joe Morgan, Reggie Jackson, and Ted Williams. Milbank is also home to the famous Grist Mill, which was built in 1882 by Henry Hollands to grind grain and saw wood. It is a beautiful English style mill that is of great historical importance.

Big Stone City started off as a trading post. Like many places in South Dakota, it was an important part of the fur trade in the 1800s. Big Stone City derives its name from the many granite deposits in that area. It is also home to the important Northern Light Ethanol plant.

Other communities in Grant County include Stockholm, La Bolt, and Revillo. Much of Grant County is rural and carries on the proud tradition of farming.

Tim's Work for Grant County

As South Dakota's senior Senator, Tim Johnson is well-positioned to secure federal funding for projects that are important to the people of Grant County and to all of South Dakota. He has used his seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for programs that directly impact the lives of people in Grant County.

The Northern Light Ethanol Plant

Tim is extremely optimistic about the future of South Dakota energy production and is pleased that Congress passed an Energy Bill that has a direct impact on our state by promoting ethanol, biodiesel, and wind power. The Northern Light Ethanol plant complements Grant County's agricultural heritage. Combined with the Big Stone Power Plant, these facilities make Grant County a key energy producer for our entire region.

Tim is an avid supporter of ethanol and helped secure a robust 7.5 billion gallon Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the Energy Bill. Renewable fuels will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, help ease increasing gasoline prices, and provide another market for South Dakota's agricultural products. In addition, ethanol plants like Northern Light Ethanol provide significant economic benefits to their communities and to South Dakota as a whole. According to a recent economic impact study from the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, the total economic activity created by the production of ethanol exceeds $1 billion.

St. Bernard's Providence Hospital

In 2001, Tim Johnson was proud to use his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to help secure nearly $1 million in federal funding to aid the community's purchase of St. Bernard's hospital. Ensuring that South Dakota's rural communities have access to quality health care is a top priority, and Tim is pleased that the hospital will continue to serve the community.

This success represents Tim's continuing commitment to use federal resources in assisting our local communities. Investing in the public good is a key component of Tim's Hometown Prosperity Plan, which is dedicated to improving economies throughout South Dakota. Local hospitals are vital for the success and growth of South Dakota towns.

Working with Local Leaders to Prevent Meth

Earlier this year, Tim held a roundtable with the Meth Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota (MAPP-SD) in Milbank. MAPP-SD has developed several innovative approaches in their efforts including outreach to schools and training programs for law enforcement, teachers, apartment managers, and retailers on the role each group can play in the battle against meth. The group has even taken out advertisements in hunting publications instructing hunters what to look for and do if they encounter a meth lab in the woods. Tim commended the group for their efforts.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations committee and as a member of the Senate Anti-Meth Caucus, Tim worked to secure a total of $250,000 for MAPP-SD in the Commerce-Justice-Science 2006 Appropriations Bill. Tim remains committed to seeking increased federal funding for law enforcement and drug treatment and prevention programs, along with doing his part in the local, state, federal, and tribal partnership that is emerging to address this critical issue.

Big Sioux River Flood Control

Tim helped secure $1.5 million to help control flooding and protect the lands and homes of families who live along the Big Sioux River. Last year, Tim helped secure $6 million for the project.

Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Project

The Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Project received $650,000 in 2005. Funding will be used to protect tallgrass prairie areas. At one time, the tallgrass prairie that included the easternmost counties of North Dakota and South Dakota was the largest grassland on earth; however only about 10% of it remains today. This project preserves native grasslands, including the historic habitat and rare species found in such areas, by purchasing perpetual easements from willing sellers. The easements prevent the plowing or cultivation of such lands, but the landowner is free to hay the grasslands or allow livestock to graze on the land. Tim worked to secure $500,000 in fiscal year 2006.