BlockFrom the record
27 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Lincoln County, South Dakota
21 topographic sheets cover 11 settlements here, and 27 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 108 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 27 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 24 buildings, 1 site, 1 district and 1 structure.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 11 populated places in this county; 11 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
27Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
Wildfire, 1998 to 2020
473 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 473 of them, burning about 7,618 acres. 5 started naturally and 16 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 246 |
| Debris and open burning | 138 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 26 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 16 |
| Smoking | 11 |
| Fireworks | 9 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 7 |
| Other causes | 6 |
| Natural | 5 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 March 2000 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2,000 acres | Fairview Volunteer Fire Department | SIMUNCK SDGFP |
| 14 April 1999 | Debris and open burning | 1,400 acres | McLaughlin Volunteer Fire Department | GRASS 25 |
| 30 March 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1,200 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | HEIKES |
| 17 March 2000 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 200 acres | Canton Volunteer Fire Department | FAIRVIEW |
| 19 September 2012 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 160 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | CORN FIELD FIRE |
| 19 October 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 130 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | BELLE |
| 21 March 2009 | Debris and open burning | 100 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | not named |
| 12 April 2003 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 100 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | LAAMMERS |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1954 to 2026
60 of 591 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 591 reports for this county, causing 3 deaths, 17 injuries and about $67,311,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 201 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 195 |
| Flood | 87 |
| Tornado | 59 |
| Flash Flood | 36 |
| Lightning | 8 |
| Heavy Rain | 3 |
| Funnel Cloud | 2 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1970 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 killed, 1 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2024 | Flood | Beresford | 1 killed, $12,000,000 | Rainfall amounts across Lincoln County from June 20-22 ranged from 6 to 14 inches with at least two locations reporting amounts in excess of 17 inches. Widespread overland flooding ensued with additional record flooding along the Big Sioux River. ||County first responders were active 24/7 from June 20 to June 24 with 22 water rescues. No homes were destroyed, but hundreds succumbed to water, sewage, or both in their basements and one business in Canton suffered major flood damage. Interstate 29 was closed during peak flooding from June 21 to June 22 with water over the roadway. An estimated 12 million dollars in damage was done to roads, bridges, and culverts across the county. ||One direct fatality occurred when a man driving a utility task vehicle (UTV) was ejected after attempting to turn around on a road with a washed out shoulder. The man fell down a steep embankment and drowned in flood waters along the road.||The majority of overland flooding subsided by June 25, but river flooding continued through the end of the month. For additional information on river flooding, please see other flood entries for Lincoln County. |
| June 1965 | Tornado | not stated | 1 killed | no account filed |
| September 2019 | Tornado (EF2) | Tea | 8 hurt, $6,800,000 | A tornado touched down around one quarter mile east of the intersection of Interstates 29 and 229, near the intersection of 69th Street and Tallgrass Avenue. The tornado tracked east-northeast for a quarter mile before it struck a building under construction, causing extensive damage to concrete and metal framing, and tossed a construction truck 200 yards into a tree. The tornado then damaged the Avera Heart and Behavioral Hospital Complex, where cars were displaced up to 100 feet and most windows were broken along with roof and facade damage to the hospital buildings. Eight people were injured by flying glass on the hospital complex. The tornado lifted about 400 yards to the east of the hospital. Average path width was estimated at 40 yards. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| June 1969 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 4 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tea | 1 hurt, $500,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread and severe tree, power line, and crop damage. The damage to power lines included several large transmission circuit structures one mile south of Tea being blown down along a half mile stretch. A resulting power outage lasted up to 4 hours and affected about 4,000 electrical customers. The tree damage included at least 3 trees, each 2 feet in diameter, being broken off 2 to 3 feet above the ground. One man's arm was broken when the winds tossed him and a garage door. The winds tore the roof off a paving business, destroyed several small sheds, and damaged several residential gardens. Several homes suffered minor roof and siding damage, some directly from the wind, and others from tree debris. The winds caused a semi truck to veer out of its lane and sideswipe a car on Interstate 29, after which the semi overturned. Several roads were blocked by tree debris. |
| May 1993 | Tornado (F2) | Beresford | 1 hurt, $500,000 | A tornado tracked north at 20 mph near Interstate 29 destroying at least one farmyard and tossing vehicles. At 315 PM CDT the tornado ripped through a farmyard seven miles north of Beresford destroying a large barn, silo, and numerous outbuildings, and killing 15 hogs. Also lost were 40 tons of hay and 1200 bales of straw. The owner of the farm was driving a tractor when one of at least two tornadoes dipped down, overturning the 11,000 lb. tractor and loader. At 320 PM CDT a tornado blew a 34,000 lb. semi-truck, a utility truck, and two cars off an Interstate 29 exit ramp while their drivers huddled on an embankment waiting for the tornado to pass. After the storm passed the cars rested unharmed in the ditch, but the trucks were both overturned and blown 70 feet from the exit ramp, causing extensive damage to the trucks. The semi was estimated to be a total loss. A young boy was injured when he was struck by a car on Interstate 29 while seeking shelter under an overpass. In addition, funnel clouds were reported as far north as the Lincoln County border near Sioux Falls. |
| June 1972 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500 | no account filed |
| June 1968 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| March 2019 | Flood | Beresford | $3,100,000 | A majority of county and township roads were inundated by water. Especially hard hit were gravel roads just south of Sioux Falls. Highway 11 around 2 miles southeast of Harrisburg was inundated with water for several hours. The property damage costs include estimates for public property losses. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lennox | $3,000,000 | Most of the rubber roof liner on the section of Lennox High School with the band and shop classrooms was removed by thunderstorm winds. Interior ceilings and equipment incurred water damage. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| April 1986 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Sioux Falls | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Sioux Falls | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Flood | Tea | $1,500,000 | Persistent moderate to heavy rain caused flooding of fields and other lowlands, including several roads, homes, and businesses. This flooding lasted for almost two days, and was aggravated locally by additional storms during that time. Many roads throughout the county were damaged or washed out. |
| September 2019 | Tornado (EF2) | Sioux Falls | $1,200,000 | Initial damage to a few power poles occurred as the tornado touched down at the intersection of 85th Street and Western Avenue in far southern portions of the Sioux Falls metro area. The tornado tracked northeast for a quarter mile causing tree damage in a residential area before turning more northerly. The tornadic path was evident by scouring vegetation while moving through a wetland area, tossing a trampoline, and causing tree damage to adjacent residences. As the tornado entered a residential area on the north end of the wetlands, more significant damage occurred to several single family residences, with loss of significant sections of roofs and walls, as well as numerous uprooted large trees. At this point, the tornado turned northeast for the last quarter mile of its path, moving along La Quinta Street. Two homes incurred more substantial damage with loss of exterior walls. The tornado lifted before reaching Venita Avenue. Average path width was estimated at 40 yards. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Canton | $1,000,000 | Heavy rain caused flash flooding of numerous roads, including U.S. Highway 18 west of Canton. Damage was reported to main roads and some secondary roads were washed out. Fields, ditches, and some homes were flooded. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tea | $1,000,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed 70 feet of scaffolding at a Lewis and Clark regional water project. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Beresford | $1,000,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including large trees blown down and stripped of bark. There was damage to several homes and other buildings directly from the wind, and from falling trees and tree debris. Sheet metal and an air conditioning unit were blown off the roof of a building under construction. Several vehicles were also damaged by tree debris. One large fallen tree blocked highway 77 one mile north of Beresford. At least two machine sheds and several outbuildings about two miles northeast of Beresford were destroyed, although two vehicles inside one of the machine sheds were undamaged. Power lines and poles were downed, resulting in power outages that affected all of Beresford. Some places did not regain power until late the next day. |
| June 2014 | Flood | Sioux Falls | $500,000 | Repeated heavy rains caused major flooding of the Big Sioux River. Farmland and other lowlands including numerous roads were flooded, especially along the river in southeastern Lincoln County. Some roads were damaged, and some secondary roads were washed out. A few farm homes, other farm buildings, and some fences were damaged by floodwaters. |
| June 2004 | Flash Flood | Sioux Falls | $500,000 | Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches flooded several roads, yards, and other low areas. Basement flooding was reported in southern sections of Sioux Falls with damage to carpets, furniture, and other contents. |
| July 2001 | Tornado (F1) | Lennox | $400,000 | A tornado damaged homes, public buildings, trees, and power lines. The American Legion building had its entire front facade ripped off, and its windows shattered. Several vehicles near the building sustained major damage from flying debris, and one was lifted and dropped partly onto another vehicle. Damage to homes included holes in permanent siding, several roofs heavily damaged, windows broken, fences blown down, garages damaged including at least one totally destroyed. Damage to public buildings included the pump house at the water tower being destroyed, the roof at the water plant was damaged, flag poles next to the ambulance building were broken, and an overhead door at the fire station was torn off. A fire truck at the fire station was damaged, and the station's window air conditioner was blown out along with some ceiling tiles inside. Power was lost to much of the city for at least an hour and a half because of the downed power lines. |
| May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Worthing | $250,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage on a new car lot by blasting vehicles with sand and dust, breaking glass and destroying finishes. The winds also caused tree damage and minor building damage. |
| April 1986 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Flash Flood | North Portion | $200,000 | Heavy rainfall of 3 to 5 inches caused flooding of basements which resulted in damage to property in the basements, mainly in the southwestern part of Sioux Falls. Some apartments and duplexes were also flooded on the lower levels. Damage included waterlogged carpets, furniture, and clothing. Elsewhere over the northern part of the county, roads and fields were flooded. The field flooding was expected to result in damage to crops, but the amount of crops damage could not be determined. |
| June 2003 | Tornado (F1) | Beresford | $200,000 | A tornado damaged farm buildings, including a farm house heavily damaged and moved four feet off its foundation. Power lines were also blown down. The tornado crossed from Lincoln County into Turner County. |
| March 2019 | Flood | Sioux Falls | $100,000 | Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.74 inches at Hartford, 2.25 inches at Colton, and 2.49 inches at Sioux Falls) resulted in extensive flooding of the Sioux Falls park system near the natural channel of the Big Sioux River around the southern side of Sioux Falls. Water, and the broken ice cover from the river system, caused extensive damage to city property with numerous bridges and buildings completely destroyed, equipment damaged, and miles of bike trail washed out. Around 80 homes were inundated by floodwater with evacuation of 17 residents and their pets, as water reached the highest levels since construction of the homes. Water filled the tunnel on 57th Street under Interstate 229, flowed onto several portions of Interstate 229, and over 26th Street east of Interstate 229 and Cliff Avenue south of I-229. The Big Sioux River at Western Avenue (gage site WAVS2) reached the highest stage on record cresting 9.15 feet above flood stage on March 14. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Lennox Skie Arpt | $100,000 | Excessive rainfall from September 10-12 in upper portions of the Vermillion River Basin (6.78 inches 2 miles east of Montrose, 5.63 inches at Montrose) resulted in the fourth highest crest on record at Davis (gage site DVSS2) of 4.65 feet above flood stage on September 14. Highway 18 was closed due to high water, and flood waters surrounded several homes on the west side of Davis. |
| April 2011 | Flood | Tea | $100,000 | Minor to moderate flooding of the Big Sioux River, as well as flooding of some lakes and lowlands in the county, continued through April, though flooding generally abated. Some farmland remained flooded, both near to and away from the Big Sioux River. A few roads remained covered by water, and there was some road damage. High water and groundwater levels from record precipitation in the year 2010, a main reason the flooding onset was so fast in March, was also a main reason that the flooding subsided so slowly during April. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Harrisburg | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused significant shingle and other roof damage to homes, blew down power lines, and caused widespread tree damage, including several large trees blown down. Damage was caused to several homes by falling trees and tree debris. The winds also pushed a heavy parked camper off its supports. |
| July 2010 | Flash Flood | Lennox | $100,000 | Heavy rain in excess of four inches caused flash flooding of numerous roads, fields, low areas, homes, and businesses. The community of Shindler was one of the harder hit communities with homes and businesses flooded. Roads flooded included South Dakota Highway 11. Some gravel roads were washed out. |
| September 2010 | Flood | Sioux Falls | $100,000 | Widespread heavy rain, combined with saturated ground, caused a fairly rapid rise of the Big Sioux River to moderate to major flooding levels. Roads and numerous agricultural land near the river were flooded, as well as a few homes. The river crested at 9.7 feet above flood stage at Hawarden, Iowa on September 27th. |
| August 2021 | Tornado (EF1) | Lennox | $75,000 | Based on Sentinel satellite imagery, the tornado spun up in Turner County around 2 miles west southwest of Lennox in a field southwest of the intersection of 464th Avenue and 279th Street. The tornado tracked east-northeast for around one-half mile and crossed into Lincoln County just south of the intersection of 279th Street and 464th Avenue. After another half mile, the tornado uprooted seven large cottonwood trees and damaged numerous others at the Lenkota Country Club. The tornado continued into the western portions of Lennox north of the city park, with a majority of damage to large trees between 4th and 5th Avenue as the path turned more eastward and eventually a bit southeastward. The most significant damage occurred as the tornado approached State Highway 17, with a trampoline deposited high in a gnarled tree along South Cherry Street, and the complete destruction of a shed just east of Highway 17. The tornado lifted about a quarter mile east of Highway 17, just east of Lennox. Areas south of the path experienced strong rear-flank winds. While in Turner County, the tornado was rated EFU, while in Lincoln County it was rated EF1. The average path width for the tornado was 100 yards. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Shindler | $50,000 | After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (8.74 inches at Flandreau, 7.81 inches at Dell Rapids and generally 3 to 4 inches around Sioux Falls), the Big Sioux River near Brandon (gage site BBSS2) reached the highest stage on record of 9.53 feet above flood stage on September 14. Significant amounts of rural flooding occurred, with inundation of much of the Big Sioux Recreation Area and lower trails in Good Earth and Gitchie Manitou State Parks. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Canton Muni Arpt | $50,000 | After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (8.74 inches at Flandreau, 7.81 inches at Dell Rapids and generally 3 to 4 inches around Sioux Falls), the Big Sioux River above Canton (gage site CBSS2) reached the second highest stage on record of 10.88 feet above flood stage on September 13. Significant amounts of rural flooding occurred, and high water forced brief closure of U.S. Highway 18 east of Canton. |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lennox | $50,000 | An extension of the path of wind damage from Turner County, winds from 70 to 80 mph continued to produce damage to trees and farm outbuildings until around 2 miles south of Tea. Most of the damage to structures consisted of removed siding and roof panels. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tea | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds heavily damaged a house and garage, and caused heavy tree damage. The winds also blew down power poles and lines. Three house fires were reported; it was not known if the fires were started by downed power lines or by lightning. |
| August 2006 | Flash Flood | Harrisburg | $50,000 | Heavy rainfall of up to 5 inches in less than 3 hours caused widespread flooding of streets,yards, basements, and lower floors of some homes. The flooding blocked entrances to some homes and made some streets impassable for a while. |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Canton | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds uprooted numerous trees, caused structural damage to a house and barn, damaged small farm buildings and a garage, and caused widespread crop damage. |
| May 1998 | Lightning | Beresford | $40,000 | no account filed |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lennox | $30,000 | One shed was completely destroyed, and two were left with damaged doors, roofs and east facing walls when strong thunderstorm wind gusts plowed through a business on the south edge of Lennox. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Harrisburg | $30,000 | Thunderstorm wind gusts caused partial collapse of a pair of grain bins. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| September 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tea | $30,000 | Debris from a metal barn was blown a long distance, and multiple spruce trees were snapped by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2009 | Lightning | Tea | $30,000 | Lightning struck an apartment building, starting a fire. Lightning also struck a day care center. |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hudson | $30,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed an empty barn and damaged a silo. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Worthing | $25,000 | Several power poles were snapped by thunderstorm winds. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| June 1973 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 1970 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1964 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1962 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sioux Falls | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds overturned a semi truck on Interstate 29. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Beresford | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sioux Falls | $20,000 | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Lightning | Sioux Falls | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Worthing | $15,000 | Two semi-trucks were flipped by thunderstorm wind gusts a little south of Exit 68 on Interstate 29. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Lennox | $15,000 | The west facing roof was removed from a metal outbuilding by strong thunderstorm wind gusts. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Worthing | $15,000 | A semi truck and trailer was tipped over along with damage to two other vehicles. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tea | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed two empty grain bins and a storage building, blew windows out of cars, damaged the roof of two buildings, and blew several large branches down. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hudson | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a shed, and blew down power lines at a cattle ranch. |
| August 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Worthing | $10,000 | Metal roof pieces from a house were blown across the county road to the east. Several trees were gnarled with limbs down. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. |
Mines and quarries
1 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 1 working inside this county. It still produces. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Sand & Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Every populated place in the county
11Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.