BlockBefore

Brookings, South Dakota

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Brookings City. It lies in ZIP code area 57006. The Survey maps it on the Brookings quadrangle. 23,377 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,621 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Brookings within Brookings County

On record in Brookings

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 31 shown

Every listing in Brookings County

Population over time

2 figures

Brookings grew from 22,056 to 23,377 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201022,056
202023,377+1,321 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

93 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 93 fires within 5 miles of Brookings between 1999 and 2020, burning about 1,410 acres in total. None started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined32
Debris and open burning24
Equipment and vehicle use15
Misuse of fire by a minor5
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Fireworks4
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Smoking3
Arson/incendiarism2
Other causes1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
4 September 2003Debris and open burningunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
21 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined4.3 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionRYKHUS
30 August 2008Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
2 August 2008Other causesunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
1 August 2013Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreBrookings CountyWOGAN CENTER
1 August 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionSOCCER FIELD
8 July 2017Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionCOUNTRY CLUB

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Brookings County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 11 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 11 workings within 5 miles of Brookings: 7 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Brookings Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
County Pit-BrookingsSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Dupraz PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Mannerud PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Brookings County

Storms near this place

60 of 73 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Brookings in 73 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 29 thunderstorm wind, 25 hail, 8 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 12 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1993Thunderstorm WindBrookings12 hurt, $5,000,000Very strong winds, likely the result of a downburst in a severe thunderstorm, destroyed an apartment building, five mobile homes, 15 garages, and 16 vehicles, and damaged many other homes and vehicles. 12 people were treated for minor injuries from the storm. The storm also caused considerable damage to some area farms and the roof of a motel.
June 2001HailBrookings$2,000,000Large hail falling over an area 20 miles long and almost 5 miles wide caused property and crop damage. The hail damaged siding and windows of homes as well as vehicles. An estimated 60,000 acres of crops were destroyed or damaged. Hail was discovered piled up 6 inches deep in some fields 6 hours after the storm. The affected area included the city of Brookings, where some of the largest hail was reported.
April 2004HailBrookings$500,000Large hail, accompanied by winds gusting to 50 mph, dented vehicles, cracked and broke windshields and windows, dented siding, and damaged roofs.
July 2000HailBrookings$200,000Large hail broke windows and otherwise damaged houses and vehicles. The hail also caused significant crop damage.
July 2002HailBrookings$100,000Large hail, driven by severe winds, damaged vehicles and crops. The amount of crop damage was not known.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBrookings$100,000no account filed
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBrookings$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines, power poles, and bent other poles and signs. The winds also caused roof damage and extensive tree damage, including numerous branches and at least one large tree blown down.
June 2010Flash FloodBrookings$50,000Heavy rain caused widespread street flooding in the city of Brookings. Water on numerous roads was high enough to block the roads, with the water quite deep on several underpasses. Yards, several basements, fields, parks, and part of a golf course were also flooded. .
July 2002Thunderstorm WindBrookings$50,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, and damaged the siding of a mobile home. The winds, along with large hail, also damaged crops, but the amount of crop damage was not known.
July 2010Flash FloodBrookings$25,000Heavy rain caused flash flooding of several streets and caused water damage to a few businesses.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBrookings$20,000Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. The winds also partially peeled off the roof of a commercial storage building.
September 2019Flash FloodBrookings$10,000Several streets around town remained flooded, with the underpass on 6th Avenue pooled to several feet.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindBrookings$10,000Thunderstorm winds of unknown speed caused tree damage, with some branches damaging power lines.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindBrookings$10,000no account filed
May 2009LightningBrookings$5,000Lightning struck the roof of a house in Brookings, starting a fire which damaged the attic and roof.
May 2002LightningBrookings$5,000Lightning struck the roof of a house, knocking a hole in the roof. The lightning shorted out attic wiring, television sets, and a stove. The lightning also damaged a gas line or meter, causing the house to fill with natural gas.
July 2001LightningBrookings$3,000Lightning struck a garage, causing a fire in the peak of the garage roof which was quickly extinguished.
July 2001LightningBrookings$3,000Lightning struck a house, damaging several appliances and lights.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindBrookings$2,000Thunderstorm Winds of unknown speed blew down tree limbs.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Three cars suffered broken windows from thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree branch along Faculty Drive.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Wind gust measured by South Dakota Mesonet station BKMS2 Brookings 2NE.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindBrookings-A tree branch 4 to 6 inches in diameter was downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a large tree limb.
June 2022HailBrookings-An extended period of dime to quarter size hail occurred just north of Brookings.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBrookings-The walls of a local business collapsed after the large south-facing doors failed.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Numerous vehicles were blown over. Trees were snapped with widespread damage to houses and roofs throughout town, and most without power into the next day. The Brookings Marathon scheduled for a couple days later was cancelled.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the South Dakota State Mesonet site 2 miles northeast of Brookings (BKMS2). Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
July 2018Flash FloodBrookings-Sixmile Creek at gaging site SMCS2 rapidly rose above flood stage at 0400CST and reached moderate flood stage at 0745CST. Rainfall of 6.83 inches was measured 2 miles northeast of Brookings. Numerous township roads were flooded north of Brookings.
July 2018Flash FloodBrookings-Multiple streets flooding in Brookings. Rainfall totalled 6.83 inches 2 miles northeast of Brookings, 7.50 inches on the southeast side of Brookings and 9.00 inches at Aurora.
July 2016HailBrookings-Large hail caused an unknown amount of crop damage.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a one foot diameter tree and several branches blown down.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including some trees over 3 feet in diameter blown down.
July 2010Flash FloodBrookings-Heavy rain caused flash flooding of numerous streets and basements in Brookings. Knee deep water in several streets was slow to recede.
July 2010HailBrookings-Hail was accompanied by heavy rain.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including up to 5 inch diameter branches blown down.
July 2009HailBrookings-Hail was accompanied by estimated 40 mph wind gusts.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees uprooted.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several limbs and branches blown down.
June 2008FloodBrookings-Heavy rain caused minor flooding of the Big Sioux River for 3 days, with grassland and farmland along the river flooded.
April 2007FloodBrookings-Heavy rain at the end of March led to minor flooding along the Big Sioux River near Brookings for a few days. The flooding was confined to a few lowlands along the river.
March 2007FloodBrookings-Warm temperatures caused a rapid snowmelt which caused the Big Sioux River to rise above flood stage for several days. The flooding was minor to moderate and no significant damage was reported. The river crested at 2.9 feet above flood stage near Brookings on March 15th.
September 2006Tornado (F0)Brookings-A brief tornado caused no reported damage.
June 2005Flash FloodBrookings-Heavy rain caused street flooding throughout the city of Brookings. Basements and low areas were also flooded.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down. The winds also blew shingles off the roof of a house.
May 2004LightningBrookings-Lightning struck an electrical cable, cutting off power to 180 Brookings customers for a half hour.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one large tree blown down.
June 2002Flash FloodBrookings-Heavy rain caused flooding of roads in Brookings. One vehicle stalled under a railroad underpass and had water up to the windows.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds damaged a barn, a silo, and tore the roof off a mobile home. The winds also caused tree damage, including fifty to sixty trees blown down on a golf course.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindBrookings-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including large branches blown down.
June 1997Tornado (F0)Brookings-A brief tornado observed by spotters caused no damage.
June 2022HailBrookings-no account filed
July 2017Thunderstorm WindBrookings-no account filed
June 2016HailBrookings-no account filed
August 2010HailBrookings-no account filed
July 2010HailBrookings-no account filed
July 2010HailBrookings-no account filed
July 2007HailBrookings-no account filed
April 2006FloodBrookings-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Brookings County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Sunnyview2.4 miles9
Sheldon Trailor Town3.1 miles9
Aurora6.3 miles8
Volga6.8 miles8
Medary7.0 miles11
North Grove Addition8.3 miles9
Bushnell8.3 miles8
Bruce10.0 miles8

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on BrookingsAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1650462The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1254074. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.