DEUEL COUNTY HISTORY

This history of Deuel County was graciously provided by Diane Doyle

In 1833 Fremont and Nicollet were exploring eastern South Dakota, including
parts of Deuel County.  In 1840 the Reverend Stephen R. Riggs visited and
found the Indians who lived in the area preparing for a buffalo hunt.  By 1870
there were only eight families composed of 37 residents in the county.  The
last known buffalo hunt near Deuel County took place in 1879, one year after
the organization of the county.  The buffalo vanished by 1883.

But in 1887 Deuel County was bustling with activity, advertised as a "rich
agricultural region bounded by the State of Minnesota on the east, Grant
County on the north, Codington and Hamlin Counties on the west, and Brookings
on the south".  The railroads had cut their paths through Deuel County and the
towns of Gary (1872), Altamont (1880), Goodwin (1880), Toronto (1884), Clear
Lake (1884) and Bemis-Palmer (1886) were well established.

A Norwegian colony started at Fish Lake in 1873.  The population of the
county grew more rapidly in 79-80-81 and leveled off after that.  The land was
rocky, rolling hills, but settlers won over rocks, brought up their families
and left a legacy of family history.  Deuel County was affected by the
Depression and drought in the 1930s.  In 1933 and 1934, the bed of Fish Lake
was dry enough to raise a crop.  Irrigation improved the reliability of
farming.  Clear Lake became the county seat, and with a population of 1,157 in
1980, the largest town in the county.

Here are a few historical photos from Deuel County

The first Clear Lake, Dakota Territory Band on Main Street, Fourth of July, 1885

This is a "Bird's Eye View" of Gary, dated 1882

Here's a storefront in downtown Gary, circa 1903

And a photo of the Presbyterian church in Gary from around the turn of the century

Another view of Gary, circa 1905