Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region, SD Land for Sale

The Glacial Lakes and Prairies region of South Dakota includes the northeastern part of the state, bordering Minnesota to the east and North Dakota to the north. The largest city in the region is Aberdeen, the third largest city in the state. Other large cities are Watertown, Brookings and Huron.

Agriculture is the region's top industry. Aberdeen is a regional hub for shopping, medical care, education, social and cultural activities, agriculture and the economy. Major employers in Aberdeen include healthcare, Aberdeen Public School District, a large hotel chain headquartered there and Northern State University. Other higher education institutions in the region are South Dakota State University and Lake Area Technical Institute.

There are nearly 30 state wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas and state parks and two national wildlife refuges in the region. Most notable are Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, with nearly 21,500 acres of prime wildlife habitat consisting of open lakes and wetlands, grasslands, woodlands and croplands, Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, established as a safe haven and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, Fort Sisseton State Park, built in 1864, Hartford Beach State Park, featuring Big Stone Lake, camping areas and many hiking trails to enjoy the wildlife, prairie plants and scenic vistas, Oakwood Lakes State Park, with eight connecting glacial lakes, and Pickerel Lake State Park. Other attractions in the region include the Children's Museum of South Dakota, Bramble Park Zoo, Clear Lake Museum, Dacotah Prairie Museum, Museum of Wildlife, Science and Industry of NESD, South Dakota Art Museum, South Dakota Agricultural Museum, the International Vinegar Museum and Zietlow Telephone Museum. There are also four gaming and casino resorts, four vineyards and wineries and more than 40 golf courses.

Brown County is located in the north-central part of South Dakota's Glacial Lakes and Prairies region, bordering North Dakota to the north. It is the fourth most populated county in the state. It is named for Alfred Brown, a Dakota Territory Legislator in 1879. Aberdeen is the largest city and the county seat, other cities are Columbia and Groton, and there are around 20 other towns, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. The county is also divided into 44 townships. Aberdeen is a regional hub for the economy, education and culture. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in the county, and there are a number of other county parks and trails, and Kuhnert Arboretum. Wylie Park features camping, picnicking, playgrounds, a swimming beach and Storybook Land, with several amusement rides. Other popular activities in the county are bird-watching, camping, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing in the winter, the Dakota Outdoors Show, fishing, geocaching and hunting.

Beadle County is located in the south-central part of the Glacial Lakes and Prairies region. It is named for Brigadier General William Henry Harrison Beadle, appointed surveyor-general of the Dakota Territory in 1869. Huron is the largest city and the county seat, and there are around 45 other cities, towns, townships and one census- designated place. Top employers in the county include a food processing plant, Huron Public Schools, a hospital system and the U.S. Government. There are several small manufacturing companies in the county, including railroad and machining companies. The county is referred to as the home of the "World's Largest Pheasant," and each year thousands of visitors visit the county during pheasant-hunting season. The South Dakota State Fair takes place in Beadle County each summer, and other attractions are an outdoor waterpark, three golf courses, the Huron Symphony Orchestra and several campgrounds.