Located on Interstate I-90, Elk Point is a small gem of a town in South Dakota between Sioux City and Sioux Falls.
Home to more than Mount Rushmore and stunning natural landscapes, South Dakota’s dominant agricultural sector produces large crops of soya beans, corn, and wheat, set among small towns and cities of warmth and charm that have many choosing to move here to pursue a different pace of life.
Here, life is still largely affordable, it is safe to walk the streets, and the simple ways of doing things await those who know too well the inconveniences and sensory overload of big city life. And as for opportunity, Elk Point’s economic development efforts have led to the establishment of a new business park offering commercial lots that are ready for the picking.
Recently, datausa.io reported Elk Point’s population at just under 2,200 in 2022. As a result, its city administrators are enthusiastic about new residential developments, with the new business park welcoming entrepreneurs looking to establish enterprises in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Indeed, Elk Point is home to a rich variety of locally made specialty products and community events alike, crafted by those who live close to the land. Many local farmers and artisans open their doors to visitors, creating a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the region’s deep-rooted Midwestern traditions—making it an ideal place to raise a family.
Often, permanent new arrivals are attracted to the state for the first time by the famous Sturgis Motorcycle rally, an annual event that’s been running since 1938. As visitors then start to explore the rest of the state, some find themselves seduced by Elk Point as a landlocked rural hideaway tucked into the southeasternmost tip of the state. Even as a small town, it has much to be proud of, including its Jefferson Public Schools.
Principal of the Middle/High School, Skyler Eriksen, was recently honored with the Southeast Area Principals Association’s SEAP Principal of the Year Award. “I am extremely honored to receive this award as there are so many principals in our region that deserve recognition. This award is a testament to the staff at EPJ and their daily efforts to ensure student success. I am thankful I get the opportunity to be part of the great team we have at EPJ School District,” he says on the school’s website.
While online critics may bemoan the state’s lack of the high life, those in the know understand that the simple pleasures of living in agricultural communities include hard work that keeps people engaged with the land but with time to gather at events celebrating and enjoying the fruits of their labors. One such in Elk Point is a regular favorite that sees visitors coming from far and wide.
As reported by Keloland News in March last year, Fleurish Flower Farm, established outside Elk Point by Christy Heckathorn, won the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) Specialty Producer of the Year Award in 2023 for her outstanding contribution to the region’s success. The farm is a wonderful contributor to the quality of life the area offers, hosting festive You-Picks where visitors arrive in droves twice a week to gather armfuls of flowers for their own bouquets.
There are also local growers and artisans producing wool, nuts, honey, cider, wine, and a cornucopia of other delicious and nourishing homegrown produce for locals to enjoy. That is, of course, over and above the state’s main gross domestic product earned from large-scale farming.
Considering that Elk Point is within the eligibility area of the United States Department of Agriculture’s land loan program, any United States citizen who qualifies and wants to set up their own agricultural outfit here can do so for as little as a $1,000 downpayment, according to land purchase advisor, Wayne Turner. According to Turner, such loans are not only available to first-time buyers, either; as he points out, some parcels of land already have infrastructure in place, which makes a move to the country a lot easier and less daunting.
Elk Point also offers a primary healthcare center, Horizon Health, alongside other healthcare services and facilities in surrounding areas such as the town of Vermillion just 17 miles away. There is also Sioux City, 21 miles away. Furthermore, Elk Point is home to several care facilities for senior citizens in the town itself, with more in neighboring towns. There are also more than a few recreational facilities in the area.
Locals benefit from a 9-hole public golf course, laid out in the Parkland style, complete with an events center. A lovely public swimming pool welcomes all to its well-kept grounds while the Todd Larsen Baseball Field Complex offers two baseball and two softball fields.
There is also a community library and school library, plus several others in outlying areas. Heritage Park, meanwhile, invites citizens of all ages to visit, providing playgrounds adapted for those with disabilities, walking trails, camping, fishing, soccer, disc golf, and even a sand volleyball pitch.
Beyond robust services and amenities, some note the distinct differences in the area’s seasons as another reason people are moving to this region: winters here are white, and autumn is ablaze with russet ambers.
Yes, life in Elk Point may be simpler than big city complexity allows. But to residents and visitors alike, this little gem looks and feels like the epitome of good country living at its best.
