Madison
Around Madison
Countryside and towns · South Dakota · 35k people
Madison
Locals say East River
Where the prairie meets the sky
Golden WheatPrairie GreenBig Sky Blue
Welcome to East River country! Whether you're here for the hunting, the lakes, or the small-town charm, you'll find friendly faces and wide-open spaces. Come for the pageant, stay for the county fair.
Clubs for Madison
No clubs for Madison yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Madison. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Madison. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes Childhood homes of the Little House author in De Smet.
- Ingalls Homestead Reconstructed farm site where the Ingalls family lived near De Smet.
- Prairie Village Living history museum in Madison with pioneer buildings and steam engines.
- Lake Herman State Park State park near Madison with fishing, camping, and trails.
- Lake Poinsett Recreation Area One of South Dakota's largest natural lakes, popular for boating and fishing.
- Dakota State University Public university in Madison known for technology and computer science programs.
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Herman
- Outdoors Hunting pheasants in the fall
- With kids Visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites in De Smet
- With kids Attend a county fair
- Evenings Grab a drink at a local tavern
- Evenings Try your luck at the Royal River Casino
- Locals love Prairie lakes
- Locals love County fairgrounds
Through the year
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant July Outdoor drama in De Smet celebrating the pioneer author.
- Prairie Village Steam Threshing Jamboree September Harvest heritage festival in Madison with steam engines and pioneer demos.
- Lake County Fair July County fair in Madison with livestock, carnival rides, and local food.
- Moody County Fair August County fair in Flandreau with 4-H exhibits and rodeo.
- Kingsbury County Fair July County fair in De Smet with agricultural shows and family fun.
The climate is classic Great Plains: cold, windy winters and hot, sometimes stormy summers, with low humidity and big skies. Best: Late spring and early fall are the most pleasant times to be out, with mild temps and less wind.
Talk like a local
- “East River”
- The region east of the Missouri River in South Dakota.
- “Uff da”
- Norwegian exclamation of surprise or frustration, common in this Scandinavian-settled area.
- “Chislic”
- A local dish of cubed meat, typically lamb or beef, deep-fried.
- “Hot dish”
- A casserole, often brought to potlucks and gatherings.
Getaways
- Brookings Visit SDSU campus and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.
- Sioux Falls Shop, dine, and see Falls Park.
- Mitchell See the Corn Palace and the Dakota Discovery Museum.
- Huron Home of the South Dakota State Fair in August.
Local flavour
Rooting for Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB), South Dakota State Jackrabbits (NCAA DI), University of South Dakota Coyotes (NCAA DI)
Eat and drink
- Chislic Cubed beef or venison, deep-fried and served with saltine crackers
- Kuchen German fruit or custard pastry, a local dessert staple
- Lefse Norwegian potato flatbread, often served with butter and sugar
- Pheasant dishes The region is prime pheasant hunting country; roasted or pan-fried pheasant is a classic
Where people go
- Small-town main streets Grain elevators and family-owned shops define each town's center
- County fairs and rodeos Summer gatherings with 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, and livestock shows
- Prairie lakes and hunting lodges Lake Madison and other glacial lakes offer fishing and waterfowl hunting
- Historic homesteads Laura Ingalls Wilder's De Smet sites and other pioneer landmarks
- Lutheran and Catholic churches Historic congregations that anchor many small towns
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaBrookingsSouth DakotaPrairie spirit, Jackrabbit heart.Sioux FallsSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the fallsPipestoneMinnesotaWhere the prairie meets the pipestone.MitchellSouth DakotaHome of the Corn Palace and endless horizons.HuronSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the skyWatertownSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the lakesMarshallMinnesotaWhere the prairie meets the skyYanktonSouth DakotaWhere the Missouri meets the prairie and history lives on
Lake, Hamlin, Moody, Kingsbury, Clark and Miner counties, SD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.