Kimball

History

Kimball was first known as Stake 48 on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad line going west out of Mitchell. In 1880, the first homestead claims were made in the vicinity of Stake 48. Kimball was organized as a village in the spring of 1883. The town was named for J. W. Kimball, a railroad surveyor. The 1895 Holy Trinity Church is on the National Register of Historic Places. The two major fires that hit Kimball, South Dakota, were significant events in the town's history, both causing extensive damage to its downtown area. The first fire occurred in 1890. At that time, the town's buildings were primarily made of wood, which made them highly susceptible to fire. The cause of this fire isn't well-documented, but it's likely that an accident involving a stove, chimney, or open flame—common sources of fire in those days—started the blaze. Due to the lack of a fully developed firefighting infrastructure, the fire spread quickly, destroying many businesses and homes in the heart of Kimball's downtown area. This fire caused significant economic damage, but the town began to rebuild afterward. The second fire struck in 1905 and, like the first, caused widespread destruction to the downtown area. Many of the buildings that were rebuilt after the 1890 fire were damaged or destroyed once again. This fire reinforced the need for better fire safety measures, and after this second incident, more buildings were constructed using fire-resistant materials like brick and stone, which helped reduce the risk of future fires.

Geography

Kimball is located just north of Interstate 90 at exit 284, the southern terminus of South Dakota Highway 45. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Largest nearby schools

• Kimball Elementary - 02
  Elementary · Kimball · 123 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Kimball Middle School - 04
  Middle · Kimball · 96 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Kimball High School - 01
  High · Kimball · 79 students · 8.8:1 ratio
• Grass Ranch Colony Elementary - 13
  Elementary · Kimball · 47 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Grass Ranch Colony High School - 15
  High · Kimball · 12 students · 12:1 ratio