1964 Map of Brookings

About this map

The academic and agricultural landscape of Brookings is centered on the extensive campus of South Dakota State University, which dominates the northern reaches of the city. During the mid-1960s, the community functioned as a vital regional hub, defined by the Chicago and North Western rail line and a network of essential institutions including the Po, Courthouse, and the Brookings Municipal Airport. Outside the urban center, the land transitions into a patchwork of townships like Sterling and Aurora, where an Experiment Station and several Gravel Pits suggest the area's dual reliance on scientific research and natural resources. Notable local landmarks like Pioneer Park and the Drive-in Theater reflect the mid-century social character of the county seat. The periphery is marked by historic burial grounds including Greenwood Cemetery, Calvary Cemetery, and the Lutheran Cem.