Southeast Region, SD Land for Sale

Southeast South Dakota includes around 15 counties in the southeastern corner of the state, bordering Iowa and Minnesota to the east and Nebraska to the south. Sioux Falls is the largest city in the region and the largest in the state. Other large cities include Mitchell, Yankton, Vermillion, Madison, Tea and Canton.

Sioux Falls is the cultural and economic center of the region and South Dakota. Its economy was originally centered on quarrying and agriculturally-based industries, but the economy is now diversified and more service-based, now an important location for financial services, health care and retail trade. Major employers include two large health systems, employing more than 16,000 in total, a meat-processing plant of a large national corporation, Sioux Falls School District, a large multi-state supermarket chain and two national banks. There are also several important manufacturing companies that contribute to the economy. The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center is located in the region, which currently houses one of the largest computer complexes in the U.S. Department of the Interior. The largest concentration of higher education institutions is in this region, with around 12 colleges and universities. They include Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, the second highest enrollment in the state, with nearly 10,000 students, University of Sioux Falls, National American University ? Sioux Falls, Globe University ? Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Seminary, Mitchell Technical Institute, Colorado Technical University, Southeast Technical Institute, Augustana College, Mount Mary College and Kilian Community College.

There are three state parks in the region, which are Lake Herman State Park, with popular activities such as camping, boating, fishing, cross-country skiing and wildlife observation on 1,350-acre Lake Herman, Newton Hills State Park, a narrow strip of rolling hills and forest featuring artifacts and burial mounds, and Union County State Park, popular for horseback riding, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing along Brule Creek. Lewis and Clark Lake is a popular destination, with a family-friendly resort where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenery and outdoor activities and Lewis and Clark Recreation Area. The region also offers excellent pheasant-hunting. Other attractions in the region include the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History, a winery trail featuring nearly 10 wineries and vineyards, Badlands Motor Speedway, Historic Prairie Village, Walker's Point Recreation Area, the world's only Corn Palace, Dakota Discovery Museum, showcasing the history of the upper Great Plains, Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, featuring interactive archeological exhibits, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, Butterfly House and Marine Cove, Great Bear Recreation Park, SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, with new sculptures added each year, National Music Museum and Dakota Territorial Museum.

Minnehaha County is located in the east-central part of South Dakota's Southeast region, bordering Minnesota to the east, and a small portion of Iowa to the south. It is the most populated county in the state. It comes from a Sioux word meaning "rapid water" or "waterfall." Sioux Falls is the largest city and the county seat, and is the largest city in the state. Other large cities are Brandon, Dell Rapids and Hartford, and there are five other cities, two towns, nine unincorporated communities and 24 townships. There are also six places considered historical townsites. Big Sioux River flows through the county, and there are around 10 major lakes. The Sioux Falls economy has a diversity of sectors, which include finance, healthcare, retail, agriculture, tourism and distribution. It is the site of one of the world's largest stockyards, and a meat packing company is the city's third largest employer. In addition to meat processing, other agriculture-related activities include production of dairy and bakery items, livestock feed milling and manufacturing of farm implements and equipment. Sioux Falls is considered a regional health center, with two major hospitals that are the top employers. Sioux Falls is the largest retail center between Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul, attracting more than 14 million shoppers annually from throughout the South Dakota and Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. More than 3,000 retail outlets employ 20 percent of Sioux Falls' labor force. Other items produced are fabricated steel, concrete blocks and pre-stressed concrete, millwork, sewn items, electronic test equipment, corrugated boxes and computer components. There are eight higher education institutions in the county, with the largest including Southeast Technical Institute, Augustana College and University of Sioux Falls. Some of the notable lakes in the county are Beaver Lake, Clear Lake, Diamond Lake, Island Lake, Lost Lake, Twin Lakes, all excellent sites for fishing. There are several orchards, stables, gun clubs, a few golf courses, several breweries and wineries, and campgrounds. Palisades State Park and Good Earth State Park at Blood Run are located in the county. There are also 30 historical markers throughout the county, including Devils Gulch, where Jesse James is said to have jumped and has a historic footbridge spanning the gulch. Some additional attractions in the county include Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, U.S.S. South Dakota Battleship Memorial, Japanese Gardens, Mears Library Gallery, Falls Park, Sioux Empire Medical Museum, with displays relating to medical advancements from the early 1900s to the present, including a 1912 vintage operating room, Butterfly House and Aquarium and the Museum of Visual Materials.

Lincoln County is located just south of Minnehaha County in Southeastern South Dakota, bordering Iowa to the east. It is the third most populated county in the state, and is named after Abraham Lincoln. Tea is the largest city and Canton is the county seat. There are eight other cities, towns and one census-designated place, and the county is also divided into 16 townships. The City of Canton has received the South Dakota Community of the Year Award in 2004 and 2011. Canton Industrial Park is located in the city, the state's first Certified Ready Site. Major lakes in the county are Lake Alvin and Lake Lakota, and Newton Hills State Park and Good Earth State Park at Blood Run are in the county. The City of Tea holds an annual event called Teapot Days, featuring carnival rides, fireworks, food vendors, music concerts and a parade.