About

Grant County

Grant County has a rich and evolving history, shaped by shifting national boundaries and diverse settlers. Once under the control of Spain, England, and France, the land became part of the United States with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. From then until 1861, it passed through several territorial governments—including Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota—before being incorporated into Dakota Territory by President James Buchanan in March 1861. Originally part of the vast Red River County, the area was renamed in 1873 to honor President Ulysses S. Grant, a reflection of the many Civil War veterans who settled there. By the 1880s, township organization began, and in 1892, the opening of the Sisseton Indian Reservation marked a key moment in regional development.

The county’s growth accelerated in 1880 with the arrival of the Hastings and Dakota Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad, which brought settlers and spurred the rise of towns like Milbank, Big Stone City, and Stockholm. Grant County is home to notable landmarks such as Blue Cloud Abbey, the Valley Queen Cheese Factory, and the granite quarries near Milbank. Its 691 square miles span diverse landscapes—from the rolling Coteau des Prairies to the valleys around Big Stone Lake—shaped by waterways like the Minnesota River and Whetstone Creek, which support both agriculture and scenic beauty.

The county reached its population peak in 1925 with 11,114 residents. Its heritage reflects a tapestry of people from New England, the Middle Atlantic, the Midwest, and immigrant communities from Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Ireland. Today, Grant County stands as a unique blend of history, culture, and natural splendor in northeastern South Dakota.