Brookings, South Dakota
About Brookings
Brookings is a close-knit town in eastern South Dakota with an estimated population of 24,555. It ranks as the 4th largest city in South Dakota.
Brookings holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 13.96 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,759 residents per square mile.
📰 Brookings News Today
- Brookings Police: Soccer investigation underway KELOLAND.com · Aug 17
- Obituary | Marie Jo Tietjen of Brookings, South Dakota rudesfuneralhome.com · Aug 6
- Mildred "Millie" Jane Piearson Obituary Aug 14, 2026 Eidsness Funeral and Cremation Services · Aug 14
- Brookings woman dies in crash on Interstate 29 near Sisseton aberdeennews.com · Aug 14
- South Dakota exhibit to honor lives lost to addiction through portraits, personal stories KOTA Territory News · Aug 16
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Brookings Unique
- One of the 5 largest cities in South Dakota (#4 statewide).
- Positioned in eastern South Dakota, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
- Home to 3.7% of South Dakota's city-dwelling population.
Why People Love It Here
- Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
- Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 24,555.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.
📍 Neighborhoods in Brookings
Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Brookings
- Agua Fresh — sandwich
- Chix Chicken & Waffles
- Choco Latte — coffee shop (café)
- Cook's Kitchen — breakfast
- Cottonwood Coffee — coffee shop (café)
- Craft Chophouse & Lounge — american
- Cubby's Sports Bar & Grill
- Flavor Indian & Asian Fare — indian
- George's Pizza — pizza
- Kool Beans Coffee and Roasterie — coffee shop (café)
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- South Dakota Art Museum · Museum
- South Dakota Children's Museum · Museum
- Water Slides · Water park
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Brookings
- Dakota Nature Park reviews ★
- Arrowhead Park reviews ★
- Bark Park reviews ★
- Brookings County Veterans Memorial Park reviews ★
- Camelot Park reviews ★
- Childrens Museum Outdoor Play area reviews ★
- Douglas Chittick Community Gardens reviews ★
- Fishback Soccer Complex reviews ★
- Hillcrest Aquatic Center reviews ★
- Hillcrest Park reviews ★
- Indian Hills Park reviews ★
- Joe Huffman Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Brookings
- Bobcat Plains Academy Elementary School - 94
- Bobcat Plains Academy High School - 92
- Bobcat Plains Academy Middle School - 93
- Brookings High School - 01
- Camelot Intermediate - 06
- Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07
- George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
- Hillcrest Elementary - 04
- Medary Elementary - 05
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Brookings Health System ★★★★ (4/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.