A Guide to South Dakota Cities (For Loose Definitions of “Cities”) 1st Edition

Aberdeen-

Aberdeen is one of the five largest cities in the state.  Looking at from Google Maps in Ann Arbor, you would not think it. But after visiting the other cities in this state, it is by far the largest that I have seen. As previously stated, most of the Aberdeen is comprised of one giant strip mall. For several miles, you drive down 6^th Avenue and pass store after store after store, with very little off to the north or south. Occasionally there will be a stretch of north-south streets that have more of a “Down Town” feel to them (i.e. the streets with the bars near Northern State University) but for the most part they are either residential neighborhoods or smaller, less exciting shops.

Casinos and auto part stores seem to dominate the landscape. Why those two are the most common, I am not sure, but if you are low on cash and need to repair your car, Aberdeen is the place to be.

Aberdeen is large enough to have multiple branches of its public library. Though each is larger, has a better selection of books, and greater resources than the Redfield equivalent, the Redfield Library is still the better choice (see Redfield).

Lakewood Mall, one of the premiere shopping destinations in Aberdeen is not terribly exciting. There are about a dozen or so of the usual mall stores; J.C. Penny, Sears, fashionably clothing stores, and a few others. And that’s about it. The selection pales in comparison to both Briarwood and Westland Malls, while the Mall of America (a mere five hours away)  makes Lakewood look like a dime store. The best part of the Lakewood mall, is the fact that is houses a 3D movie theater, one of about five in the state.

Brookings-

                Brookings, home to the South Dakota State University Jack Rabbits, is a college town. Whereas the other cities and towns in this Guide are comprised mostly of shops or super markets, down town Brookings has bars. The quality of the bars will be a subject of later editions of this Guide, but Cubbies, a sports bar, is quite nice. The main wall is filled with televisions, each one showing a different sports channel. The food is quite nice as well. Filling, and at a reasonable price.

                SDSU, much like MSU, is an agricultural college. The smell of cow is heavy in the air, though I have yet to actually see one at the campus. Instead, you can see quite a selection of game animals. Deer, big horn sheep, ducks, among others are what you find the most of. And fishes. The campus itself is rather pretty, full of yellows and blues.

                Once you leave the college part of town, you find yourself in the business district. Much like Aberdeen, the business district of Brookings is in a strip mall style. Though it is much shorter than its Aberdeen equivalent, it carries much of the same stories, though without the casinos.

Redfield-

                From the RZ Lodge, Redfield is the closest city. It has two grocery stores, two bars, two sources of internet and one each of a hospital, gym, and library. Unlike Brookings or Aberdeen, Redfield has much more of a downtown feel to it than a strip mall. It is a pleasant small town.

                There are two bars in Redfield- Terry’s and Starters. Both think that the patrons of the other bar are the worst people in town and that you should not associate with “that sort.” Terry’s has $1 pints between  5 and 7 and free popcorn. Starters does not have either of those.

                Food Pride and Alco are the two supermarkets in town. Food Pride caries a greater selection and quantity of food than Alco, but Alco sells a little of everything under the sun. 

               

Zell-

                Zell is the town in which the Lodge resides, at least nominally. It has five streets, a church and a liquor store. You can drive through it in seconds.