Kingsbury County is named for George W Kingsbury and T A Kingsbury, who were brothers and territorial legislators.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Clark County and Hamlin County
E – Brookings County
S – Lake County and Miner County
W – Beadle County
Created: January 8, 1873
County Seat:
De Smet 1880 – present
County Courthouse – De Smet
Location: 202 2nd Avenue / Jolliet Avenue
Built: 1898 – 1899
Style: Renaissance
Architect: W L Dow of Sioux Falls
Contractor: M E Bush
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of De Smet and has a square white colored wood dome with silver colored roof in the center. There is a porch with wood pillars underneath the second floor on the west front at the main entrance. North and south wings extend from the main building. The roof is hipped. In the interior is a wooden staircase ascending to the second story. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the west side of the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 3rd Judicial District and the County Magistrate Court.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Kingsbury County Courthouse
See: The 3rd Judicial Circuit includes Beadle County, Brookings County, Clark County, Codington County, Deuel County, Grant County, Hamlin County, Hand County, Jerauld County, Lake County, Miner County, Moody County and Sanborn County.
History: The county was created in 1873 and De Smet was selected as the county seat in 1880 when the county was organized. The courthouse is the first and only courthouse erected in the county. In 1888 the east wing was built and in 1892 the west wing was built. The main courthouse was constructed in 1898 to 1899.
County Courthouse – De Smet
County Circuit Court courtroom
Photos taken 2007, 2009 and 2018
Images 21*