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County History 

History of Dakota Territory

"The territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was called Louisiana and had been discovered by the French"...read more on how vast area became part of the United States while under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. From this acquisition was carved what became known as Dakota Territory

Photos of Early Union County

Left to Right  

Jefferson Main Street, Post Office Block in Alcester,  first Standard Oil Tank Wagon in Elk Point  and Main Street Beresford

(Click on the thumbnails to see larger photos)

 Jefferson Main Street   Post Office Block, Alcester   Standard Oil Tank Wagon in Elk Point   Main Street Beresford 

Left to right 

 Alcester's First Barber Shop,  Larson Store in Spink and  Alcester Livery Barn and Government Dock on the Big Sioux River

(Click on the thumbnails to see larger photos)

  Alcester's First Barber Shop    Larson Store in Spink    Alcester Livery Barn    Government Ice Harbor on Sioux River

County History Timeline

  • 1855 Christopher Malone settled in what is now Big Sioux Township
    1859 - Jefferson and Elk Point were founded

  • 1862 First Legislative Assembly of Dakota Territory approved organization of the county, named Cole, after Austin Cole, a legislative member

  • 1860 Norwegians settled in the Brule area, north of Elk Point

  • 1860 First post office established with Eli Wixson as postmaster

  • 1861 First official school was built in the county in Elk Point and was taught by N. J. Wallace

  • 1862 - County seat  founded at  J. Chappillion home 

  • 1863 - First homestead filing north of Richland 

  • 1864 - Name was officially changed to Union

  • 1864 - County seat was moved to Richland 

  • 1864 - Additional land was annexed from Lincoln County

  • 1865 - County seat moved to Elk Point

  • 1870 First newspaper in the county "The Elk Point Leader" was started

  • 1870 First telegraph line, from Sioux City to Elk Point to Yankton was built 

  • 1871 First mile of railroad was graded in the Dakotas across the town site of Elk Point

  • 1872 The Southern Dakota Rail Line was completed to Elk Point

  • 1873 First agricultural fair was held one mile north of Elk Point

  • 1876 Father Boucher organized the grasshopper pilgrimage near Jefferson

  • 1883 - Beresford was founded

  • 1883 - Alcester was founded

  • 18      - Stevens (now North Sioux City) was founded

  • 1861 - Richland was founded

  • 1898 First courthouse in the Territory was built at Elk Point

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