Brule County is a county in South Dakota, United States, on the east bank of the Missouri River in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 5,247 at the 2020 census and covers 846 square miles (2,190 km2) centred near 43°43′N 99°04′W.
Chamberlain is the county seat, and its postal code is 57325. The county has two incorporated cities, one incorporated town, and several unincorporated communities and colonies. Brule County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Brule County
Brule County has eight named places on record: two cities, one town, and five unincorporated communities and Hutterite colonies. Chamberlain and Kimball are incorporated cities; Pukwana is an incorporated town; the rest are unincorporated (Unincorp.) or census-designated places (CDP).
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain | City · seat | 2,473 | 57325 / 57326 |
| Kimball | City | 572 | 57355 |
| Pukwana | Town | 233 | 57370 |
| Bijou Hills | CDP | — | — |
| Cedar Grove Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Grass Ranch Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Ola | CDP | — | — |
| Grandview | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old list on this page duplicated “Grass Ranch Colony” and listed “Eagle” and “Lyonville” separately from “Eagle Township” and Lyon Township — those two are township names, not settlements, and are folded into the townships list below rather than the settlement table.
ZIP Codes
- 57325 — Chamberlain (standard)
- 57326 — Chamberlain (unique, PO Box range)
- 57355 — Kimball
- 57370 — Pukwana
Bijou Hills, Cedar Grove Colony, Grass Ranch Colony, Ola, and Grandview have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is addressed to the nearest of the four ZIPs above.
Geography
Brule County sits on rolling glacial hills above the Missouri River, which forms the county’s western and southwestern boundary and backs up into the Lake Francis Case reservoir behind Fort Randall Dam. Most of the county’s 817 square miles of land is farmed or grazed; the 29 square miles of water is almost entirely the river and reservoir. Brule County borders Buffalo County to the north, Jerauld County to the northeast, Aurora County to the east, Charles Mix County to the south, and Lyman County to the west across the river.
Demographics
Brule County’s population was 5,247 at the 2020 census, a density of about 6.4 people per square mile. Chamberlain, the county seat, is the largest community with 2,473 residents; Kimball is second with 572. Brule County’s median household income runs below the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting the county’s farm- and ranch-dependent economy and the presence of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations nearby.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle ranching and corn and soybean farming on the uplands — is the county’s economic base, alongside services tied to Interstate 90 travelers passing through Chamberlain. Chamberlain is also home to St. Joseph’s Indian School, a residential school for Native American students, and a campus of Mount Marty University. The town’s riverfront hosts the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture, a landmark visible from I-90.
History
Brule County was created by the Dakota Territory legislature on January 14, 1875, and organized in September 1879. It takes its name from the Brulé (Sicá&ŋǧú) band of the Lakota people, whose traditional territory included this stretch of the Missouri River. In May 1875, the county was briefly withdrawn from settlement by order of President Ulysses S. Grant while treaty questions with the Lakota were unresolved. Chamberlain grew up as a railhead and river crossing where the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad reached the Missouri in the 1880s.
Getting There
Interstate 90 crosses the county east–west through Chamberlain; South Dakota Highway 45 and Highway 50 provide the main north–south and river-corridor routes.
- Mitchell, SD — 45 miles east on I-90
- Pierre, SD — 65 miles northwest on US-83/I-90
- Sioux Falls, SD — 140 miles east on I-90
The nearest commercial airport is Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls; Chamberlain also has a small municipal airstrip for general aviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Brule County, South Dakota?
It is in south-central South Dakota, straddling the Missouri River along Interstate 90, about 65 miles southeast of Pierre.
What is the population of Brule County?
5,247 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Brule County?
846 square miles (2,190 km2), of which 817 square miles is land and 29 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Brule County?
Chamberlain is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Brule County?
Two incorporated cities (Chamberlain and Kimball), one incorporated town (Pukwana), and several smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Brule County?
57325 and 57326 (Chamberlain), 57355 (Kimball), and 57370 (Pukwana).
Why is it called Brule County?
It is named for the Brulé band of the Lakota people, whose homeland included this part of the Missouri River valley.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.