Page Contents for Lake City, South Dakota

Statistics & Facts

City Attractions

Historical Events

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Statistics & Facts

The South Dakota state capital is Pierre.
The population of Lake City is approximately 43 (1990), 51 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 28 (1990), 19 (2010).
The amount of land area in Lake City is 0.562 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.018 sq kilometers.
The distance from Lake City to Washington DC is 1176 miles.
The distance to the South Dakota state capital is 178 miles. (as the crow flies)
Lake City is positioned 45.72 degrees north of the equator and 97.41 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Attractions

Lake City is located in the heart of the glacial lakes region with about 10 lakes within a 10 mile radius of town. The area still has some great fishing with some well kept resorts to enjoy the lakes. Roy Lake State Park is just 3 miles from town with a beauty to be appreciated. Lake City was once a thriving farming community, like most farming towns, it is no longer growing.
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Lake City Historical Events

1949 - 1967
I lived here the first 18 years of my life. My name is Joan Vrchota-Stein, daughter of Albert and Emma Vrchota. Here are some of my reflections of growing up in Lake City.
I, Joan Vrchota, was born a twin to John in 1949. I would like to relate a few things about the town where we grew up playing kick the can, hide and seek and enjoying swimming in the nearby lakes or catching frogs for Wilgers' Bait Shop. After attending church and Sunday School on Sundays, a day of fishing or an afternoon drive would sometimes follow. Other family outings included attending carnivals, circuses, the 4th of July, Sioux Indian Pow Wow near Sisseton and other small town parades.

A few of the families living in town during that area were:
the Neilsens - Milo was the long-time postmaster. He and Lillian raised 4 children.
The Stevens - Orlando ran a construction business; he and Sally raised 5 children and are still living in Lake City.
The Adolph Heitmanns - Adolph and Gertie kept their boys busy with several businesses, cleaning fish, raising garden vegetables, and always had roosters to awaken the town. They were great neighbors to my grandmother.
Walt and Marge Sckerl raised 2 children. Walt ran the grain elevator for years.
Richard and Betty Wilgers raised 3 girls and 1 boy and were in the restaurant, gas station and bait shop business. The resort which they owned on Cottonwood Lake is still in business.
The Southmayds operated Bill and Em's Tavern and had a very good fish fry every Friday night. The town was full of cars.
Mrs. Swanson's Grocery Store was the place where we trotted to every day at noon to get our 5 cent candy bar. Following a tornado, that landmark was torn down.
My parents were Albert and Emma Vrchota, Albert being a lifetime water well driller. My twin, John, now lives with his family in Britton. I had sisters, Joyce and Jane. We attended an eight year grade school.
Teenagers and their parents had three choices for high schools, Isseton, Britton or Roslyn, all of which were equal distance from Lake City, about 20 miles. The gym in our all brick school was condemned and the high school had been closed for some time when I began grade school. There was a lower classroom taught by Mrs. Larson and the upper classes, grades 4-8 were taught by Mrs. Willis. The school no longer stands; only a post office and a municipal liquor store remain. The liquor store is a place where the young and old gather to discuss their problems or play a few cards. An occasional dance adds excitement to the town which is still well maintained. A lighted flag, playground equipment and a picnic area adorn the place where many softballs games used to be played after school.