Prairie City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Perkins County, South Dakota, United States. One of many rural settlements in Perkins County, the town was founded in 1946 by former residents of Strool. The population of the CDP was 25 at the 2020 census.
History
Prairie City was founded in 1946 by Dutch Stalder, Since this meant Strool's residents and business-owners did not own their property, they were reluctant to construct buildings with permanent features like basements, for fear they could lose the buildings they had invested in. Moreover, both a railroad and a highway—which had initially been slated to pass through Strool—were later built several miles away, bypassing the area and making it inconvenient to reach. Comparatively, Prairie City would be closer to the highway
Prairie City's post office was established in 1955. In 2009, Prairie City's post office was shut down, though the CDP kept its 57649 ZIP code. Its postal services are now handled by the town of Bison.
Prairie City was first recorded as a census-designated place in the 2010 census.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Prairie City racial composition
- Betty Olson (b. 1946), politician