Formed January 14, 1875 (43rd county)
Brule County (5,253), Chamberlain (2,475)
The light red brick Modern design was constructed in 1958. The site is at the intersection of Cortland Street at Stearns Avenue. Interstate Highway 90 Business is one block north of the site. The designers were from the firm of McWayne and McLaughlin. There was a 1902 courthouse also in Chamberlain. Brule County was founded on January 14, 1875 as the 43rd county. Brule City was the first county seat until 1881 when Chamberlain took over. The county is named for the Native American tribe. The county seat was named for railroad officer Selah Chamberlain.
Brule County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Commissioners. Six Circuit Court Judges and One Magistrate Court Judge serve Brule, Aurora, Bon Homme, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook, Turner, Union and Yankton counties. The county is in southeast South Dakota. The Missouri River forms its western border. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is east and Pierre, South Dakota is northwest of the county. The county center is 20.9 miles Southeast of Chamberlain nearer Grandview. The county is surrounded clockwise by Buffalo, Jerauld, Aurora, Charles Mix, Gregory, and Lyman counties.
The area of the county is 819 square miles. It is 38 out of 66 in the state. It ranks 34 out of 66 in population in the state. It has a density of 6.4 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 66 in the state. Brule County has 62.4% of its population in its incorporated areas. Interstate Highway 90 passes through the county from east to west from Aurora County to Lyman County. The county looks like a square bowl of ice cream on its side with two scoops taken out. Chamberlain is located near the western border of the county. Chamberlain is the county seat and the largest city. It is 47.1% of the county population. The county is pronounced BROO-LAE.
Chamberlain
Kimball
Pukwana
