Dell Rapids (Images of America)

Formed by settlers in search of a new future in the early 1870s, what is now known as Dell Rapids has had its share of historical significance through the years. From the 1888 Valentines Day fire that devastated the towns Main Street to the 1934 bank robbery perpetrated by the FBIs Public Enemy No. 1 Maurice Denning, Dells has not been free from disaster. But resting on the pillars of faith, family, and community, the town has thrived, boasting original structures, thriving quarries, and annual traditions that have stood through time. Bolstered by innovators such as Titus Unger, whose minnow bucket is the top-selling one in the United States, and Charlotte Elliott, who is known for her work in bacteriology in corn crops, the city has its share of notable residents. From the early pioneers struggling to eke out a living and work the land to the ever-growing modern population, Dell Rapids has lived up to its name as The Little City with Big Attractions.