Welcome to Lake Preston, South Dakota, strategically located on US Hwy 14 with unit train access to the DM&E Railroad. Nestled between Lake Thompson, Lake Henry, Lake Whitewood and Lake Preston, the area is paradise for hunters and fishermen. Over fifty businesses including a high-tech tool and die manufacturer call Lake Preston home, with agriculture supporting much of the economy with a full service agronomy center and elevator. Outside of the area, Lake Preston is best know for the first large outdoor swimming pool and our unusual school mascot “The Divers.”

The outdoor pool and hundred-year-old park are a major spots of recreation during summer months. Two baseball fields, tennis courts, free camping with electric, volleyball nets, horse shoe pits and a skate board park complete this comfortable public area. Organizations active in our community include the Legion & Auxiliary, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Civic club, Progressive Community Women, sponsoring the county snow queen contest every November, a car club, boy scouts, 4-H, genealogy society, as well as extension and card clubs for enjoyment.

Although settlers were noted as early as 1874 in this Kingsbury County town, Lake Preston was not incorporated until June 22 of 1906. The first post office was established in 1882. In 1909, as noted by the Gazetteer Publishing Company of Denver, Lake Preston’s location at the intersection of two major rail road lines was critical to existence of local prairie settlers. Many thriving private businesses claimed Lake Preston or Preston with over a hundred public or service buildings or ‘offices’ including numerous grain elevators, banks, hotels and mercantile as well as a central station for the Dakota Central Telephone Company during these early years.