Furthered the Northwestern Railway

During the fall of 1879, the settlers in the Brookings area purchased land and donated it to the Northwestern Railway for a town site purpose.

The original plat of the town of Brookings, Dakota Territory was made on the 3rd and 4th of October in 1879. This included five blocks on what is now Main Avenue. An old cornerstone at the corner of what is now Main Avenue and Sixth Street was found and was the point for the beginning of the survey.

An election on May 2, 1881, favored the village charter (incorporating the Village of Brookings) by 61 to 14. A special election was held on May 14, 1881, to select the village officials. On March 9, 1883 the village was incorporated as a city.