Spink County Courthouse and Jail

1902 Picturesque Souvenir      F.L. Ransom, Publisher

Redfield, the County Seat of Spink County, is a city of 1500 inhabitants. It is beautifully situated on the Turtle River at the junction of the two main lines of the C. & N. W. Railway, one to Chicago via the Twin Cities, the other by Hawarden and Ames, Iowa, and on the James River division of the C., M. & St. P. In the south side of the city is located REDFIELD (Congregational) COLLEGE. This is a growing institution of college grade, and has in conjunction an academy or preparatory school. It has eleven professors and one hundred and seventy-nine students. The ASYLUM FOR THE FEEBLE MINDED is located in the north side and is destined to be the largest charitable institution in the state. A CARNEGIE LIBRARY is located in the center of the city, on the main street, and the building will be constructed during the spring and summer of 1903. Six churches testify to the care the people have for the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants. Two fine school buildings accommodate the three hundred and fifteen pupils in the grades and high school. Eight teachers are employed and nothing is left undone that will aid in developing the intellects of the young. Total bank deposits of the three bank of, Redfield were $680,311.58 on Oct. 7, 1902.

Agriculture production (grain and livestock) has and continues to be Redfield’s and Spink County’s main livelihood. In 1900 the annual wheat production was 2,314,980 bushes and in 2004 Spink County ranked number one in the state for spring wheat production (5,565,000 bushels), third in the state for total wheat production (7,516,000 bushels), second for corn (26,979,000 bushels) and third for barley.

Farm Residence & Threshing Machine of Wm. Schoniger
3 miles South of Redfield     Photo by Stoddard

400 head of cattle on farm of Ben Campbell, 3 miles SW of Redfield     Photo by Stoddard

Interior of the Real Estate Office of Wightman, Babcock & LaBrie, Redfield     Photo by Stoddard