Summerset is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,814 at the 2010 census. Located in the western part of the state, it is the first city to incorporate in the state since 1985.
Summerset was incorporated in an election that was held on June 7, 2005. Opponents of the city's dissolution insist a population of more than a thousand, despite the formal pre-incorporation census indicating 597 residents. The city is located west of Interstate 90, between the towns of Blackhawk and Piedmont, South Dakota. The city shares its zip codes of 57718 and 57769 with these two towns.
During its first year, Summerset faced a few challenges. There was confusion about the location of the city's boundaries. A lawsuit was filed to dismiss the incorporation election. And, the citizens petitioned to have the town dissolved for a multitude of reasons, including high taxes; the petition failed.
This issue went to trial on September 14, 2006 in Meade County. A decision was handed down by the jury in the trial on September 15, 2006 siding with Summerset that there were indeed more than 1000 inhabitants at the time of the vote to incorporate. The plaintiff, Casey Dolney of Summerset, can appeal the decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court.
Summerset may refer to:
Summer headed south in sixty-four found me there in my beat up car
My soul possessions came to nothing more than my traveling bags and my old guitar
Wine and pretty women were the life of me the devil rode along for my company
Picking and singing I did the rounds of a score of southern country towns
I came to Summerset when summer leaves were turning yellow
Summer songs had all been sung by fellows such as I
I came to Summerset to sow the seeds of wild dependent
The people there came up to stare and watch me passin' by
It was in the chill of that early autumn the breathless still of the afternoon
When I felt to sudden strange contentment lyin' there in Matilda's room
Matilda's arms were warm and willing Matilda's arms were mine to share
Seems they found the need within they never even knew was there
I came to Summerset when summer leaves were turning yellow
Summer songs had all been sung by fellows such as I
I came to Summerset to sow the seeds of wild dependent
The people seemed to understand and watch me passin' by
[ steel ]
Some people say he's like his mother other people say he's got my ways
Seems kinda quiet around there since he started to school the other day
I came to Summerset...