Why a South Dakota city was once known as The Town in the Frog Pond

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it became the Hub City of the Dakotas, Aberdeen faced a soggy identity crisis. Periodic heavy rains turned its main street into a swampy basin, flooding basements and forcing the city to attempt an ambitious engineering fix that initially backfired, sending water geysering into the streets with violent force.

Founded in 1881 as a railroad hub, Aberdeen was named by Alexander Mitchell after his birthplace in Scotland. The city quickly grew as a nexus for four different railroad lines, earning it the moniker Hub City of the Dakotas. However, its early development was plagued by its geography. Built on low-lying ground, the town suffered from recurring floods that earned it the unflattering nickname The Town in the Frog Pond. When heavy rains arrived, the city’s single steam-powered pump struggled for days or weeks to clear the water, only for the cycle to repeat.

In a desperate attempt to manage the water, the city commissioned an artesian well in 1884. The project was a disaster; the underground pressure was so immense that water erupted with such power that it submerged Main Street in four feet of water. Engineers eventually salvaged the project by installing a gate valve, which successfully tamed the flow and provided the city with its first reliable water supply. This era of rapid, often chaotic growth defined the town's early character.

Beyond its engineering struggles, Aberdeen became a surprising cultural footnote. Author L. Frank Baum, who later wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, lived in the city from 1888 to 1891. He operated a failed fancy goods store called Baum's Bazaar and edited a local newspaper where he advocated for women's suffrage. Today, the city retains a connection to his legacy through its amusement park, which features elements inspired by his famous series. The city has since evolved into a micropolitan center, home to Northern State University and a population of approximately 27,919 as of 2024.

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