Rowena, South Dakota Explained

Rowena (pronounced "roh-WEE'-nuh"^[1]) is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population of the CDP was 68 at the 2020 census.^[2] It is located along South Dakota Highway 42.

Rowena is located at, just over one mile north of the border with Iowa, approximately 5miles east of Sioux Falls, and 5miles west of the Minnesota border, at an elevation of 1,437 feet. The ZIP Code is 57056.

Television towers

Two of South Dakota's tallest structures are located near Rowena: the 1,999 ft (609.2 meters) high KDLT Tower, and the slightly shorter KELO TV Tower.

History

The community has the name of Rowena, a character in the novel Ivanhoe.^[3] The city was founded by the Illinois Central Railroad when it was extended to that point.

Notable person

• Mamie Van Doren, actress and singer

Notes and References

1. Web site: Broadcast Pronunciation Guide and South Dakota Pronunciations . . 2009-11-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614020153/http://www.ap.org/southdakota/prono.html . 2011-06-14 .
2. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau: Rowena CDP, South Dakota . www.census.gov . United States Census Bureau . 21 February 2022 . en.
3. Book: Federal Writers' Project. Federal Writers' Project. South Dakota place-names, v.1-3. 1940. University of South Dakota. 59.