When did Laura Ingalls Wilder live in De Smet, South Dakota?
Laura Ingalls Wilder first moved to De Smet, South Dakota, in 1879, when she was just 12 years old. The town, located in what was then the Dakota Territory, would become one of the most important places in her life—and a central setting in her Little House book series. De Smet is often referred to as “The Little Town on the Prairie”, and it’s where Laura spent most of her teenage years, began her teaching career, and met her future husband, Almanzo Wilder.
The Ingalls family arrived in De Smet in 1879, when Charles Ingalls (Pa) took a job as the timekeeper and bookkeeper for the railroad survey crew. That first winter, the family lived in the Surveyors’ House, located just outside the newly forming town. Their early years in De Smet were marked by both hardship and opportunity as they worked to establish a homestead in the unsettled Dakota Territory.
During this time, De Smet was growing quickly, thanks to the expansion of the railroad and Homestead Act. The Ingalls family later claimed a 160-acre homestead just outside town, where they lived in a sod dugout and eventually a small wooden house. These years formed the basis for several books in the Little House series, including:
Laura’s Marriage and Departure from De Smet (1890)
In 1885, Laura married Almanzo Wilder, and the couple set up their own home on a homestead not far from the Ingalls family. They welcomed their daughter, Rose Wilder, in 1886. However, the couple faced severe hardships—including the death of their infant son, financial struggles, crop failures, and Almanzo’s lingering health problems due to diphtheria.
In 1890, Laura and Almanzo decided to leave De Smet in hopes of finding a healthier climate and a fresh start. They moved first to Spring Valley, Minnesota, to live with Almanzo’s parents while he recovered, and then briefly to Westville, Florida, hoping the warm weather would help his health improve. However, Florida proved unsuitable, and they returned north.
Returning Briefly to De Smet (1892–1894)
In 1892, the Wilder family returned to De Smet, where they lived in a small rented house in town. While back in De Smet, Laura continued to care for her daughter and work alongside Almanzo. However, they still faced financial uncertainty and dreamed of owning productive farmland and building a permanent home.
In 1894, just two years after returning, the Wilders made their final move—to Mansfield, Missouri, where they would establish Rocky Ridge Farm and live out the rest of their lives.
Timeline of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Life in De Smet
1879 – Ingalls family moves to De Smet, South Dakota (then Dakota Territory)
1880–1885 – Laura grows up in De Smet, becomes a schoolteacher, and courts Almanzo
1885 – Laura marries Almanzo Wilder
1886 – Daughter Rose Wilder is born in De Smet
1889 – Laura and Almanzo’s unnamed infant son dies
1890 – The Wilders leave De Smet for Minnesota and then Florida
1892 – They return to live in a small house in De Smet
1894 – Laura, Almanzo, and Rose leave De Smet permanently and move to Mansfield, Missouri
De Smet’s Lasting Legacy
De Smet plays a central role in both Laura’s life and her literary legacy. Today, it is home to numerous historic sites and museums dedicated to the Ingalls family, including:
The original Surveyors’ House
The Ingalls Homestead
The First School of De Smet
The De Smet Cemetery, where Charles, Caroline, Mary, Carrie, and Grace Ingalls are buried
Fans from all over the world visit De Smet each year to walk in Laura’s footsteps and experience the town that inspired some of the most beloved books in American children’s literature.
