Senator Tim Johnson | Working for South Dakota

Codington County South Dakota

County Name: Codington County

Largest City: Watertown

County Seat: Watertown

Population: 26,347

Founded: 1877

History of Codington County:

Located in the northeast region of South Dakota, Codington County was created in 1877 by the Dakota Territorial Legislature. The county includes the towns of Florence, Henry, Kranzburg, South Shore, Wallace and Watertown. Watertown has served as the county seat since 1878 and is home to more than 20,000 of the county's 26,000 residents.
The county was named after the Reverend George S.S. Codington. Codington was a circuit preacher, based out of Watertown, and a member of the Territorial Legislature. He traveled to communities throughout eastern South Dakota, journeying as far as 90 miles to deliver his sermons to settlers in the surrounding area.

The county seat in Watertown serves as an important commercial center for the people living in northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota. It is currently the fourth largest town in the state. Founded during the period at the end of the 19th Century known as the "great boom," the population of Watertown swelled as the Winona and St. Peter Railroad expanded westward through the Dakotas. A newspaper established during the county's formative years survives today as the Watertown Public Opinion.

Watertown was initially known as "Waterville" to railroad surveyors because of the number of lakes that surround the area. Lake Kampeska, Pelican Lake and the Big Sioux River are among the bodies of water within the county. The town was renamed "Watertown" by two of its earliest settlers, Oscar and John Kemp, who hailed from Watertown, New York.

A number of Codington County residents have gone on to local and national fame. Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey was born in the town of Wallace in 1911. Humphrey served under President Lyndon B. Johnson before his own bid for the presidency ended unsuccessfully in 1968. Arthur C. Mellette, a local attorney and businessman, was the first governor of the newly-formed state of South Dakota when it was admitted to the union in 1889.
Cleveland Abbot was an outstanding athlete at Watertown High School in the early 1900s; he went on to a legendary career as the football and track and field coach at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. Renowned artist Terry Redlin gained national fame for his renderings of wildlife and wilderness scenes. Redlin was born in Watertown, and the Redlin Art Center in the city is devoted to his works.

Tim's Work in Codington County:

Tim Secures Funds for Essential Air Service
Tim worked to secure $110 million in the FY 2008 budget to fund the Essential Air Service Program that helps ensure commercial airlines continue to serve Pierre, Watertown, Huron, and other small airports throughout the state. The program provides valuable financial assistance for smaller communities throughout the nation, ensuring that commercial air service is not lost in rural areas.

Tim Supports Area Fire Department
Earlier this year, Tim announced that the Watertown Fire Department would receive a $210,850 federal grant from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. The funding will help the department maintain 24-hour staffing to ensure that trained personnel are immediately available to serve Watertown citizens in an emergency.

Tim Works to Preserve Native Tallgrass
Tim secured $319,930 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Project in the FY 2008 budget. The project preserves native grasslands, including the historic habitat and rare species found in such areas, by purchasing perpetual easements from willing sellers. The easements prevent the plowing or cultivation of such lands. Tim has helped secure more than $3 million for the project since 2003.

Tim Secures Funding for Flood Prevention along the Big Sioux River
Tim secured $1.873 million to prevent flooding along the Big Sioux River in the FY 2008 budget. Tim has helped secure $10 million in funding for the project since 2005. The Big Sioux Flood Control Project calls for the construction of a dam above the confluence of the Big Sioux River and Skunk Creek, as well as elevating the levees along the banks. These improvements will ensure that the necessary flood protection for homes and businesses are in place to prevent the estimated $750 million in property damage that would result from a major flood event.

Tim Secures Highway Funds
In 2006, Tim secured more than $6 million for highway construction in Codington County. Tim was able to secure $3.6 million in funding for the construction of the South Connector in Watertown. The project, which is currently underway, aims to reduce the amount of truck traffic on Highway 212 and to provide for overall economic development and business growth in the Hanten Industrial Park area. Tim secured $2.5 million in funding for the reconstruction of the intersection of Highways 212 and 81. The money for both projects was appropriated as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005.

Tim Supports Local Law Enforcement
In 2006, Tim secured $100,000 in funding to purchase equipment for the state's new criminal investigation facility, improving law enforcement investigation services throughout the state.

Tim Secures Funds for Rural Water Project
In 2005, Tim announced that the Sioux Rural Water System received $750,000 to enhance water services in Codington County. The money was used to construct five miles of new pipeline, make pumping station improvements, and increase water system capacity for customers. The funding came as a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program.

Tim Works to Support Municipal Airport
In 2005, Tim announced that Watertown Municipal Airport had been awarded $150,000 from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program for runway reconstruction.

Tim Supports Army National Guard in Watertown
In 2004, Tim secured more than $1.2 million for the construction of a new Watertown Readiness Center for the South Dakota National Guard. The new readiness center accommodates 200 soldiers and provides modern facilities on a site that will allow for future expansion. Tim secured more than $500,000 for the project in the FY 2002 budget.