Hartford is close to Sioux Falls, Minnesota and Iowa
Hartford is a small city in South Dakota's Minnehaha County. Its motto, "On the edge of everything," is reflected by a convenient location, about 15 miles northwest of Sioux Falls and adjacent to Interstate 90. The state lines for Minnesota and Iowa are within a 30-mile drive. According to U.S. Census estimates, the population in Hartford is about 3,400. It's anticipated that more people will be moving here as Hartford continues to develop and new businesses are added. "It's expanding east and west, and a little bit north and south. It's kind of in a little corridor, so the whole thing is just going to expand to where you hit the highway or you hit the other side," says Chere Rosa de Sharon, a broker and the owner of Hi-Tech Realty, who also assists HomeSmart Adventure Realty.
Previously known as Oaksville, the area took on the name Hartford after many people from Hartford , Connecticut, migrated here in the late 19th century. It was incorporated as a city in 1896. Rosa de Sharon says the name is atypical for South Dakota, which has areas named after tribes, Native American words, or even presidents. "Usually, it's not anything pertaining to the East Coast. A lot of settlers came from European countries right to South Dakota, rather than moving from East Coast cities."
Mostly split-level, ranch-style and contemporary homes
Though Hartford has some homes built over a century ago, most date to the 1970s or later. Split-level, ranch-style and contemporary homes are common. Rosa de Sharon mentions a subdivision built beside the Central Valley Golf Course. "It's phenomenal, with prominent, beautiful homes. Some, like those on Sagehorn Drive, have the golf course in their backyard."
Homes added in the 2020s are primarily concentrated in north and south Hartford. "There are a lot of new subdivisions still being built in the Hartford area," Rosa de Sharon says. Overall, single-family prices typically range from about $310,000 to $460,000. "It still is a very affordable option for a bedroom community to Sioux Falls," Rosa de Sharon says. There are also some townhomes and manufactured homes, though not enough on the market at a time for up-to-date pricing.
A connected community where everybody knows each other
Rosa de Sharon is familiar with the Hartford community as her late brother and his family were residents for many years. "He and my sister-in-law raised their daughter there. They had very prominent and successful jobs in Sioux Falls. That would be the majority of working in-town people: they probably are based out of Sioux Falls, and then the rest of them are there for retirement."
Though it has the benefits of a big city nearby for work, entertainment, nightlife and medical facilities, Hartford is characterized by a small-town community lifestyle. Rosa de Sharon emphasizes that it's very community-oriented. "People are sharing, caring, entertaining one another, helping one another with lawn care and snow removal. The neighborhood ladies used to call on my brother for their honey-do lists. If you don't want to get to know your neighbors, I'm serious, don't move to Hartford. They know you at school, they know you at home, they know you at the pool, and they know you at the steakhouse."
Public schools are in the West Central School District
Students may attend public schools in the West Central School District. Hartford Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade and earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Humboldt Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade and has a B-minus. Central Middle School and West Central High School also receive B-minus grades. Career technical education classes at the high school include industrial tech, agriculture and business. Dual credit courses are available through the South Dakota Regental College System.
Places to eat, shop and get groceries around Hartford
Hartford has a city hall, library, and various businesses downtown along North Main Avenue. Buffalo Ridge Brewing offers close to 20 house-made beers on tap and hosts a book club, craft and trivia nights and outdoor live music. Restaurants in the north part of Hartford include The Goat Bar and Grill and the Hartford Steak Co. Tavern, a well-known steakhouse that draws diners from hours away. Sunshine Foods has groceries covered, and Knotty Gnome Variety and Salvage is the spot for handmade goods and custom steel products. Creekside Meats on West South Street has a bevy of meat products, plus cheeses, ready-made meals and wild game processing services.
Community parks, a pool, disc golf and nature trails in Hartford
Hartford City Park, sometimes called Lyons Park, has a playground, amphitheater, baseball diamonds and courts for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. It's also the site of the city's pool, which is open seasonally. The pool has a splash park and offers adult water aerobics and swimming lessons. Daily admission or season passes are available. Turtle Creek Park has a playground, a 9-hole disc golf course, and a dog park. The park also hosts the Siouxland Library StoryWalk, a community walking path with book excerpts posted along the way.
Nature trails along the city's southeast edge include a half-mile path through an area with apple trees, with picking permitted. The Gage House, also known as the Hartford Senior Center, offers meals and social activities for older residents. The Central Valley Golf Course has tee times open to the public and membership options. Just west of Hartford, the I-90 Speedway has Saturday night racing from May to September.
Hartford has a variety of events held throughout the year
Events include the Downtown Market, held on the last Thursdays of the month from May through September. Jamboree Days, the third weekend in June, features a carnival, parade, car show and the Little Miss Hartford Pageant. There's a block party in July and the Witches & Warlocks Wine Walk, a fundraiser and costume contest in October. Hartford Hometown Christmas has a craft show, parade and fireworks.
Highway access, Hartford Area Transit and a clinic in town
Most streets have sidewalks, so Hartford is walkable, though people usually drive longer distances. Hartford Area Transit offers van service in town with fare-free rides for seniors over 60. Round trips are also available to Sioux Falls. Residents may sign up for the city's snow alerts to be notified when it's necessary to move vehicles off streets, which are plowed after snow accumulation of at least 2 inches. Tornadoes are a risk in the region. Three destructive tornadoes affected Sioux Falls in 2019, and a few magnitude 2 tornadoes have been reported within 10 miles of Hartford since the 1950s. Though Hartford doesn't have a high risk of floods, a section below Railroad and South streets may be vulnerable.
The Sanford Hartford Clinic is an option for medical services, and several hospitals are in Sioux Falls. In addition to being just north of 1-90, Hartford has state Route 38 running through it. It's about a 13-mile drive from Hartford to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport for service to over a dozen destinations nationwide.
Written By
Robin Silberman
