New growth and development in Lennox in Lincoln County
Lennox is a small city in South Dakota's Lincoln County, and a bedroom community for Sioux Falls , a commuter destination about 20 miles to the northeast. The Iowa and Minnesota state lines are about 20 and 30 miles away, respectively. "The most important thing about Lennox is it's exploding with new growth and development. That is really exciting," says Chere Rosa de Sharon, a broker and the owner of Hi-Tech Realty, who is assisting in expanding HomeSmart Adventure Realty. She says most of the development in Lennox is related to housing, though in Tea , halfway to Sioux Falls, commercial development has also increased.
The population in Lennox is about 2,600, according to U.S. Census estimates. Though Lennox doesn't have the same supply of restaurants, retail and services that you'd find in Sioux Falls, it has a number of attributes. "They have businesses and recreational amenities, thriving schools and vibrant sports activities. It's just rare that they would even have some of this, because they are such a small town," Rosa de Sharon says.
Older housing stock and new construction in Lennox
Late 19th and early 20th century homes include farmhouses and Craftmans. "It's an older community with charm and character. There's housing that's not necessarily historical, but has been enhanced. One listing I had in Lennox was a Victorian home with a wrap-around porch and an added-on garage," Rosa de Sharon says. Ranch-style, split-level and contemporary homes are housing types built in Lennox from the mid-20th century on.
There's also some new construction, primarily north of Boynton Avenue. "Nielson Construction has started a development site with townhomes, twin homes and single-family homes," Rosa de Sharon says. Twin homes are two-sided homes similar to duplexes, but each side typically has a separate owner. Homes in Nielson's Countryside Addition Development range from about 1,000 square feet to 1,700 square feet.
Some homes in Lennox are slab-on-grade — built on a slab instead of having a basement — so water problems are virtually eliminated. Homes from before the 2000s range from about $200,000 to $290,000, whereas later builds are about $460,000 to $550,000.
Downtown is along Main Street, and a grocery store is to the north
nnox has a small downtown centered around South Main Street. It includes the Lennox City Hall, the Sanford Health Lennox Clinic and businesses such as banks, salons and the Lennox Independent, a newspaper publisher. Also on Main Street is the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame, which includes a museum and the Opry House, also hosts jam sessions for local musicians. Wini Iverson, the establishment's CEO and owner, says she dabbles in a few things and has played ukelele professionally. The Hall of Fame will be electing musicians from around the state. "What we do is recognize those musicians that make a difference in country music in South Dakota. We are going to have the induction ceremonies at the Opry House."
Restaurants in Lennox include El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant and Chuck's Drive-In, which is known for burgers, sandwiches, ice cream and shakes. On the north end of Lennox, Sunshine Foods has groceries, and there's an Ace hardware store.
Community park amenities and a senior center in Lennox
Westerman Park on South Main Street has a playground, a skate park, a community garden and facilities for baseball, tennis and basketball. West Evergreen Park on West Fourth Avenue offers a playground and sand volleyball courts. At the Lennox Senior Center, enrichment programming includes exercise classes, a nutrition fair, monthly potluck dinners and foot care sessions. Transportation to and from the center may be available for a fee.
Highly ranked schools and a state champion football team
Students may attend public schools like Lennox Elementary School, which earns an A-minus grade from Niche. LWC Intermediate serves fifth through sixth grades and is rated A-minus. Lennox Junior High School, for seventh and eighth grades, has a B-plus, and Lennox High School has a B-minus. The junior high and high school share a building. A $17-million project to construct an addition was underway in 2025. The addition would include an auxiliary gym and a 900-seat performing arts center.
The Lennox High football team, the Orioles, won the state championship in 2024, bringing back the title for the first time in 42 years. Subsequently, the mayor declared November 25th as Lennox Oriole Football Day. School sports have a significant role in the community's culture. "For some of these small towns, if you don't know their mascots or the color of their team, they won't let you join their Facebook group," Rosa de Sharon says.
Lennox has events like concerts, car shows and holiday festivities
In the summer, neighbors gather on Thursday nights at Westerman Park's Jacobs Memorial Bandshell for concerts featuring the Lennox Municipal Band. The band, which has members aged 12 to over 80, has been operating since 1882 and is the longest running municipal band in the state.
The Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration is a two-day affair. On the day before Independence Day, there are events like the Little Miss Lennox Contest at Westerman Park and a cruise night, street dance competition and concert on Main Street. On the actual holiday, there's a parade, a car show, numerous vendor stalls, live entertainment and fireworks. Another event with an automotive component, craft vendors and food trucks is Park Drive After 5, held monthly in July, August and September.
TeaPot Days, held in Tea during the third weekend of June, draws Lennox residents for the TeaFest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine, a parade, a beer garden and a bean bag tournament. The Mighty Thomas Carnival, a traveling carnival founded in Lennox in 1928, has also been featured as part of TeaPot Days.
A walkable and bikeable community with highway access
The city is under 2 square miles, and sidewalks are common, so it's walkable and bikeable, with a recreational trail as one way to get around. However, to travel outside Lennox, vehicles are necessary. State Route 17 is accessible from the east side of Lennox, and state Route 44 is to the west and south. Among several hospitals in Sioux Falls, is South Dakota's largest, the Sanford USD Medical Center, a teaching hospital for the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. It's about a 25-mile drive from Lennox to Sioux Falls Regional Airport, for direct flights to over a dozen domestic destinations.
Snow, mosquitoes and the risk of tornadoes and floods
In the winter, Lennox averages about 30 inches of snow, and the city starts removal operations when there are at least 2 inches of snow on the roads. In 2024, the city battled more than 14 inches of snow over a week. Though central Lennox doesn't have a high flood risk, water accumulation, especially in basements, is a concern. In recent years, the city has improved drainage and added storm sewers and sump pump collection lines to combat issues. Parts of Lennox experienced flooding in 2024 that was severe enough to require road closures. A byproduct of floodwaters and heavy rain is an increase in mosquitoes, which the city manages by dispatching fogging trucks. Additionally, over the last 40 years, four category 2 tornadoes have been reported within 10 miles of Lennox.
Written By
Robin Silberman
