Welcome to Winner! Located in south central South Dakota along Highways 18, 183 and 44, Winner is the county seat of Tripp County. With a population of 3,137, the city covers approximately 922.5 acres and is 1,920ft. above sea level. Winner was part of the famous Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and later part of the Dakota Territory, which was established by an act of Congress and a proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Winner was so named because it was the "winner" in the struggle to establish a town along the railroad right-of-way when the Chicago North Western began moving west from Dallas, SD in 1909.
At first Lamro, which was then the county seat, was believed to have the best chance but the railroad survey missed the established township by only two miles and immediately a new town originated and was given the name Winner.
Winner is a good place to do business having the best utility rates in the state. Over 300 businesses are active in the Winner community. The Winner School district is rated level 1 by the South Dakota Division of Education with the High School accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and High Schools. Winner is home to a Regional Healthcare Center and two modern assisted living centers. Recent capital improvements in the city include a new main street, a new 4,500ft. concrete runway at the airport, and a new Fire Hall / Ambulance building facility with training room.