Gayville A post office was established as White Hall in 1870, renamed Boreman in 1872, and again renamed Gayville in 1873. The present name honors Elkanah Gay, an early postmaster. Gayville was a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Gayville is the self-proclaimed "Hay Capital of the World". Gayville is also constantly in competition with nearby Meckling, the self-proclaimed "Hay Capital of the Universe." Gayville is home of the annual Gayville Hay Days celebration in July. It is also home of the old-time music hall, Gayville Hall, located in the historic Bagsted and Aaseth Building on the town's main street (Washington Street). Gayville Gayville is a town in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. Area: .21 sq. mi. Elevation: 1,161’ Founded: 1892 Population: 409 (2016) Zip code: 57031 Area code: 605 Gayville was originally settled chiefly by Scandinavian farmers. A luxury vacation spot right outside your back door! NOTABLE PEOPLE: • Marv Olson, professional baseball player • Nels H. Smith, 18th Governor of Wyoming. The townsite of Gayville was located on the east bank of “The Lakes”, so called because the winding waterways across the flat land to the Missouri at that time was usually filled with water. The 100 acre townsite was a part of the homestead of Halvor Brynelson which he had been persuaded to sell for $1 to Mr. Wicker and Mr. Elkanah Gay of the Dakota Southern railroad, on December 24 of 1872. The town of Gayville was named for Mr. Gay, a railroad contractor. The townsite was surveyed in March, 1873 and in a short time 10 buildings were contracted and several built. By the 23rd of April, there were three general mercantile establishments— the Willey store: one started by Iver Bagstad which handled groceries, liquor and cigars: and one moved in from the former stage stop to where the Senior Citizens are now and run by James M. Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher continued to handle the mail and is considered to be Gayville’s first postmaster, with the Gayville post office starting on March 18th. There was also a drug store, run by E.C. Walton who was the town justice of the peace and was nicknamed “Marryin’ Sam”. Gayville had a blacksmith shop run by a Mr. Johnson and some grain warehouses. A Mr. Collamer, who had been mayor of Yankton, erected a building in Gayville in October of 1873 intending to go into the tin and hardware business. In December he opened a real estate office in partnership with a man named Truesdell. In the November Hello, neighbor! Please stop by and say, “Hi!” Featuring Hot Springs & Caldera Spas LEISURE WORLD, INC. Spas • Swimming Pools • Saunas 1900 Broadway Ave, Yankton, SD 57078 • 605-665-1240 2500 S. 13th St., Norfolk, NE 68701 • 402-371-8425 Summer Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10-5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm Winter Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm www.leisureworldsd.com 8vYANKTON COUNTY GUIDE 2019 I’m looking forward to serving your needs for insurance and financial services. Here to help life go right.® CALL ME TODAY. Roy Wilcox, Agent 200 W 4th ST • Yankton, SD 57078 Bus: 605-665-7140 • www.roywilcox.com 1801132 State Farm, Bloomington, IL