Kimball, SD was founded in 1880 and was named in honor of a railroad commissioner, J.W. Kimball. A few miles west of Kimball stood a roadhouse that was on the old trail from Yankton along the Missouri River. In early days, a supply line started from this point to connect with forts stationed in several places up the river. It was here, in Kimball, that Gen. George Custer and his troops stopped on their way to the Black Hills in 1875.