Wessington Springs, South Dakota was founded in 1876 and was named Wessington but the post office changed the name in 1882 to Elmer.  The towns’ people did not accept that name and petitioned to have it changed to Wessington Springs for the springs that flow from the Wessington Hills near by.  Today, Wessington Springs is the county seat of Jerauld County, South Dakota  and continues to serve the surrounding farming community.