Oh, to live in a town named Tea.
Tea, South Dakota, is a small town about ten miles south of Sioux Falls. It claims to be the fastest growing city in the state. According to census figures, it has surged from a population of 786 in 1990 to 4,100 today.
Tea will hold Teapot Days in June again this year. The annual fest features a teapot display and the crowning of Ma and Pa Teapot.
The interesting thing about Tea is that the name of the town has no real connection to tea - the plant or the beverage. According to a local historian, the community began life as the village of Byron. Around the turn of the century, the citizenry realized that there were too many towns named Byron (don't you hate when that happens?) and held a public meeting to come up with ten alternate names. By the time they got up to nine they were running out of ideas and everyone was ready to adjourn for a tea break and so some wit suggested that they add Tea to the list.
The rest, as the saying goes, was history.
Image: Tea Area Historical Society
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2 comments:
Stumbled upon your post when looking for Rooibos teas. Just thought I'd send a wave & "hello" from Tea, SD. We moved there in 1984 (MN transplants) when the pop. was small. Moved outside the town when the "population explosion" began in earnest in the early 90's (it's now creeping up to 3000).
If the name Tea was added on a whim due to their "tea break," how is the town's name not connected to the beverage?
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