Lennox A Small Town Planning Big for the Future
Lennox
A Small Town Planning Big for the FutureJust minutes from Sioux Falls, the City of Lennox is a growing community of about 2,500 residents that continues to evolve while holding tightly to its small-town identity. With steady growth, strong community pride, and a long-term approach to planning, Lennox is positioning itself as a place where families, businesses, and future opportunity can all grow together.
Lennox City Administrator Nathan Vander Plaats said the community offers a unique balance of small-town living with access to a major regional hub. “We’ve talked about Lennox being on that second tier of growth outside of Sioux Falls,” he said. “We may be a part of the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, but we are still our own community.”
That balance is part of what continues to attract new residents. The community has been growing at a steady rate of about 2 to 3 percent annually, supported in part by new housing developments such as Countryside Addition on the north side of town. “It’s been open for about four years now,” Vander Plaats said. “We figured it’d take about 15 years to f ill up and in four years it’s over half full already.” While growth brings challenges, he said it has been intentional. “Any growth comes with struggles,” he said. “But it was planned and expected that this would happen.”
Housing remains a major focus as Lennox plans for the future. According to local leaders, the community will need significant additional housing in the coming years, including both rental and owner-occupied options. Vander Plaats noted that long-term planning is guiding decisions across the city. “The next five years are really important, but I’m far more concerned with what’s going to happen 30 years down the road when I’m gone,” he said. “I want to make sure that this community is set up for its success long down the road so that it has what it’s needed well into the future.”
Beyond housing, Lennox offers a strong quality of life anchored by schools, recreation, and community events. “No matter what time of year you’re in Lennox, there’s something for a family to do,” Vander Plaats said. The city features parks, youth sports, a community pool, and year-round recreation programs. Signature events like the 4th of July celebration bring thousands into town. “We have our Independence Day events that we have down here where 10 or 15,000 people show up every year,” he said.
One of the community’s most active spaces is Westerman Park, which serves as a hub for gatherings and events. As local business owner and Lennox Commercial Club President Eric Mach Mueller explained, “We are at Westerman Park. It’s the heart of Lennox. It’s where a lot of our huge community events happen.”
On the business side, Lennox is focused on supporting both existing employers and future growth. Vander Plaats emphasized the community’s collaborative approach. “You’ve got the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, you’ve got Lennox Area Development Corporation, the Commercial Club, the city all working together to try and find folks a home here in Lennox for their business,” he said. “We have a ton of people that are committed to making it work.”
That collaboration extends directly to business owners and entrepreneurs. Mach Mueller said the community environment is a key strength. “Lennox is a good place to have a business in the regards that the community, Lennox itself is very active in trying to grow our rooftops in town,” he said. “The business structure in this community all comes together, especially for our community events, and we all work together to inspire and grow our businesses.”
For both residents and business owners, community connection is at the heart of Lennox. “It’s a home where you’re going to know everybody,” Vander Plaats said. “We all know each other and we’re all kind of supporting each other, trying to make things work and grow the community the way that we need to.”
As Lennox continues to grow, leaders say the focus remains on thoughtful, longterm development rather than rapid expansion. “We’re looking out 20, 40 years on some of our projects at this point,” Vander Plaats said. “I want to make sure that this community is set up for its success long down the road.”
In Lennox, that long-view approach is shaping a community that is growing with intention, investing in its future, and working to ensure that both families and businesses have a place to thrive for generations to come.