Beresford (/ˈbɪərzfərd/; BEERZ-fərd)[7] is a city in Lincoln and Union counties in the U.S. state of South Dakota.

[8] The city was renamed after [[Lord Charles Beresford d]][9] and was formally incorporated on July 12, 1884.

Following the end of the Civil War, thousands of people settled in Dakota Territory during the years 1871 and 1872.

In 1872, the family of Eli Ricard was the first to settle on a homestead in section five of Prairie Township of what is now Union County.

Mr. Ricard operated the Paris Post Office from the frame house he built on his homestead.

In the fall of 1882, it became known that the Iroquois-Hawarden line of the Central division of the Chicago and North Western had built its grade to a point near the Big Sioux River and would be extending it through in the spring of 1883.

Mr. Ricard was reported to have offered the rail road company 80 acres if they would build the railroad across the area where Paris was located.

The surveyor laid out the plat of the town with the assistance of Patrick H. Farley, who helped carry the chain.

C. A. Potter was Beresford's first banker as well as founder of the town's first electric light plant, which failed due to a lack of funds.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2), all land.

Approximately two-thirds of Beresford's area (including its city hall building) is located in Union County.

Beresford is located very near to the center of the North American continent, far removed from any major bodies of water.

Beresford High School recognizes the following sports: football, cross country, boys golf, girls golf, volleyball, wrestling, track, girls basketball, boys basketball, dance, and cheerleading.

Beresford High School also recognizes the following non-athletic programs: marching band, concert band, drama, concert choir, All-State Chorus, All-State Band, Future Farmers of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, school newspaper, school yearbook, quiz bowl, Students Working Against Tobacco, National Honor Society, Meals on Wheels, BEST Robotics, and Student Government.

The study club started up a fund for the library foundation, and through various fundraising efforts accrued $300 for the purchase of more books.

[13] The original library occupied a small area on the second floor of the fire station.

[13] In 1963, with the help of the local Boy Scouts, the library moved to a new home in the former Post Office building.

This was also the time when new forms of media were added to the collection, such as talking books, film strips, and movie projectors.

[14] The current library resides on 3rd Street, and was opened to the public in that venue in the fall of 1992.