Linton is the capital and sixth largest city in the US state of Dakota, with a population of 67,000 (metro pop. 95,000), and the seat of Emmons County. And of the 100,000 inhabitants of Emmons County, all but 5,000 live within the city limits.
It became state capital over Yankton in the summer of 1891, after the legislature finally gave in to complaints that Yankton was too far removed from much of the state and its populace. Its position as state capital has made the city a target for multiple militia attacks in the past fifteen years, the most notorious of which was led by now-imprisoned militia leader Edgar Halstrom against the main branch of the Dakota State Bank in downtown Linton in mid-May 1996.
The Emmons County Courthouse in eastern Linton.
The Dakota state capitol building, near downtown Linton.