Seven-year-old Laura is a resilient and spirited young girl adjusting to pioneer life in Minnesota. She possesses a deep fascination with the natural world, eagerly exploring Plum Creek and its surroundings. Though prone to disobedience, she is eager to help her family and learn from her mistakes as she faces the daily challenges of the frontier.

Pa is an optimistic pioneer dedicated to providing for his family on the American frontier. He is resourceful and deeply understands the natural world, tackling the massive labor of farming and building with intense determination. His adventurous nature sometimes conflicts with the harsh realities of prairie life, but his cheerful disposition and fiddle playing keep the family's spirits high.

Ma is a steadfast, nurturing mother who works tirelessly to transform a primitive dirt dugout into a comforting home. As a former schoolteacher, she values education and civilization, working hard to maintain proper standards for her daughters even in the wilderness. She is extremely resourceful, finding creative ways to stretch their limited food and supplies while providing a calm, steady presence for her household.

Mary is Laura's older sister, characterized by her quiet caution and studious nature. She prefers sitting indoors practicing her reading or sewing instead of running wild outside. As the eldest child, she takes her responsibilities seriously and acts as a caretaker to her younger siblings, providing a steady example of proper behavior.

Nellie is the daughter of a wealthy store owner in town. Accustomed to a life of relative luxury, she is deeply conscious of social status and material wealth. She uses her position to belittle those with less money, serving as a direct contrast to the humble, hardworking values of the surrounding pioneer families.

Carrie is the youngest daughter of the Ingalls family during their early time at Plum Creek. As a small child, she is largely dependent on her parents and older sisters for care and protection. She represents the vulnerable center of the family unit, requiring constant safeguarding from the dangers of the creek and the harsh elements.

Jack is the Ingalls family's loyal bulldog. He travels all the way from Kansas with them and serves as a vital protector for the family. He guards the homestead against strange animals and helps the girls herd cattle, proving himself to be an essential and beloved member of their frontier existence.

Mr. Hanson is a pioneer looking to travel further West. He currently owns the land near Plum Creek, including the dugout and a small crop. He agrees to trade his property, crops, and oxen to Pa Ingalls in exchange for the Ingalls family's horses, facilitating their settlement in Minnesota.

Mr. Nelson is a Norwegian neighbor living near Plum Creek. He is established enough to hire Pa for labor, helping the Ingalls family pay for necessary livestock. He acts as a crucial connection to the local community, offering advice on local weather patterns and providing vital assistance during emergencies.

Mrs. Nelson is a neighbor to the Ingalls family who speaks with a heavy Norwegian accent. She helps supply the Ingalls with their first milk cow and occasionally visits the dugout, bringing her young daughter along to socialize with the new settlers.

Anna is the young daughter of the Nelson family. She only speaks Norwegian, which creates a language barrier when she tries to play with the Ingalls girls. Her interactions with Laura's toys cause minor conflicts, teaching the children about sharing and hospitality.

Johnny Johnson is the local herd boy responsible for managing the town's cattle on the prairie. He passes near the Ingalls' property daily, representing the communal agricultural efforts of the settlers.

Originally named "Reet" (wreath) by her Norwegian former owners, Spot is a small, beautiful white cow with a circle of red spots. She provides the Ingalls family with daily milk, though her presence adds significantly to the girls' daily chore list.

Pete is one of the two oxen acquired from Mr. Hanson. He is a large, powerful draft animal essential to breaking the thick prairie sod and hauling materials. His stubborn and sometimes unruly behavior occasionally causes trouble around the dugout.

Bright is the second ox traded to Pa by Mr. Hanson. Pa uses Bright and Pete to pull the heavy plow through the tough prairie earth and haul the wagon to town, making them critical to the family's survival and early financial hopes.

Eva Beadle is the local schoolteacher in the nearby town. She is welcoming to the new country students, providing them with loans of equipment and assessing their reading abilities to help them integrate into the classroom.

Christy Kennedy is a friendly girl at the town school. When Laura and Mary first arrive in their outgrown country clothes, Christy kindly introduces herself, stops the bullying from her brother, and helps the girls adjust to the social environment of the classroom.

Willie is the son of the wealthy town store owner. He follows his sister Nellie's lead in mocking the poorer country children, sharing her spoiled attitude and reluctance to share his expensive toys with guests.

Mr. Oleson is a prominent merchant who owns the primary supply store in town. His wealth sets his family apart from the struggling farmers, allowing him to extend credit to settlers like Pa for building materials.

Mrs. Oleson is the wife of the local store owner. She enjoys a highly comfortable lifestyle compared to the pioneer farmers and hosts social gatherings where she displays her family's wealth, while indulging her children's entitled behavior.

Reverend Alden is a gentle home missionary who travels between settlements to preach. He brings a sense of community, spiritual grounding, and civilization to the frontier town, holding services every few weeks and organizing events that bring joy to the struggling congregation.

Mrs. Tower is a woman in the local congregation who takes charge of the religious education of the children. She teaches Sunday-school lessons, like the story of baby Moses, helping to instill moral instruction in the frontier youth.