2004 · SDMap-doton-Alpena · Wikimedia Commons
Alpena’s story
143 years in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
- 1883Alpena is settled
- 2004SDMap-doton-Alpena
AlpenaSD
A town of 317, settled in 1883. A regional job hub with 703 jobs.
Population
317
residents
Median home value
$52K
Census ACS
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
35.3
years
Jobs based here
703
A job hub
What makes Alpena stand out
The thing Alpena does most differently from other towns.
Small town
317 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Alpena’s report card
Now in Alpena
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alpena. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in Alpena
Most working residents leave Alpena for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Wessington Springs (39%), Huron (7%) and Mitchell (5%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
16%work in town
Where working residents work
In Alpena16%
Wessington Springs39%
Huron7%
Mitchell5%
Sioux Falls5%
12 mi
median commute distance
703
jobs based in Alpena
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Alpena has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
45″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–29°
Spring34–57°
Summer59–83°
Fall36–60°
Oct 8
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
High risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.
61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingDrought
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Alpena is
Alpena beats the South Dakota average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
0 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Alpena | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 13% | 8.8% |
Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center - Cah
12 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
Homes in Alpena sell for about $190K
The median sale price was $190,000 in April 2026.
$190Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A job hub
Every workday, about 690 people come to Alpena for work
Where Alpena’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
703jobs based in Alpena
16%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Alpena
Town in South Dakota, United States
Alpena (pronounced al-PEE'-nuh) is a town in northeastern corner of Jerauld County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Alpena had a population of 212.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1883
- Population
- 212
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,319 ft
- ZIP code
- 57312
- Area code
- 605