2015 · Big Stone City Hall NRHP 04000764 Grant County, SD · Wikimedia Commons
Big Stone’s story
Big Stone in pictures
3 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
Big StoneSD
A town of 426. Nearly 13.4% of it is conserved land.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
426
residents
Median home value
$332K
Census ACS
Household income
$111K
median
Median age
32.6
years
Jobs based here
198
Balanced
What makes Big Stone stand out
The thing Big Stone does most differently from other towns.
Small town
426 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Big Stone CityOrtonvilleMelroseLockwoodBig Stone
Big Stone’s report card
Now in Big Stone
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Big Stone. Another town gets a different order.
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Big Stone has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring33–55°
Summer58–81°
Fall36–57°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
13.4% of Big Stone is conserved land
1.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
13.4%conserved
13.4%
conserved · 2,890 of 21,529 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Streich Waterfowl Production Area | — | 77 |
| 2. Holtquist Slough Game Production Area | — | 77 |
| 3. Antroinen Waterfowl Production Area | — | 41 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Big Stone
Most working residents leave Big Stone for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Milbank (42%), Sioux Falls (7%) and Ortonville (5%). Half commute less than 8 miles.
7%work in town
Where working residents work
In Big Stone7%
Milbank42%
Sioux Falls7%
Ortonville5%
Big Stone City5%
8 mi
median commute distance
198
jobs based in Big Stone
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Big Stone is
Big Stone beats the South Dakota average on 6 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
6 better12 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Big Stone | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 16.1% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 13.3% | 15.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.1% | 9.2% |
Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health
7.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Big Stone
City in South Dakota, United States
Big Stone City is a city in the northeastern corner of Grant County, South Dakota, United States, that lies between the southern tip of Big Stone Lake and the northern bank of the Whetstone River, and is adjacent to the city of Ortonville, Minnesota. The population was 412 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 412
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,043 ft
- ZIP code
- 57216
- Area code
- 605
More about Big Stone
Still missing for Big Stone:local news coverageupcoming events