2004 · SDMap-doton-Bonesteel · Wikimedia Commons
Bonesteel’s story
124 years in pictures
1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1902Bonesteel is settled
- 2004SDMap-doton-Bonesteel
BonesteelSD
A town of 286, settled in 1902.
Population
286
residents
Median home value
$74K
Census ACS
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
47.7
years
Jobs based here
72
A commuter town
Small town
286 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Pleasant ValleySchrieverBonesteel
Bonesteel’s report card
Now in Bonesteel
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bonesteel. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Bonesteel
Most working residents leave Bonesteel for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Burke (25%), Sioux Falls (7%) and Gregory (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
6%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bonesteel6%
Burke25%
Sioux Falls7%
Gregory5%
Pleasant Valley4%
22 mi
median commute distance
72
jobs based in Bonesteel
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Bonesteel has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–34°
Spring36–59°
Summer60–84°
Fall39–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Bonesteel is
Bonesteel beats the South Dakota average on 4 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
4 better11 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Bonesteel | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.3% | 18.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.5% | 75.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 22.5% | 12.7% |
Community Memorial Hospital
18.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
The schools Bonesteel’s kids attend
South Central School District 26-5 · 1 schools
| School | Grades | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Elementary - 03 | PK–5 | 52 |
NCES · EDFactsAll 1 schools →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 43% of U.S. communities.
43risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Bonesteel for work
Where Bonesteel’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
72jobs based in Bonesteel
6%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bonesteel
City in South Dakota, United States
Bonesteel is a city in Gregory County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 258 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1902
- Population
- 258
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,965 ft
- ZIP code
- 57317
- Area code
- 605