1909 · Greetings from Bowdle, S.D · Library of Congress
Bowdle’s story
Bowdle in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
BowdleSD
A town of 475.
Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
475
−6.4% since 2010
Median home value
$113K
Census ACS
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
39.1
years
Jobs based here
216
Balanced
Small town
475 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Bowdle’s report card
Now in Bowdle
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Residents weigh in
Live in Bowdle? Is a B− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Bowdle’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bowdle. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 25% of U.S. communities.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Bowdle has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–26°
Spring31–54°
Summer56–80°
Fall33–56°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Bowdle
Most working residents leave Bowdle for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Roscoe (15%), Aberdeen (10%) and Hosmer (5%). Half commute less than 33 miles.
14%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bowdle14%
Roscoe15%
Aberdeen10%
Hosmer5%
Sioux Falls5%
33 mi
median commute distance
216
jobs based in Bowdle
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Bowdle is
Bowdle beats the South Dakota average on 5 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
5 better13 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Bowdle | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.4% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 12.8% | 15.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.2% | 6.8% |
Bowdle Hospital - Cah
0.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Bowdle’s public schools outperform 53% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Bowdle’s kids attend outperform 53% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdle Elementary - 02 | K–5 | 40 | B |
| Bowdle Jr. High - 03 | 6–8 | 20 | Not graded |
| Bowdle High School - 01 | 9–12 | 23 | Not graded |
| Bowdle Preschool - 04 | PK | 7 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 4 schools →
About Bowdle
City in South Dakota, United States
Bowdle () is a city in Edmunds County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 470 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 470
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,998 ft
- ZIP code
- 57428
- Area code
- 605
More about Bowdle
Still missing for Bowdle:local news coverageupcoming events