Florence is a town in northwestern Codington County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 337 at the 2020 census. Florence was named for a lady acquaintance of a railroad employee.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code57235

Area code605

Living in Florence

Housing in Florence

$526K▲ 4.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Florence home is worth about $526,000, up 4.2% in a year, 63% above the South Dakota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Florence

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Florence for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Watertown (52%), Sioux Falls (9%) and Rauville (3%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Watertown

52%

Sioux Falls

Rauville

Henry

2%Work in townlive and work in Florence 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 58Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Florence →

Health in Florence

Compared with South Dakota

1better than SD·1worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

83.1%More women getting mammogramsSD 76.6% · better 10.8%More adults who have had cancerSD 9.2% · worse

Care nearby

Prairie Lakes Healthcare SystemWatertown · 14.2 mi · ER

Horizon Health - De Smet Medical and DentalDe Smet · 47.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Florence · CMS · HRSAHealth in Florence →

Natural hazards in Florence

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Florence flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 21 declared for Codington County MapFlorence vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Florence →

Climate in Florence

Full climate →

Florence has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

24° / 5°Winter

53° / 31°Spring

79° / 57°Summer

56° / 34°Fall

How much snow does Florence get?About 32 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 28, with the last in spring around May 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Florence →

Schools in Florence

All Florence schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Florence’s kids attend trail 69% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictFlorence School District 14-1Schools3

Florence Elementary - 02 C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 179 students Florence Middle School - 03 C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 71 students Florence High School - 01 B-High · Grades 9–12 · 102 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within SD. Ratings are from neighbors.