Meckling is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in Clay County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 48 at the 2020 census. Meckling was laid out in 1873, and named in honor of Jones S. Meckling, a railroad employee. Due to the large number of farms that grow the crop alfalfa it has become known as the "Hay Capital of the Universe". In this fertile Missouri River valley of southeastern South Dakota, alfalfa hay is the crop of choice. Each August Meckling and its neighboring town Gayville, the Hay Capital of the World host the Annual Hay Days. In 1965, the local school closed, and the residents were allowed to choose between the Gayville or Vermillion s…

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Town numbers

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Living in Meckling

Work & commute in Meckling

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Most working residents leave Meckling for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Vermillion (28%), Sioux Falls (18%) and Yankton (5%). Half commute less than 21 miles.

Vermillion

28%

Sioux Falls

18%

Yankton

Sioux City, IA

1%Work in townlive and work in Meckling 21 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 12Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Meckling →

Health in Meckling

Compared with South Dakota

9better than SD·2worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▲ 3 close Habits all close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.2%Fewer adults with diabetesSD 11.7% · better 2.5%Fewer adults who have had a strokeSD 3.5% · better 69.1%Fewer adults treating high blood pressureSD 75.9% · worse

Care nearby

Sanford Vermillion Medical CenterVermillion · 11 mi · ER · rural critical access

Horizon Health - Yankton Medical and DentalYankton · 14.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 57069, 57031, 57072 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Meckling →

Natural hazards in Meckling

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 66% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌵 Drought🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Meckling flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 16 declared for Clay County MapMeckling vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Meckling

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Meckling has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

32° / 13°Winter

60° / 36°Spring

83° / 61°Summer

62° / 38°Fall