A town of 1,280, settled in 1883. Healthier than 73% of U.S. towns.
The 3 things Parker does most differently from other towns.
1909 · Central Ave. from the south1,022 people in 2010; 1,280 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Be the first to start the conversation.
Nothing on the calendar.
Ordered by what stands out in Parker. Another town gets a different order.
Most working residents leave Parker for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Sioux Falls (43%), Marion (4%) and Lennox (3%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
Parker beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
| What stands out | Parker | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.9% | 12.7% |
The public schools Parker’s kids attend outperform 68% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Elementary - 02 | PK–6 | 238 | C+ |
| Parker Jr. High - 03 | 7–8 | 74 | B+ |
| Parker High School - 01 | 9–12 | 141 | A |
Parker has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.
The median sale price was $258,000 in May 2026.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.
2 places in Parker on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in South Dakota, U.S.
Parker is a city in Turner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,194 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Turner County. Parker is bordered on its eastern side by South Dakota State Highway 19. Its northern side is bordered by South Dakota State Highway 44. Parker is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Chancellor, 42 miles (68 km) east of Parkston and 41 miles (66 km) south of Madison.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
