2004 · SDMap-doton-Plankinton · Wikimedia Commons
Plankinton’s story
Plankinton in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →PlankintonSD
A town of 295. Nearly 45.8% of it is conserved land.
Population
295
residents
Median home value
$245K
Census ACS
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
21.8
years
Jobs based here
106
Balanced
What makes Plankinton stand out
The 2 things Plankinton does most differently from other towns.
Small town
295 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
EurekaFiresteelHopperPleasant LakePlankinton
Plankinton’s report card
Now in Plankinton
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Plankinton? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Plankinton’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Plankinton. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Plankinton is conserved land
2.7 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves.
45.8%conserved
45.8%
conserved · 9,935 of 21,694 acres
2.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Schools
Plankinton’s public schools outperform 71% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Plankinton’s kids attend outperform 71% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Plains Academy Middle School - 04 | 4–8 | 7 | Not graded |
| Dakota Reach Middle School - 07 | 5–8 | 2 | Not graded |
| Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05 | 9–12 | 10 | Not graded |
| Dakota Reach - 06 | 9–12 | 5 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 4 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Plankinton has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–31°
Spring34–58°
Summer59–84°
Fall37–61°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Plankinton
Most working residents leave Plankinton for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Mitchell (14%), Sioux Falls (10%) and Plankinton (9%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
6%work in town
Where working residents work
In Plankinton6%
Mitchell14%
Sioux Falls10%
Plankinton9%
Kimball7%
24 mi
median commute distance
106
jobs based in Plankinton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Plankinton is
Plankinton tracks South Dakota closely on all 26 CDC measures.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
0 better26 too close to call0 worse
Avera Queen of Peace
24.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 48% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingDrought
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Plankinton
City in South Dakota, United States
Plankinton, colloquially known as Plank, is a city in and the county seat of Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 781 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 781
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,526 ft
- ZIP code
- 57368
- Area code
- 605
More about Plankinton
Still missing for Plankinton:a photo of Plankintonupcoming events