Plato’s story
Plato in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →PlatoSD
A town of 16. Nearly 54.4% of it is conserved land.
Population
16
residents
What makes Plato stand out
The thing Plato does most differently from other towns.
Small town
16 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
WheatonLinnExlinePlato
Plato’s report card
Now in Plato
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Plato. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Plato is conserved land
0.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
54.4%conserved
54.4%
conserved · 12,421 of 22,841 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lingemann Waterfowl Production Area | — | 163 |
| 2. Mullenberg Waterfowl Production Area | — | 79 |
| 3. Buss WPA | — | 46 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Plato has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–27°
Spring32–56°
Summer58–82°
Fall35–59°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 8
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
High risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities.
62risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingWildfire
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Plato is
Plato beats the South Dakota average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
3 better17 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Plato | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.2% | 12.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.2% | 75.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.8% | 6.8% |
Community Memorial Hospital
11.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Get outside
0 miles of trails in Plato
54.4% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
1
Lingemann Waterfowl Production Area163 acres
2
Mullenberg Waterfowl Production Area79 acres
3
Buss WPA46 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US