Timber Lake’s story
115 years in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1911Timber Lake is settled
Timber LakeSD
A town of 779, settled in 1911. A regional job hub with 449 jobs.
Population
779
residents
Median home value
$81K
Census ACS
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
23.8
years
Jobs based here
449
A job hub
What makes Timber Lake stand out
The 2 things Timber Lake does most differently from other towns.
Small town
779 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Timber Lake’s report card
Now in Timber Lake
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Timber Lake? Is an A for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Timber Lake’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Local news
All →- Timber Lake vs North Central - Boys Varsity Football 10/02/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 30
- Volleyball On Demand Games - Live Stream SDHSAA SportsNFHS Network · Sep 29
- Timber Lake vs Herreid-Selby - Girls Middle School Volleyball 09/29/2026 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 29
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Timber Lake. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Timber Lake
About one in 5 of Timber Lake’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are North Eagle Butte (24%), Eagle Butte (13%) and Isabel (6%). Half commute less than 30 miles.
22%work in town
Where working residents work
In Timber Lake22%
North Eagle Butte24%
Eagle Butte13%
Isabel6%
Mobridge2%
30 mi
median commute distance
449
jobs based in Timber Lake
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Timber Lake’s public schools outperform 92% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Timber Lake’s kids attend outperform 92% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber Lake Elementary - 02 | PK–5 | 185 | A |
| Timber Lake Middle School - 03 | 6–8 | 70 | A |
| Timber Lake High School - 01 | 9–12 | 117 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 3 schools →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Timber Lake has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
41″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–28°
Spring31–56°
Summer56–82°
Fall34–58°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Timber Lake is
Timber Lake beats the South Dakota average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
1 better8 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Timber Lake | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.5% | 9.2% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 23.4% | 12.7% |
Eagle Butte Indian Health Service Hospital
31.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, 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 55% of U.S. communities.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A job hub
Every workday, about 413 people come to Timber Lake for work
Where Timber Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
449jobs based in Timber Lake
22%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Timber Lake
City in South Dakota, United States
Timber Lake (Lakota: Blečháŋ; "Tree Lake") is a city in and the county seat of Dewey County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 509 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1911
- Population
- 509
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,169 ft
- ZIP code
- 57656
- Area code
- 605