Living anywhere has its pros and cons. Living in one of the small towns in South Dakota means everyone knows your name and probably your life story – whether you want them to or not. Here are our picks of 15 of the most adorable, best small towns in South Dakota.
- Clark
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr With a population just over 1,000 people you’re guaranteed to be known by everyone in town. Clark is located straight west of Watertown. Learn more about the town on its official website. Clark, SD 57225, USA
- Hayti
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr This Hamlin County town of ~381 people is like living with all your extending family. Everyone knows what is happening in your life, for better or for worse - but usually for better. Hayti, SD 57241, USA
- Redfield
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr With a population of 2,333, this small town is one of the biggest on our list. Even with that many people, it still seems like everyone knows your name. Learn more about the town on its official website. Redfield, SD 57469, USA
- Eureka
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr 868 people call Eureka home and every one of them cares about and wants to know their neighbors. This small town is tight knit. Learn more about the town in this article. Eureka, SD 57437, USA
- Davis
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr Davis has a population of only 85 people. Though they welcome visitors as one of their own. Davis, SD 57021, USA
- Hill City
Dave Thomas / Flickr With a population of 948, this west river historic town is charming. Visit this small town and you may never want to leave. Learn more about the town on its official website. Hill City, SD 57745, USA
- Wilmot
Carrie Cizauskas / Flickr When you drive into town, you immediately feel at home in Wilmot. With 492 residents, you would have to work to not know everyone. Wilmot, SD 57279, USA
- Emery
Eric Swanger / Flickr Home to 447 people in only 191 households, if you live in this small town you definitely know everyone’s name. Learn more about the town on its official website. Emery, SD 57332, USA
- Platte
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr This town of around 1400 residents is family oriented and full of beautiful scenery. Learn more about the town on its official website. Platte, SD 57369, USA
- Colton
coltonsd.com/ Stop by the local gas station and you’ll realize that everyone really does know everyone in the town of Colton. Learn more about the town on its official website. Colton, SD 57018, USA
- Isabel
Neeta Lind / Flickr This town of 135 residents is so small that their school actually closed in 2009. Don’t be fooled though, Isabel is a town as strong and community focused as ever. Stop by once and they’ll know your name forever. Isabel, SD 57633, USA
- Dell Rapids
Daren Jessip / Flickr Just north of Sioux Falls is the small town of Dell Rapids. As the population nears 4,000, it can hardly be called a small town anymore. Yet, everyone still seems to know everyone, giving it that charming small town feel. Learn more about the town on its official website. Dell Rapids, SD 57022, USA
- Kadoka
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr With a population of 654, Kadoka is known as the “Gateway to the Badlands”. Locals claim that Kadoka is the friendliest town around making it one of the best places to be known by everyone. Learn more about the town on its official website. Kadoka, SD 57543, USA
- Mound City
sirrobot / Flickr 71 people call Mound City home. You could meet everyone in this town in one day! Mound City, SD 57646, USA
- Plankinton
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr Plankinton is home to 707 people and is a hotspot for hunters. Because of its easy to find location off of I-90, many people drive through on business but those who know the town well know there is so much pleasure to be had as well. Learn more about the town on its official website. Plankinton, SD 57368, USA
We know there are many small towns in South Dakota that aren’t on this list. What towns would you add? What are your picks for the best small towns in South Dakota? Tell us in the comments!
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
With a population just over 1,000 people you’re guaranteed to be known by everyone in town. Clark is located straight west of Watertown. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Clark, SD 57225, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
This Hamlin County town of ~381 people is like living with all your extending family. Everyone knows what is happening in your life, for better or for worse - but usually for better.
Hayti, SD 57241, USA
With a population of 2,333, this small town is one of the biggest on our list. Even with that many people, it still seems like everyone knows your name. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Redfield, SD 57469, USA
868 people call Eureka home and every one of them cares about and wants to know their neighbors. This small town is tight knit. Learn more about the town in this article.
Eureka, SD 57437, USA
Davis has a population of only 85 people. Though they welcome visitors as one of their own.
Davis, SD 57021, USA
Dave Thomas / Flickr
With a population of 948, this west river historic town is charming. Visit this small town and you may never want to leave. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Hill City, SD 57745, USA
Carrie Cizauskas / Flickr
When you drive into town, you immediately feel at home in Wilmot. With 492 residents, you would have to work to not know everyone.
Wilmot, SD 57279, USA
Eric Swanger / Flickr
Home to 447 people in only 191 households, if you live in this small town you definitely know everyone’s name. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Emery, SD 57332, USA
This town of around 1400 residents is family oriented and full of beautiful scenery. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Platte, SD 57369, USA
coltonsd.com/
Stop by the local gas station and you’ll realize that everyone really does know everyone in the town of Colton. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Colton, SD 57018, USA
Neeta Lind / Flickr
This town of 135 residents is so small that their school actually closed in 2009. Don’t be fooled though, Isabel is a town as strong and community focused as ever. Stop by once and they’ll know your name forever.
Isabel, SD 57633, USA
Daren Jessip / Flickr
Just north of Sioux Falls is the small town of Dell Rapids. As the population nears 4,000, it can hardly be called a small town anymore. Yet, everyone still seems to know everyone, giving it that charming small town feel. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Dell Rapids, SD 57022, USA
With a population of 654, Kadoka is known as the “Gateway to the Badlands”. Locals claim that Kadoka is the friendliest town around making it one of the best places to be known by everyone. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Kadoka, SD 57543, USA
sirrobot / Flickr
71 people call Mound City home. You could meet everyone in this town in one day!
Mound City, SD 57646, USA
Plankinton is home to 707 people and is a hotspot for hunters. Because of its easy to find location off of I-90, many people drive through on business but those who know the town well know there is so much pleasure to be had as well. Learn more about the town on its official website.
Plankinton, SD 57368, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Small Towns in South Dakota October 30, 2021 Tori Jane What is the prettiest town in South Dakota? Well, “prettiest” is certainly subjective, but South Dakota sure does have some towns that just about anyone would agree are quite pretty. The entire state is a vastly underrated hidden gem in and of itself; the beautiful small towns are merely a bonus prize. If you were to ask someone what they thought the prettiest town in South Dakota is, it’s likely they would answer anything from Deadwood, a tiny town with a big history, Keystone, which is home to the Mount Rushmore memorial, De Smet, home of the Ingalls family homestead, or Custer, which is adorable and often makes the “best of” lists for reasons that become obvious once you come visit. For more of our favorite charming little towns in South Dakota, take a look at this article. What is the smallest town in South Dakota? South Dakota is one of the least-populous states, meaning it’s got plenty of small, if not tiny towns to go around. Some of the very smallest include Bonesteel, Henry, and Gayville, but the title of “smallest” town goes to a little township known as Hillsview. Hillsview boasts a population of a whopping three people. The other two residents are the wife and son of the man who lives there – at least the last time we checked in on them. There are a few others as well: White Rock also has a population of three, and Lily has just one more than that. Wetonka, South Dakota, is home to just 8 people. Cottonwood rounds out the list of least-populous towns, with a whopping ten people currently living there. Hey, think of it this way: if you ever want to truly get away from it all, consider getting away from it all in any of South Dakota’s smallest towns.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Small Towns in South Dakota
October 30, 2021
Tori Jane
What is the prettiest town in South Dakota? Well, “prettiest” is certainly subjective, but South Dakota sure does have some towns that just about anyone would agree are quite pretty. The entire state is a vastly underrated hidden gem in and of itself; the beautiful small towns are merely a bonus prize. If you were to ask someone what they thought the prettiest town in South Dakota is, it’s likely they would answer anything from Deadwood, a tiny town with a big history, Keystone, which is home to the Mount Rushmore memorial, De Smet, home of the Ingalls family homestead, or Custer, which is adorable and often makes the “best of” lists for reasons that become obvious once you come visit. For more of our favorite charming little towns in South Dakota, take a look at this article. What is the smallest town in South Dakota? South Dakota is one of the least-populous states, meaning it’s got plenty of small, if not tiny towns to go around. Some of the very smallest include Bonesteel, Henry, and Gayville, but the title of “smallest” town goes to a little township known as Hillsview. Hillsview boasts a population of a whopping three people. The other two residents are the wife and son of the man who lives there – at least the last time we checked in on them. There are a few others as well: White Rock also has a population of three, and Lily has just one more than that. Wetonka, South Dakota, is home to just 8 people. Cottonwood rounds out the list of least-populous towns, with a whopping ten people currently living there. Hey, think of it this way: if you ever want to truly get away from it all, consider getting away from it all in any of South Dakota’s smallest towns.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Well, “prettiest” is certainly subjective, but South Dakota sure does have some towns that just about anyone would agree are quite pretty. The entire state is a vastly underrated hidden gem in and of itself; the beautiful small towns are merely a bonus prize. If you were to ask someone what they thought the prettiest town in South Dakota is, it’s likely they would answer anything from Deadwood, a tiny town with a big history, Keystone, which is home to the Mount Rushmore memorial, De Smet, home of the Ingalls family homestead, or Custer, which is adorable and often makes the “best of” lists for reasons that become obvious once you come visit. For more of our favorite charming little towns in South Dakota, take a look at this article.
What is the smallest town in South Dakota?
South Dakota is one of the least-populous states, meaning it’s got plenty of small, if not tiny towns to go around. Some of the very smallest include Bonesteel, Henry, and Gayville, but the title of “smallest” town goes to a little township known as Hillsview. Hillsview boasts a population of a whopping three people. The other two residents are the wife and son of the man who lives there – at least the last time we checked in on them. There are a few others as well: White Rock also has a population of three, and Lily has just one more than that. Wetonka, South Dakota, is home to just 8 people. Cottonwood rounds out the list of least-populous towns, with a whopping ten people currently living there. Hey, think of it this way: if you ever want to truly get away from it all, consider getting away from it all in any of South Dakota’s smallest towns.
