South ForkMO
A town of 67, settled in 1860.
Is South Fork a good place to live?
100% of households live in a home they own in South Fork, above both the Missouri town median (64%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). South Fork has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes South Fork stand out
Where South Fork beats most towns.
67 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to South Fork: who provides what
South Fork is unincorporated, so Howell County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in South Fork.
With 2.0 jobs for every working resident, South Fork draws in 120 commuters
In South Fork, 1.6% of working residents work locally. Jobs in South Fork grew by 36 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 121. The top destinations are West Plains (35%), Springfield (13%) and Poplar Bluff (3%). The median commute is under 23 miles.
| South Fork | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.6% | 13% | 8% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The schools South Fork’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the West Plains R-Vii school district. Enrollment at South Fork’s public school: 196 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 196 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults have diabetes in South Fork than in most of Missouri or the rest of the country
South Fork: just over four in five adults had a checkup this year. Only 7 of the 248 Missouri towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than South Fork.
| South Fork | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 22% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 17% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 14% |
| What stands out | South Fork | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.8% | 16.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.8% | 77.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 15.6% | 8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in South Fork, with inland flooding at the top
Of the losses FEMA expects in South Fork, 38% come from inland flooding and 15% from earthquakes. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about South Fork
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of South Fork
About 0 of every 100 South Fork residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
Every workday, about 120 people come to South Fork for work
Where South Fork’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About South Fork
Census-designated place in Missouri, United States
South Fork is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Howell County, Missouri, United States. It is located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of West Plains on U.S. Route 160. As of the 2020 census, South Fork had a population of 212. A post office called South Fork was established in 1860, and remained in operation until 1960. The community was named after the nearby South Fork of the Spring River.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,094 ft
Questions about South Fork
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is South Fork, MO a good place to live?
South Fork has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.