Photo: afiler from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0Where Lakota residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Lakota, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lakota. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lakota
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Lakota
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.1%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.1% across North Dakota. In all, Lakota runs above North Dakota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Lakota, and more people treating it
40.5% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Lakota
The closest emergency room is Nelson County Health System in Mcville, 20.7 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Fewer Lakota adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Dakota. 1 in 14 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 11 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the North Dakota figure falls outside Lakota’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Lakota adults…
Lakota runs above ND on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lakota adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Care in and near Lakota
No hospital or community health center in Lakota itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lakota; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.5% of Lakota adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Lakota adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lakota does better than North Dakota.
1 in 4 Lakota adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Lakota and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lakota adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Lakota
Why doesn’t Lakota have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Lakota.
What hospital is closest to Lakota?
Nelson County Health System in Mcville, 20.7 miles in a straight line from Lakota’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lakota.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.