Allen, South Dakota, 2009
Allen’s story
129 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1897Allen is settled
AllenSD
A town of 783, settled in 1897.
Photo: Ss114 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Allen a good place to live?
38% of residents live below the poverty line in Allen, above both South Dakota’s towns (9.5%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a lower median age than Allen. Allen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
783 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Allen: who provides what
Allen is unincorporated, so Bennett County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerLaCreek Electric AssnEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterAllen Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers21% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesBennett CountyBennett County provides services here
Register to voteIn personSouth Dakota has no online registration; you can register in person until 15 days before Election Day or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBennett County AuditorBennett County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5771457714 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Allen.
Schools
The schools Allen’s kids attend
Public schools: American Horse School. Its one school is below. Allen’s only public school teaches 240 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Horse SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 240 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: very high risk in Allen, mostly wildfire
One declared disaster, in 2019, has brought federal aid to Allen households. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 83% of U.S. communities. 33% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from wildfires, followed by cold waves at 19%.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireCold wavesInland flooding
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Most of Allen’s workers leave town for work
Half the trips to work are shorter than 18 miles. The top destinations are Martin (20%), Pierre (2%) and Rushville (1%).
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Allen0%
Martin20%
Pierre2%
Rushville1%
St. Francis1%
18 mi
median commute distance
0
jobs based in Allen
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Allen: snowy winters and pleasant summers
The seasons in Allen: cold, snowy winters, warm summers, with very little rain. Summer afternoons peak near 86° in July, and January nights bottom out around 14°; snowfall runs to about 48 inches a winter.
48″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–36°
Spring33–58°
Summer57–83°
Fall36–61°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Allen’s adults have obesity than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Allen. 17% of Allen adults have diabetes. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Allen is ahead of South Dakota on 3 and behind on 20.
| Allen | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 16% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 15% | 17% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
3 better3 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | Allen | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3.8% | 9.2% |
| Fewer adults with high cholesterol | 27.5% | 34% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 39.8% | 12.7% |
Bennett County Hospital and Nursing Home - Cah
12.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Allen
15pages on Allen
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Allen; the nearest are
Oglala Lakota CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Kyle16.9 mi$2,684 in-state tuitionWestern Dakota Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rapid City83.4 mi$8,294 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Allen residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Allen for work
Where Allen’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
0jobs based in Allen
0%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Allen
CDP in South Dakota, United States
Allen is a census-designated place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Bennett County, South Dakota, United States, that was named for the Allen Township (civil township), which it encompasses. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 460. It is one of two places which are closest to the North American continental pole of inaccessibility.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,307 ft
- ZIP code
- 57714
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Allen
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Allen, SD a good place to live?
Allen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.