Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 317.
Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Big Stone Township. 13% of the land in Big Stone Township is conserved, above both the South Dakota town median (3.3%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Herman Freiwald Barn is on the National Register of Historic Places. Big Stone Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 376 in 1880, a peak of 829 in 1950, 412 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Who provides power, water and the rest in Big Stone Township, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Big Stone Township.
Big Stone Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Big Stone Township’s July high is 83°F, below both South Dakota’s towns (85°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
1.6 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. Only 1 of the 33 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower trail density than Big Stone Township. The biggest park or preserve is Streich Waterfowl Production Area, at 77 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Streich Waterfowl Production Area | — | 77 |
| 2. Holtquist Slough Game Production Area | — | 77 |
| 3. Antroinen Waterfowl Production Area | — | 41 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
0.2% of residents live below the poverty line in Big Stone Township. Since 2013, Big Stone Township has lost 72 jobs, to 198 in 2023. The median household income in Big Stone Township is $111,000.
| Big Stone Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 0.2% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $111,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.1% | 29% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Big Stone Township beats the South Dakota average on 6 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 39% of Big Stone Township adults have high blood pressure. Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Big Stone Township.
| Big Stone Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| What stands out | Big Stone Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 16.1% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 13.3% | 15.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.1% | 9.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Big Stone Township; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Big Stone Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
City in South Dakota, United States
Big Stone City is a city in the northeastern corner of Grant County, South Dakota, United States, that lies between the southern tip of Big Stone Lake and the northern bank of the Whetstone River, and is adjacent to the city of Ortonville, Minnesota. The population was 412 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Big Stone Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.