Where Buffalo Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Buffalo Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 57559. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo Township
The nearest ER is 38 miles from Buffalo Township
The closest emergency room is Avera St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, 37.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Rural Health Care is closer (3.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Buffalo Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Buffalo Township’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Buffalo Township
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 6.7% across South Dakota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Buffalo Township runs above South Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Buffalo Township, and more people treating it
38.1% of adults have high blood pressure (South Dakota 33.3%), but 79.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 South Dakota figure falls outside Buffalo Township’s likely range; Buffalo Township’s figures come from ZIP code 57559, which may reach past town lines.
Care in and near Buffalo Township
No hospital or community health center in Buffalo Township 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 Buffalo Township; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Buffalo Township adults…
Buffalo Township runs above SD on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
How Buffalo Township adults are doing
About the same as South Dakota on each measure.
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.
Buffalo Township and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murdo | — | — | — | — | |
| Dunkel Township | — | — | — | — |
Murdo and Dunkel Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo Township adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Buffalo Township
Why doesn’t Buffalo Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Buffalo Township.
Where can I get low-cost care near Buffalo Township?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Access Health - Murdo in Murdo, 3.6 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South 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.