SDMap-doton-Bushnell, 2004
Bushnell’s story
141 years in pictures
Census counts: 150 in 1920, 71 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1964 on.
- 1885Bushnell is settled
BushnellSD
This town of 76 people was settled in 1885.
Population
76
2025 Census estimate · +5.6% since 2020
Median home value
$90K
Census ACS
Median age
48.0
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Bushnell a good place to live?
Bushnell’s January low is 5°F, below both the South Dakota town median (9°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower peak summer temperature than Bushnell. Bushnell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
76 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Alton TownshipAurora TownshipBushnell
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bushnell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bushnell, and how to reach them.
PowerSioux Valley SW Elec Coop13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBrookings-Deuel Rural Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bushnell’s trash rules yet
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 hereBrookings County AuditorBrookings County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5727657276 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 Bushnell.
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Bushnell
Summers in Bushnell are pleasant, and winters cold, snowy.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring32–54°
Summer58–79°
Fall35–57°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have obesity in Bushnell than in most of South Dakota or the rest of the country
Bushnell does better than the South Dakota average on 7 of 26 CDC measures and worse on 2. Among adults here, 28% have high blood pressure.
| Bushnell | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 19% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 76% | 79% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
7 better17 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Bushnell | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.5% | 6.8% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 21.3% | 25.8% |
| More binge drinkers | 21.9% | 18.8% |
Brookings Health System
6.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Bushnell is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
The risk rating from FEMA for Bushnell comes to 40 of 100. 43% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 23%. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bushnell
15pages on Bushnell
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Bushnell
South Dakota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Brookings6.9 mi$9,299 in-state tuitionInstitute of Lutheran TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Brookings7.4 mi
About 2 of every 100 Bushnell residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Bushnell
Town in South Dakota, United States
Bushnell is a town in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 71 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,690 ft
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Bushnell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bushnell, SD a good place to live?
Bushnell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.