Cow CreekSD
A town of 69 in South Dakota.
Is Cow Creek a good place to live?
Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Cow Creek. 29% of the land in Cow Creek is conserved, against 3.3% in South Dakota’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Cow Creek Recreation Area, at 214 acres. Cow Creek has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
69 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Cow Creek: who provides what
Cow Creek is unincorporated, so Sully County and regional agencies provide most services.
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 Cow Creek.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cow Creek Recreation Area | — | 214 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expect four seasons and hot summers in Cow Creek
Only one of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare has a higher July high than Cow Creek. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 8° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
High risk in Cow Creek, with inland flooding at the top
50% of Cow Creek’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 29%. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 67% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
How healthy Cow Creek is
For adults in Cow Creek, the share who binge drink is 19%. In Cow Creek, 15% of adults report frequent mental distress.
| Cow Creek | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 19% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 22% | 23% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 19% |
| What stands out | Cow Creek | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.2% | 8.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.8% | 84.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Cow Creek
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Cow Creek; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Cow Creek residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Cow Creek
Unincorporated community in South Dakota, United States
Cow Creek is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Sully County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Cow Creek had a population of 52. The community is located on the eastern shore of Lake Oahe.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,650 ft
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Cow Creek
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cow Creek, SD a good place to live?
Cow Creek has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.