SDMap-doton-Eureka, 2004
Eureka’s story
139 years in pictures
Census counts: 552 in 1890, a peak of 1,576 in 1950, 813 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1978 on.
- 1887Eureka is settled
EurekaSD
A town of 775, settled in 1887.
Population
775
2025 Census estimate · −4.3% since 2020
Median home value
$78K
Census ACS
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
63.1
years
Jobs based here
243
Balanced
Is Eureka a good place to live?
Eureka has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
775 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Eureka: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Eureka, and how to reach them.
PowerMontana-Dakota Utilities13.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEureka water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Eureka’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 hereMcPherson County AuditorMcPherson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5743757437 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 Eureka.
Who lives here
Compared with most of South Dakota and the rest of the country, fewer of Eureka’s residents are under 18
Among adults 25 and older, 22% have a four-year degree or more, against 32% across South Dakota. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher midpoint age than Eureka. 775 people lived in Eureka by the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate, 4.3% fewer than in 2020. Also worth knowing: people 65 and older are 47% of residents (18% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 24% of residents (36% statewide).
63.1median age · SD 38
| Eureka | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.1 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 14% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 22% | 33% | 29% |
EurekaSouth DakotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
24%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma19%
High school38%
Some college9%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate2%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±8.6 points. Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Eureka | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.7% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.1% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.5% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 4.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 5.4% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.9% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 23.1% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 24% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 18.8% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 38.2% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 8.7% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.4% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.8% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 2.2% | 10% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Schools
The schools Eureka’s kids attend
Two of the 3 schools are below, and why each made the list. The Eureka School District 44-1 runs its public schools. 3 public schools serve Eureka, with 163 students in all.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Elementary - 02Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 94 | A+ |
| Eureka High School - 01Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 43 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Eureka has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The peak summer temperature for Eureka comes to 83°F, below both the South Dakota town median (85°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–25°
Spring30–53°
Summer56–80°
Fall33–56°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 12
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Eureka stands out in South Dakota and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
The top destinations are Aberdeen (15%), Leola (11%) and Sioux Falls (5%). Among working residents in Eureka, 21% work locally, below South Dakota’s towns (29%) but above U.S. towns (8%). Since 2013, Eureka has lost 39 jobs, to 243 in 2023. The town’s average trip to work comes in at 19 minutes.
21%work in town
| Eureka | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 21% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Eureka21%
Aberdeen15%
Leola11%
Sioux Falls5%
Ipswich3%
36 mi
median commute distance
243
jobs based in Eureka
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Eureka is cold waves, at a low overall level
FEMA puts 45% of Eureka’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 21% to inland flooding. In Eureka, the FEMA hazard score is 37 of 100. Federal aid has come to Eureka households in 3 declared disasters; the latest was in 2019.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Eureka is
Among adults in Eureka, 18% have been diagnosed with depression. Of 26 CDC measures, Eureka beats the South Dakota average on 5 and trails it on 12. No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a lower share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Eureka. 46% of adults here have high blood pressure; 17% have diabetes.
| Eureka | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 19% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 30% | 36% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
5 better9 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Eureka | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.3% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 12.7% | 15.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 12.5% | 6.8% |
Eureka Community Health Services - Cah
0.5 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 Eureka
17pages on Eureka
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Eureka; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Eureka residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
Famous people from Eureka
7 notable people were born in Eureka.
About Eureka
City in South Dakota, United States
Eureka is a city in western McPherson County, South Dakota, United States, near the North Dakota state line. The population was 813 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,890 ft
- ZIP code
- 57437
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Eureka
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Eureka, SD a good place to live?
Eureka has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Eureka, SD known for?
7 notable people were born here, including Bill Scherr and Al Neuharth.