Gregory County State Bank · National Register of Historic Places
Fairfax’s story
136 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1890Fairfax is settled
FairfaxSD
A town of 100, settled in 1890.
Gregory County State Bank · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0
Population
100
2025 Census estimate · +3.1% since 2020
Median home value
$62K
Census ACS
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
48.2
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Fairfax a good place to live?
Fairfax’s average trip to work is 54 minutes, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 17 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Gregory County State Bank is on the National Register of Historic Places. Fairfax has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
100 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 Fairfax: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fairfax, and how to reach them.
PowerRosebud Electric Coop11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTripp County Water User DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Fairfax’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 hereGregory County AuditorGregory County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5733557335 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 Fairfax.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–34°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–83°
Fall39–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Fairfax than in most of South Dakota or the rest of the country
For adults in Fairfax, the share who report frequent physical distress is 16%. Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Fairfax. CDC measures, 26 in all: Fairfax beats South Dakota on 5 and trails on 12.
| Fairfax | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 19% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 31% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 84% | 76% | 79% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
5 better9 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Fairfax | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.2% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 13% | 15.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 11.8% | 6.8% |
Community Memorial Hospital
23 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Fairfax is cold waves, at a moderate overall level
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 57% of U.S. communities.
43risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fairfax
15pages on Fairfax
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Fairfax; the nearest are
Dakota Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mitchell63.2 mi$33,790 tuitionMitchell Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mitchell63.8 mi$7,524 in-state tuitionSinte Gleska UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Mission89.3 mi$4,714 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Fairfax residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Fairfax
Town in South Dakota, United States
Fairfax is a town in southeastern Gregory County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 96 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1890
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,949 ft
- ZIP code
- 57335
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Fairfax
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fairfax, SD a good place to live?
Fairfax has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.