South Dakota›Corson County

KenelSD

A town of 163, settled in 1914.

Population

163

Census survey, 2020–24

Is Kenel a good place to live?

31% of residents live below the poverty line in Kenel, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 9.5% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Kenel. Kenel has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

163 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Pollock · 9 mi Wakpala Township · 12 mi McLaughlin · 17 mi Fort Yates · 18 mi Herreid · 19 mi Mound City · 21 mi

Getting set up

Moving to Kenel: who provides what

Kenel is unincorporated, so Corson County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerMontana-Dakota Utilities13.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesCorson CountyCorson County provides services here

SchoolsMcLaughlin School District 15-2Which school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereCorson County AuditorCorson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025

ZIP code5764257642 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 Kenel.

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: high risk in Kenel, mostly cold waves

Kenel’s FEMA risk score stands at 78 of 100. FEMA puts just over two thirds of the town’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 19% to inland flooding.

78risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland flooding

Full pageKenel’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters13 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready10 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

In Kenel, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

A winter brings about 39 inches of snow, with January nights at 4° and July afternoons at 85°.

39″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter7–27°

Spring31–55°

Summer56–82°

Fall34–57°

Sep 30

typical first frost

May 8

typical last frost

+0.8°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageKenel’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 85°, January lows 4°Rain & snow39″ of snow a winter · 18 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of South Dakota and the rest of the country, more of Kenel’s adults get no exercise outside work

For adults 18 to 64 in Kenel, the share who have no health insurance is 14%. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Kenel. CDC measures, 26 in all: Kenel beats South Dakota on 1 and trails on 20.