2015 Bird Tour by the SD Grassland Coalition, 2015
Marvin’s story
145 years in pictures
Census counts: 173 in 1920, 19 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1970 on.
- 1881Marvin is settled
MarvinSD
A town of 19, settled in 1881.
Photo: TimothyMN · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
19
2025 Census estimate · +5.6% since 2020
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
60.3
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Marvin a good place to live?
Marvin’s median age is 60.3 years, above both South Dakota’s towns (39.5 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Marvin. Marvin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
19 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 Marvin: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marvin, and how to reach them.
PowerOtter Tail Power11.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGrant-Roberts Rural Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Marvin’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 hereGrant County AuditorGrant County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5725157251 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 Marvin.
Climate
The climate in Marvin brings snowy winters and pleasant summers
Marvin’s peak summer temperature stands at 82°F, against 85°F in South Dakota’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
59″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring32–53°
Summer58–80°
Fall35–56°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults in Marvin have high blood pressure than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
15% of Marvin adults have diabetes. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Marvin. In Marvin, 12% of adults binge drink, and 23% sleep under 7 hours. Against the South Dakota average, Marvin comes out ahead on 9 CDC measures out of 26, and behind on 8.
| Marvin | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 19% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 30% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 31% | 35% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
9 better9 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Marvin | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.3% | 18.8% |
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 11.1% | 15.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 12.5% | 6.8% |
Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health
15.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Marvin, with cold waves at the top
Expected losses in Marvin break down as 52% from cold waves and 27% from inland flooding. On expected storm and flood damage, Marvin sits above 50% of U.S. communities.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Marvin
15pages on Marvin
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Marvin; the nearest are
Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Sisseton22 mi$4,330 in-state tuitionLake Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Watertown26.3 mi$6,718 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Marvin residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Marvin
Town in South Dakota, United States
Marvin is a town in Grant County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 19 at the 2020 census. Marvin was originally called Grade Siding; during the search for what residents considered a more suitable name, the presence of a Marvin brand safe in town caused the new name to be selected.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,644 ft
- ZIP code
- 57251
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Marvin
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Marvin, SD a good place to live?
Marvin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.