Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 211.
5.6% of working residents work locally in Plankinton Township, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 29% and U.S. towns at 8%. 46% of the land in Plankinton Township is conserved, above both South Dakota’s towns (3.3%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Raesly House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Plankinton Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 654 in 1890, 781 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1980 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Who provides power, water and the rest in Plankinton Township, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Plankinton Township.
Only 3 of the 33 South Dakota towns we compare have a lower trail density than Plankinton Township. 2.7 miles of trail.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Its public schools are run by the Plankinton School District 01-1. Of its 4 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Plains Academy Middle School - 04Largest public middle schoolGrades 4–8 | Grades 4–8 | 7 | – |
| Aurora Plains Academy High School - 05Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 10 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
211 people lived in Plankinton Township by the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate, 2.4% more than in 2020. Children under 18 are 45% of residents (24% statewide); people 65 and older are 2% of residents (18% statewide). Just over a third of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Dakota.
40% women, 60% men
About 148 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±8.3 points). Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| Plankinton Township | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 17.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 27.5% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.8% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.8% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.9% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.8% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 2% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 0.3% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.5% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.3% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.4% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.9% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 29.4% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.6% | 10% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
A winter brings about 38 inches of snow, with January nights at 8° and July afternoons at 86°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Plankinton Township, the average trip to work is 17 minutes. Most people who work leave Plankinton Township to do it: just 6% work in town. Jobs based in the town fell to 106 in 2023, 46 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Mitchell (14%), Sioux Falls (10%) and Plankinton (9%).
| Plankinton Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Among adults in Plankinton Township, 20% have been diagnosed with depression. The town tracks South Dakota closely on all 26 CDC measures. Two figures for adults in the town: 13% have diabetes, 15% report frequent mental distress.
| Plankinton Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 22% | 23% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 19% | 16% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Of the losses FEMA expects in Plankinton Township, 43% come from cold waves and 23% from inland flooding. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage here than in 52% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Plankinton Township; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Plankinton Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
City in South Dakota, United States
Plankinton, colloquially known as Plank, is a city in and the county seat of Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 781 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Plankinton Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.