PukwanaSD
A town of 238, settled in 1881.
Is Pukwana a good place to live?
No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Pukwana. 21% of the land in Pukwana is conserved, where South Dakota’s towns sit at 3.3% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Edward Morrison House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Pukwana has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
238 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Pukwana: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Pukwana, 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Pukwana.
Most of Pukwana’s workers commute out: the town has 0.1 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Pukwana for work: only 2% work in town. Pukwana’s average trip to work is 15 minutes, below both South Dakota’s towns (17 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). 2.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Pukwana.
| Pukwana | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.8% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
21.3% of Pukwana is conserved land
0.4 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Jorgensen State Wildlife Refuge, at 104 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jorgensen State Wildlife Refuge | — | 104 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Pukwana
Pukwana has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Pukwana’s July high is 88°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
High risk in Pukwana, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A larger share of adults in Pukwana have obesity than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have obesity than Pukwana. 14% of Pukwana adults have diabetes. Among 36 South Dakota towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Pukwana.
| Pukwana | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 31% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| What stands out | Pukwana | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.2% | 75.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 6.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Pukwana
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Pukwana; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Pukwana residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
98% of working residents leave Pukwana for work
Where Pukwana’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Pukwana
Town in South Dakota, United States
Pukwana is a town in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 233 at the 2020 census. Pukwana was laid out in 1881. In 1955, the local residents made a push to get the new Brule County Courthouse relocated to town, however the city of Chamberlain managed to keep it after battling petitions were made.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1881
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,558 ft
- ZIP code
- 57370
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Pukwana
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Pukwana, SD a good place to live?
Pukwana has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.