#1Canton
Lincoln County · 3,001 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #9 of 35 in SD
Canton, #1 on this list · Photo: AlexiusHoratius · CC BY-SA 3.0South Dakota rankings · Civic life
Towns with the most civic life in South Dakota
Canton ranks first on civic life among South Dakota’s 31 towns of 2,500+; 13 of the 31 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work
#1A+
#2Milbank
Grant County · 3,512 peopleCivic life grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 35 in SD
#3Lead
Lawrence County · 3,064 peopleCivic life grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #13 of 35 in SD
All 31 towns
Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
31 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
23Sioux FallsMinnehaha County · 213,748 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 35
26Big Sioux TownshipUnion County · 5,152 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 35
30Split Rock TownshipMinnehaha County · 3,086 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 35
Not ranked
4 towns without a civic life grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Blackhawk Meade County · 2,934 people
- Colonial Pine Hills Pennington County · 2,609 people
- Dakota Dunes Union County · 3,936 people
- Rapid Valley Pennington County · 6,975 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which South Dakota town has the most civic life?
Canton (Lincoln County) ranks first on civic life among 31 towns, with an A+; Milbank and Lead follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (31 in South Dakota). 4 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the South Dakota page.
Go deeper
All South Dakota rankings →More South Dakota lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live35 towns · #1 BrandonBest small towns21 towns · #1 LennoxMost affordable towns35 towns · #1 MilbankSafest towns23 towns · #1 Hot SpringsTowns with the best schools35 towns · #1 Brandon and Split Rock TownshipHealthiest towns35 towns · #1 Dakota DunesBest towns for jobs & income35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipMost walkable towns35 towns · #1 SturgisTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipBest towns for the outdoors35 towns · #1 SpearfishMost historic towns35 towns · #1 LeadTowns with the least snow35 towns · #1 Hot SpringsDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns35 towns · #1 LeadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters37 towns · #1 SpearfishDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers37 towns · #1 WinnerDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers37 towns · #1 LeadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes35 towns · #1 Split Rock TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes35 towns · #1 WinnerDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns30 towns · #1 HarrisburgDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries15 towns · #1 CantonDescribed, no letters
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