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South Dakota›Mellette County
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Rocky Ford TownshipSD

A town in South Dakota, home to 9 people.

Population
9
2025 Census estimate · +12.5% since 2020
Median age
47.9
years

Is Rocky Ford Township a good place to live?

No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Rocky Ford Township. Rocky Ford Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

9 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Nearby towns
Red Fish Township · 7 miBelvidere · 7 miProspect Township · 8 miOkaton Township · 14 miRunning Bird Township · 15 miScovil Township · 17 mi
Red Fish TownshipProspect TownshipRed Fish TownshipProspect TownshipRocky Ford Township
Getting set up

Moving to Rocky Ford Township: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Rocky Ford Township, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerWest Central Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
Internet3 providers86% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rocky Ford Township’s trash rules yet
SchoolsWhite River School District 47-1Which 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 hereMellette County AuditorMellette County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code5752157521 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 Rocky Ford Township.

Climate

Rocky Ford Township stands out in South Dakota and nationally, with a typical July afternoon hotter than most

Winters in Rocky Ford Township are cold, snowy and summers warm, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 11° and about 40 inches of snow falls in a winter.

40″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter13–36°
Spring33–60°
Summer58–86°
Fall35–63°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageRocky Ford Township’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 89°, January lows 11°Rain & snow40″ of snow a winter · 19 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.1° 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 Rocky Ford Township’s adults smoke cigarettes

Just over a third of Rocky Ford Township adults get no exercise outside work. Among 36 South Dakota towns, just one has a lower share of adults who binge drink than Rocky Ford Township. Two figures for adults in the town: 19% have diabetes, 19% report frequent physical distress. No town among the 36 in South Dakota we compare has a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Rocky Ford Township.

Rocky Ford TownshipSouth Dakota townsU.S. towns
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)27%14%14%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)19%10%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)19%12%14%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)29%16%19%
26 measures vs. South Dakota
1 better4 too close to call21 worse
What stands outRocky Ford TownshipSD
Fewer binge drinkers15.4%18.8%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth24.1%12.7%
Hans P Peterson Memorial Hospital - Cah
31.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageRocky Ford Township’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby31.3 miles to an ER · Hans P Peterson Memorial Hospital - CahHow adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than SD on 1 of 26

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: moderate risk in Rocky Ford Township, mostly inland flooding

Of the losses FEMA expects in Rocky Ford Township, 35% come from inland flooding and 24% from cold waves. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 55% of U.S. communities.

55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
55Moderate riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingCold wavesWildfire
Full pageRocky Ford Township’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesModerate riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters12 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready0.5 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Rocky Ford Township

13pages on Rocky Ford Township
The big questions
HealthBetter than SD on 1 of 26 CDC measuresNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 55% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
PlacesAttractions3 nearby · Badlands National Park 38 miLibraryJackson County LibraryColleges
The story
Town Hall & politicsClimate89° summer highs · 40″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Rocky Ford Township; the nearest are

Sinte Gleska UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Mission43.1 mi$4,714 in-state tuitionWestern Dakota Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rapid City103.3 mi$8,294 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Rocky Ford Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Questions about Rocky Ford Township

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Rocky Ford Township, SD a good place to live?

Rocky Ford Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.