Where Thunderbird Colony residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Thunderbird Colony, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 57438. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Thunderbird Colony
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Thunderbird Colony
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 6.7% across South Dakota. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 5.1%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Thunderbird Colony runs above South Dakota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Thunderbird Colony is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Thunderbird Colony’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Thunderbird Colony
62.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 69.2% across South Dakota. Among those 65 and older, 18.6% have lost all their teeth (South Dakota 12.7%). Thunderbird Colony’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Thunderbird Colony, and more people treating it
39.7% of adults have high blood pressure (South Dakota 33.3%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the South Dakota figure falls outside Thunderbird Colony’s likely range; Thunderbird Colony’s figures come from ZIP code 57438, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Thunderbird Colony adults…
Thunderbird Colony runs above SD on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Thunderbird Colony
No hospital or community health center in Thunderbird Colony itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Thunderbird Colony; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Thunderbird Colony adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Thunderbird Colony adults are doing
About the same as South Dakota on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Thunderbird Colony and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Thunderbird Colony adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Thunderbird Colony
Why doesn’t Thunderbird Colony have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Thunderbird Colony.
What hospital is closest to Thunderbird Colony?
Faulkton Area Medical Center in Faulkton, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Thunderbird Colony’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Thunderbird Colony.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.