ValeSD
73 people live in this town, settled in 1883.
Is Vale a good place to live?
Vale’s typical journey to work is 10 minutes, below both the South Dakota town median (17 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Vale. Vale Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Vale has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
73 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Vale: who provides what
Vale is unincorporated, so Butte County and regional agencies provide most services.
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 Vale.
Vale faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Vale’s risk rating from FEMA comes in at 77 of 100. FEMA puts 50% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 15% to wildfires.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Vale’s year
In July, afternoons reach 88°; in January, nights fall to 11°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults smoke cigarettes in Vale than in most of South Dakota or the rest of the country
37% of Vale adults have obesity. Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Vale.
| Vale | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 22% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| What stands out | Vale | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 9.2% | 6.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9% | 6.8% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.5% | 3.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Vale
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Vale; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Vale residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
About Vale
CDP in South Dakota, United States
Vale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Butte County, South Dakota, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 130. Vale has been assigned the ZIP code of 57788. The public school located in Vale, whose mascot was The Beet Diggers, closed in 1982. Vale was so-named because the town site is located in a valley. The Full Throttle Saloon, a large bar and entertainment site described as the world's largest biker bar and previously the subject of the reality television series Full Throttle Saloon, was rebuilt, moving from nearby Sturgis to 600 acres in Vale near Bear Butte.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,700 ft
- ZIP code
- 57788
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Vale
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Vale, SD a good place to live?
Vale has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.