SDMap-doton-Waubay, 2004
Waubay Township’s story
131 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004.
- 1895Waubay Township is settled
Waubay TownshipSD
A town of 535, settled in 1895.
Population
535
2025 Census estimate · +3.9% since 2020
Median home value
$146K
Census ACS
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
27.8
years
Jobs based here
104
A commuter town
Is Waubay Township a good place to live?
35% of residents live below the poverty line in Waubay Township, above both South Dakota’s towns (9.5%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a lower July high than Waubay Township. 26% of the land in Waubay Township is conserved, above both the South Dakota town median (3.3%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, at 4,490 acres. Waubay Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
535 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
WaubayCentral Point TownshipRacine TownshipKosciusko TownshipAlto TownshipOrtleyOrtley TownshipWaubay Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Waubay Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waubay Township, and how to reach them.
PowerNorthWestern Energy13.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWEB WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Waubay Township’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereDay County AuditorDay County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP code5727357273 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 Waubay Township.
Outdoors
Conserved land covers nearly a quarter of Waubay Township
0.6 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
26.1%conserved
26.1%
conserved · 9,899 of 37,967 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waubay National Wildlife Refuge | — | 4,490 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Schools
The schools Waubay Township’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by Enemy Swim Day School. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy Swim Day SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 158 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
With 0.7 jobs for every working resident, most of Waubay Township’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Waubay Township for work: only 9% work in town. Since 2013, Waubay Township has lost 46 jobs, to 104 in 2023. The average trip to work in Waubay Township is 18 minutes.
9%work in town
| Waubay Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 9.1% | 29% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Waubay Township9%
Webster15%
Sisseton10%
Watertown8%
Waubay8%
20 mi
median commute distance
104
jobs based in Waubay Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Waubay Township stands out in South Dakota and nationally, with a typical January night colder than most
Waubay Township’s January low is 1°F. Waubay Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring31–52°
Summer57–78°
Fall34–55°
Oct 12
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. 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 Waubay Township’s adults have diabetes
17% of Waubay Township adults have diabetes. Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Waubay Township. 39% of Waubay Township adults have high blood pressure.
| Waubay Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 31% | 35% |
26 measures vs. South Dakota
2 better11 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Waubay Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.6% | 18.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.5% | 75.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.7% | 6.7% |
Sanford Hospital Webster - Cah
11.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Waubay Township faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 59% of U.S. communities.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waubay Township
18pages on Waubay Township
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Waubay Township; the nearest are
Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Sisseton16.6 mi$4,330 in-state tuitionLake Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Watertown35.3 mi$6,718 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Waubay Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Waubay Township for work
Where Waubay Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
104jobs based in Waubay Township
9%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Waubay Township
City in South Dakota, United States
Waubay is a city in Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 473 at the 2020 census. Waubay had its start in the early 1880s when the railroad was extended to that point. The school district is Waubay Public 18-3. The local newspaper is the oldest business in town, called the Waubay Clipper.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1895
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,818 ft
- ZIP code
- 57273
- Area code
- 605
Questions about Waubay Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waubay Township, SD a good place to live?
Waubay Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.