White Swan TownshipSD
A town of 740, settled in 1869.
Is White Swan Township a good place to live?
31% of residents live below the poverty line in White Swan Township, above both South Dakota’s towns (9.5%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 2 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher median age than White Swan Township. 16% of the land in White Swan Township is conserved, against 3.3% in South Dakota’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge, at 1,437 acres. White Swan Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
740 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to White Swan Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in White Swan Township, and how to reach them.
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 White Swan Township.
White Swan Township has 0.1 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave White Swan Township for work: only 1% work in town. White Swan Township’s average trip to work is 12 minutes. Jobs based in White Swan Township fell to 12 in 2023, 28 fewer than in 2013.
| White Swan Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 29% | 8% |
| Work from home | 12% | 6.6% | 11% |
| Median household income | $89,000 | $72,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Older than South Dakota overall
People 65 and older are 27% of residents (18% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 30% of residents (36% statewide). 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Dakota.
| White Swan Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 27% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 33% | 29% |
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
43% women, 57% men
About 135 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±6.4 points). Across South Dakota, 49.2% of residents are women.
| White Swan Township | SD | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 18% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.6% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.3% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 4.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.5% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.1% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.3% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.3% | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 43.8% | 29% | 26% |
| Some college | 10.9% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.4% | 12.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 11.9% | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.7% | 10% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 700, single groups can be off by several points
White Swan Township has set aside 16.2% of its land for conservation
13 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The trail density in White Swan Township is 0.1 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Point Recreation Area | 0.3 mi | 1,002 |
| 2. Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge | — | 1,437 |
| 3. White Swan Lakeside Use Area | — | 83 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
White Swan Township has four seasons and hot summers
White Swan Township has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Only 3 of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare have a higher July high than White Swan Township.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults in White Swan Township smoke cigarettes than in the typical South Dakota or U.S. town
24% of White Swan Township adults smoke cigarettes. Of the 36 South Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than White Swan Township. 35% of White Swan Township adults sleep under 7 hours.
| White Swan Township | South Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 12% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 16% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 22% | 25% |
| What stands out | White Swan Township | SD |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 23.5% | 15.2% |
| More adults in fair or poor health | 26% | 17.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19% | 12.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
White Swan Township faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in White Swan Township since 2019.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about White Swan Township
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of White Swan Township; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 White Swan Township residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across South Dakota.
99% of working residents leave White Swan Township for work
Where White Swan Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about White Swan Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is White Swan Township, SD a good place to live?
White Swan Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.