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Belle Fourche, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Lawrence County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
5,741 Population 638/sq mi density
$59,920 Median Income $36,431 per capita
$188,800 Home Value $332,557 Zillow
$947 Median Rent 28.4% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 311 sunny days/yr
196 Violent Crime/100K 1,554 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$59,920 median income, 4.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$188,800 home value, $947/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
196 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Belle Fourche experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 311 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 18.0 inches. The area receives 42.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average47.9°F
11% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days311 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,127 ft (953 m)
Area9.0 sq mi (23.3 km²)
Population Density638/sq mi
Coordinates44.6638°N, 103.8591°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLawrence County County
Nearest AirportEllsworth Afb (RCA)
52 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.0"
53% below US avg
Snowfall 42.2"
Wettest Month (Jun) 3.50"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.63"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score49.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability35.5 / 100
Community Resilience54.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

15 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Jun 8, 2025.

Sep 25, 2009 15 km E of Alzada, Montana M4.2 48 km
Feb 6, 1996 13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota M3.7 77 km
Mar 9, 2025 7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota M3.6 119 km
Dec 12, 2013 10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota M3.5 104 km
Feb 7, 2007 11 km WSW of Wasta, South Dakota M3.1 124 km
Jun 29, 2024 22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M3.0 100 km
Jan 16, 2012 25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M3.0 148 km
Jun 16, 2024 7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M2.9 133 km
Jan 5, 2004 28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M2.8 119 km
Mar 18, 1994 4 km SSW of Hot Springs, South Dakota M2.8 143 km
Sep 5, 1993 4 km NNW of Central City, South Dakota M2.7 30 km
Jul 29, 2013 18 km SE of Ekalaka, Montana M2.6 130 km
Jun 8, 2025 19 km NW of Wasta, South Dakota M2.6 113 km
Nov 5, 1991 1 km ESE of Lead, South Dakota M2.5 36 km
Jan 24, 2004 8 km WSW of Green Valley, South Dakota M2.5 91 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

166 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 42 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 7, 1969 EF4 69 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF3 84 km 0
Jun 17, 2014 EF3 94 km 0
Jun 29, 1993 EF3 36 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF3 72 km 0
Jun 25, 1975 EF3 62 km 0
Jul 18, 1965 EF3 26 km 0
Jul 12, 1965 EF3 56 km 0
Jul 18, 1963 EF3 49 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 45 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 45 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF2 85 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF2 100 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF2 81 km 0
Jun 19, 2015 EF2 73 km 0
Jun 13, 2014 EF2 57 km 0
Jul 13, 2009 EF2 46 km 0
Jul 12, 1993 EF2 38 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF2 74 km 0
May 10, 1985 EF2 69 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: JASPER (82,298 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 JASPER 82,298 94 km
2012 OIL CREEK 63,182 82 km
2006 THORN DIVIDE COMPLEX 15,261 78 km
2002 BATTLE CREEK 15,034 92 km
2015 SHEEP DRAW 13,837 79 km
2002 GRIZZLY GULCH 11,487 37 km
2000 CEDAR BUTTE 9,154 88 km
2022 FISH 7,045 55 km
2000 CAMP CROOK COMPLEX 6,927 97 km
2016 KARA CREEK 6,543 73 km
1988 NEW HAVEN 6,118 81 km
2000 WOOD DRAW 5,792 76 km
1988 SHORT PINES 5,516 81 km
2004 BASIN DRAW 4,655 33 km
2008 BASELINE BUGS PB 4,315 74 km
1988 MCDOWELLE 4,096 74 km
1988 WESTBERRY TRAIL 3,944 78 km
1992 HERMOSA FIRE 3,905 100 km
2000 LICKINY 3,802 69 km
1985 LANTZ 3,737 41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 0.6 in Coldest, Driest
February 28°F (-2°C) 0.8 in
March 35°F (2°C) 1.4 in
April 45°F (7°C) 2.3 in
May 56°F (13°C) 3.3 in
June 65°F (19°C) 3.5 in Wettest
July 74°F (23°C) 2.1 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 1.8 in
September 60°F (16°C) 1.7 in
October 48°F (9°C) 1.5 in
November 34°F (1°C) 0.9 in
December 26°F (-4°C) 0.8 in

Belle Fourche has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 25°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.5") and January the driest (0.6").

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