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Boulder Canyon, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Lawrence County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
487 Population 159/sq mi density
$71,846 Median Income $39,779 per capita
$510,400 Home Value $404,708 Zillow
45°F Avg Temperature 258 sunny days/yr
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$71,846 median income, 0.0% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.7 / 5.0
$510,400 home value, /mo rent
B
Education
3.4 / 5.0
30.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Boulder Canyon has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 258 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

26°F Jan (-3°C) 69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average45.4°F
16% below US avg
January Average26°F (-3°C)
July Average69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days258 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,045 ft (1,233 m)
Area3.1 sq mi (7.9 km²)
Population Density159/sq mi
Coordinates44.3971°N, 103.6046°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLawrence County County
Nearest AirportEllsworth Afb (RCA)
30 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (May) 3.94"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.79"

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

19 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 84 km
Jan 28, 1990 8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota M4.0 149 km
Feb 6, 1996 13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota M3.7 47 km
Mar 9, 2025 7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota M3.6 84 km
Dec 12, 2013 10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota M3.5 68 km
Mar 26, 2021 10 km E of Edgemont, South Dakota M3.4 122 km
Feb 7, 2007 11 km WSW of Wasta, South Dakota M3.1 91 km
Jun 29, 2024 22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M3.0 74 km
Jan 16, 2012 25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M3.0 112 km
Jun 16, 2024 7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M2.9 98 km
Jan 5, 2004 28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M2.8 94 km
Apr 4, 2024 19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota M2.8 144 km
Jul 17, 2016 15 km NNE of Oelrichs, South Dakota M2.8 126 km
Mar 18, 1994 4 km SSW of Hot Springs, South Dakota M2.8 111 km
Sep 5, 1993 4 km NNW of Central City, South Dakota M2.7 16 km
Jun 8, 2025 19 km NW of Wasta, South Dakota M2.6 83 km
Jun 16, 2021 15 km N of Quinn, South Dakota M2.6 124 km
Jan 24, 2004 8 km WSW of Green Valley, South Dakota M2.5 55 km
Nov 5, 1991 1 km ESE of Lead, South Dakota M2.5 13 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 7, 1969 EF4 99 km 0
Jun 29, 1993 EF3 36 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF3 38 km 0
Jun 25, 1975 EF3 62 km 0
Jul 18, 1965 EF3 23 km 0
Jul 12, 1965 EF3 54 km 0
Jul 18, 1963 EF3 66 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 38 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 41 km 0
Jun 13, 2016 EF2 66 km 0
Jun 19, 2015 EF2 48 km 0
Jun 13, 2014 EF2 84 km 0
Jul 13, 2009 EF2 69 km 0
Jun 7, 1994 EF2 97 km 0
Jul 12, 1993 EF2 4 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF2 39 km 0
May 10, 1985 EF2 67 km 0
Jun 28, 1972 EF2 19 km 0
May 26, 1972 EF2 67 km 0
May 21, 1972 EF2 88 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 68 km
2012 OIL CREEK 63,182 71 km
2017 LEGION LAKE 54,868 83 km
2003 RED POINT 18,057 92 km
1988 GALENA 16,936 70 km
2006 THORN DIVIDE COMPLEX 15,261 96 km
2002 BATTLE CREEK 15,034 57 km
1990 SWEDLUND 14,673 79 km
2001 ELK MOUNTAIN 2 13,758 83 km
2001 ROGERS SHACK 11,794 85 km
2002 GRIZZLY GULCH 11,487 9 km
2012 MYRTLE 7,645 92 km
2011 WHOOPUP 7,377 83 km
2022 FISH 7,045 55 km
1991 SHIRTTAIL 6,828 94 km
2016 KARA CREEK 6,543 86 km
2015 COLD BROOK 6,441 96 km
2004 BASIN DRAW 4,655 61 km
1997 DEWEY 2 4,376 90 km
2008 BASELINE BUGS PB 4,315 46 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 26°F (-3°C) 0.8 in Coldest, Driest
February 27°F (-3°C) 0.9 in
March 33°F (1°C) 1.7 in
April 43°F (6°C) 3.0 in
May 53°F (12°C) 3.9 in Wettest
June 63°F (17°C) 3.9 in
July 69°F (21°C) 2.4 in Warmest
August 69°F (20°C) 2.0 in
September 59°F (15°C) 1.8 in
October 47°F (8°C) 1.6 in
November 34°F (1°C) 1.1 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 1.0 in

Boulder Canyon has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 26°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.0 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.9") and January the driest (0.8").

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