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Cottonwood, SD
Full City Profile · South Dakota · Jackson County County
3.4
/5.0
B
Good
105
Population
114/sq mi density
46°F
Avg Temperature
302 sunny days/yr
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
0 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.2 / 5.0
40.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Cottonwood experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 17.4 inches. The area receives 38.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Temperature
21°F Jan (-6°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 46.1°F |
| 15% below US avg | |
| January Average | 21°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 302 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,485 ft (757 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 114/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.9704°N, 101.9041°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Jackson County County |
| Nearest Airport | Rapid City Regional (RAP) 58 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0479 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 7.6 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 10.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 99.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 0.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 35°F (2°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 1.7 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 2.9 in | |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 3.0 in | Wettest |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 2.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 1.6 in | |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 1.3 in | |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.4 in |
Cottonwood has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.9 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.0") and January the driest (0.4").