Fairfax, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Charles Mix County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
143 Population 477/sq mi density
$66,875 Median Income $31,972 per capita
$62,000 Home Value $323,708 Zillow
$788 Median Rent 25.4% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$66,875 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$62,000 home value, $788/mo rent
C
Education
2.1 / 5.0
14.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Fairfax experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 25.9 inches. The area receives 37.2 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average47.6°F
12% below US avg
January Average21°F (-6°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation1,948 ft (594 m)
Area0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Population Density477/sq mi
Coordinates43.0280°N, 98.8889°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyCharles Mix County County
Nearest AirportAinsworth Regional (ANW)
64 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 25.9"
32% below US avg
Snowfall 37.2"
Wettest Month (May) 4.30"
Driest Month (Dec) 0.33"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score48.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.0 / 100
Community Resilience51.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

17 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.3. Most recent: M2.5 on Apr 27, 2025.

Nov 3, 2002 16 km SSW of Butte, Nebraska M4.3 29 km
Jun 4, 2021 10 km NE of Anoka, Nebraska M3.7 13 km
Feb 6, 1996 1 km N of Wausa, Nebraska M3.6 124 km
Oct 25, 1990 8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota M3.6 92 km
Jan 25, 1994 8 km E of Wood Lake, Nebraska M3.3 111 km
Jun 18, 2015 15 km SSE of Valentine, Nebraska M3.3 133 km
Jun 4, 2021 9 km ENE of Anoka, Nebraska M3.1 14 km
Jan 4, 2021 5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota M3.1 83 km
Feb 7, 2014 11 km NE of Bijou Hills, South Dakota M3.0 65 km
Feb 1, 2006 6 km ENE of Bassett, Nebraska M2.9 66 km
Jul 3, 1995 9 km SSW of Fort Thompson, South Dakota M2.8 119 km
Jan 1, 2020 2 km E of Chambers, Nebraska M2.8 92 km
Mar 20, 2010 9 km NNW of Springview, Nebraska M2.7 76 km
Feb 5, 2025 8 km SSE of Tilden, Nebraska M2.7 147 km
Apr 27, 2025 9 km NE of Burke, South Dakota M2.5 37 km
Jan 16, 2022 9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota M2.5 91 km
Mar 6, 2024 6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska M2.5 92 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

378 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 1 fatality, 152 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 8, 1965 EF5 68 km 0
May 29, 1962 EF4 53 km 0
May 5, 2007 EF3 82 km 0
Jun 9, 2003 EF3 56 km 0
Jul 24, 1971 EF3 90 km 0
Jun 26, 1965 EF3 87 km 0
Jun 21, 1965 EF3 91 km 0
May 8, 1965 EF3 39 km 0
Jun 5, 1962 EF3 82 km 0
May 21, 1962 EF3 22 km 0
May 16, 1962 EF3 7 km 0
May 15, 1962 EF3 46 km 0
May 14, 1962 EF3 86 km 0
May 14, 1962 EF3 58 km 0
Jun 18, 1954 EF3 85 km 0
May 10, 2015 EF2 55 km 0
May 22, 2010 EF2 84 km 0
May 22, 2010 EF2 88 km 0
Jun 24, 2009 EF2 56 km 0
Mar 23, 2009 EF2 55 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

8 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (6,910 ac, 2012).

Year Name Acres Distance
2012 UNNAMED 6,910 63 km
1995 UNNAMED 3,145 97 km
2012 UNNAMED 2,875 52 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,130 98 km
2000 NOVOTNY AND WAGNER 1,968 84 km
2012 KAYLKOWSKI 1,966 40 km
2012 SIX PACK 1,649 87 km
2023 SDLDR-HFR-FY23-RX-BROKEN ARROW UNITS B-C-D-E-G-H-I 1,185 53 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 21°F (-6°C) 0.4 in Coldest
February 25°F (-4°C) 0.7 in
March 35°F (2°C) 1.4 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.1 in
May 57°F (14°C) 4.3 in Wettest
June 68°F (20°C) 3.9 in
July 74°F (23°C) 3.2 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 2.8 in
September 64°F (18°C) 2.9 in
October 50°F (10°C) 2.0 in
November 36°F (2°C) 0.9 in
December 24°F (-4°C) 0.3 in Driest

Fairfax has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 25.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.3") and December the driest (0.3").

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