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Vale, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Butte County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
90 Population 60/sq mi density
$23,661 Median Income $21,202 per capita
$58,900 Home Value $369,376 Zillow
46°F Avg Temperature 311 sunny days/yr
101 Violent Crime/100K 2,360 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$23,661 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$58,900 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
101 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Vale experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 311 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 16.7 inches. The area receives 39.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average45.7°F
15% below US avg
January Average21°F (-6°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days311 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,772 ft (845 m)
Area1.5 sq mi (3.9 km²)
Population Density60/sq mi
Coordinates44.6183°N, 103.3987°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyButte County County
Nearest AirportEllsworth Afb (RCA)
36 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.7"
56% below US avg
Snowfall 39.8"
Wettest Month (Jun) 3.74"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.38"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score23.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability36.1 / 100
Community Resilience27.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide 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 78 km
Feb 6, 1996 13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota M3.7 76 km
Mar 9, 2025 7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota M3.6 105 km
Dec 12, 2013 10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota M3.5 89 km
Mar 26, 2021 10 km E of Edgemont, South Dakota M3.4 148 km
Feb 7, 2007 11 km WSW of Wasta, South Dakota M3.1 92 km
Jun 29, 2024 22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M3.0 103 km
Jan 16, 2012 25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M3.0 130 km
Jun 16, 2024 7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota M2.9 119 km
Mar 18, 1994 4 km SSW of Hot Springs, South Dakota M2.8 136 km
Jan 5, 2004 28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming M2.8 123 km
Jul 17, 2016 15 km NNE of Oelrichs, South Dakota M2.8 147 km
Apr 4, 2024 19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota M2.8 148 km
Sep 5, 1993 4 km NNW of Central City, South Dakota M2.7 40 km
Jul 29, 2013 18 km SE of Ekalaka, Montana M2.6 149 km
Jun 8, 2025 19 km NW of Wasta, South Dakota M2.6 79 km
Jun 16, 2021 15 km N of Quinn, South Dakota M2.6 117 km
Nov 5, 1991 1 km ESE of Lead, South Dakota M2.5 41 km
Jan 24, 2004 8 km WSW of Green Valley, South Dakota M2.5 71 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

153 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 44 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 7, 1969 EF4 79 km 0
Jun 29, 1993 EF3 59 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF3 49 km 0
Jun 25, 1975 EF3 87 km 0
Jul 18, 1965 EF3 12 km 0
Jul 12, 1965 EF3 79 km 0
Jul 18, 1963 EF3 40 km 0
Jun 2, 2024 EF2 91 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 66 km 0
Jul 6, 2020 EF2 64 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF2 98 km 0
Jun 28, 2018 EF2 100 km 0
Jun 13, 2016 EF2 85 km 0
Jun 19, 2015 EF2 38 km 0
Jun 13, 2014 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 13, 2009 EF2 82 km 0
Jun 7, 1994 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 12, 1993 EF2 27 km 0
May 11, 1991 EF2 51 km 0
May 10, 1985 EF2 93 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 97 km
2012 OIL CREEK 63,182 100 km
2006 WHITE OWL 20,022 86 km
1988 GALENA 16,936 93 km
2002 BATTLE CREEK 15,034 78 km
2015 SHEEP DRAW 13,837 92 km
2002 GRIZZLY GULCH 11,487 38 km
2022 FISH 7,045 79 km
1988 SHORT PINES 5,516 95 km
2004 BASIN DRAW 4,655 69 km
2008 BASELINE BUGS PB 4,315 75 km
1988 WESTBERRY TRAIL 3,944 61 km
1992 HERMOSA FIRE 3,905 84 km
2000 LICKINY 3,802 47 km
1985 LANTZ 3,737 70 km
2005 RICCO 3,553 45 km
2006 EAST RIDGE 3,370 45 km
2005 CEMENT 3,032 69 km
2016 CROW PEAK 2,848 48 km
2001 LEMON BUTTE 2,556 91 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 21°F (-6°C) 1.4 in Coldest, Driest
February 27°F (-3°C) 1.5 in
March 35°F (2°C) 2.5 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.2 in
May 56°F (14°C) 3.7 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.7 in Wettest
July 73°F (23°C) 2.9 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 2.6 in
September 61°F (16°C) 2.3 in
October 48°F (9°C) 2.0 in
November 34°F (1°C) 1.8 in
December 24°F (-4°C) 1.7 in

Vale has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 21°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 29.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.7") and January the driest (1.4").

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