Wallace, SD

Full City Profile · South Dakota · Day County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
67 Population 515/sq mi density
$53,750 Median Income $21,375 per capita
$85,600 Home Value $503,980 Zillow
$575 Median Rent 22.5% income on rent
43°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$53,750 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$85,600 home value, $575/mo rent
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
17.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Wallace has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 12°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 22.7 inches. The area receives 41.1 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

12°F Jan (-11°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average43.0°F
20% below US avg
January Average12°F (-11°C)
July Average71°F (22°C)

Geography

Elevation1,780 ft (543 m)
Area0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Population Density515/sq mi
Coordinates45.0845°N, 97.4781°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyDay County County
Nearest AirportWatertown Regional (ATY)
20 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 22.7"
40% below US avg
Snowfall 41.1"
Wettest Month (Jun) 3.85"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.58"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score27.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability74.7 / 100
Community Resilience84.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

3 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M3.1 on Jul 26, 2002.

Jun 5, 1993 11 km N of Johnson, Minnesota M4.1 113 km
Oct 20, 1995 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota M3.7 92 km
Jul 26, 2002 0 km WSW of Huron, South Dakota M3.1 99 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

428 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 5 fatalities, 61 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 24, 2003 EF4 92 km 0
Jun 23, 2002 EF4 100 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF3 61 km 0
Jun 24, 2003 EF3 91 km 0
May 31, 1996 EF3 89 km 0
May 17, 1996 EF3 71 km 0
Jun 16, 1992 EF3 85 km 0
May 12, 1984 EF3 30 km 0
Jul 18, 1983 EF3 32 km 0
Jul 1, 1973 EF3 82 km 1
Jun 25, 1969 EF3 62 km 0
Jun 21, 1961 EF3 73 km 1
May 30, 2022 EF2 68 km 0
May 12, 2022 EF2 87 km 0
May 12, 2022 EF2 76 km 0
May 12, 2022 EF2 54 km 0
Jun 29, 2005 EF2 97 km 0
Sep 23, 2004 EF2 90 km 0
Jun 24, 2003 EF2 75 km 0
Jun 24, 2003 EF2 80 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LOUISBURGRADE (6,487 ac, 2004).

Year Name Acres Distance
2004 LOUISBURGRADE 6,487 99 km
2004 FISH FIRE 1,799 93 km
2003 DANIELSON 1,682 93 km
2004 TACOMA PARK PLACE 1,336 78 km
2005 GRAND MEWS 1,245 90 km
2000 PHEASANT OPENER 1,206 42 km
1998 LEE 1,137 88 km
1995 UNNAMED 1,115 89 km
2003 ANDERSON 1,082 92 km
1998 ANDREASEN 1,001 93 km
1992 SPRING LK 1,001 40 km
1990 ANDERSON 988 90 km
2007 ANDERSON 797 92 km
2006 ANDERSON 764 90 km
1986 ANDERSON 746 92 km
2000 FISH 720 92 km
2007 LEE 689 88 km
2006 MOSQUITO RANCH 656 84 km
2003 LEE 560 87 km
1997 ROBIN HOOD 542 85 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 12°F (-11°C) 0.6 in Coldest, Driest
February 16°F (-9°C) 0.7 in
March 29°F (-2°C) 1.0 in
April 43°F (6°C) 2.1 in
May 56°F (13°C) 2.9 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.9 in Wettest
July 71°F (22°C) 3.1 in Warmest
August 69°F (20°C) 2.9 in
September 60°F (16°C) 2.5 in
October 46°F (8°C) 2.0 in
November 31°F (-1°C) 0.7 in
December 18°F (-8°C) 0.7 in

Wallace has a seasonal temperature swing of 59°F / from 12°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 22.7 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.9") and January the driest (0.6").

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