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Butte County, SD
5 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Butte County, South Dakota.
Population
10,676
Land area
2,250sq mi
People per sq mi
5
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Butte County
Butte County at a glance
- Butte County is 60% less dense than South Dakota as a whole.
- The median household income is $75,652, close to the South Dakota median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $244,600 (5% below South Dakota) and median rent is $972 a month.
- Its largest cities are Belle Fourche (5,804), Newell (378) and Fruitdale (134).
Local data for Butte County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Butte County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$75,652
Poverty rate
8.6%
Median home value
$244,600
Prices -4.3% in a year
Median rent
$972/mo
Homeownership
76.1%
Bachelor's or higher
19.9%
Median age
40.2
Average commute
24.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,500), Irish Americans (1,276), Norwegian Americans (1,031).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
1.7%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,766
2,921 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,658
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$79.9M
FY 2026, $7,805 per person
PPP loans
$21.7M
849 loans, 2,688 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$23.1K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Butte County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.4%
- Carpooled10.9%
- Public transit0.4%
- Walked4.6%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home7.8%
Average one-way commute: 24.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Butte County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
907
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
27
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 10°F
16.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone22 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Butte County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.7%
U.S. 33.3% +2.4 pts
Diabetes
12.5%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.8%
U.S. 12.8% +4.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.9%
U.S. 11.1% -1.2 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Butte County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Butte County, SD?
- Belle Fourche is the largest city or town in Butte County, with about 5,804 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Butte County?
- Butte County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57717, 57760, 57762, 57788.
- What is the population of Butte County, SD?
- About 10,676 people live in Butte County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Butte County?
- Butte County borders Meade County, Lawrence County, Crook County, WY, Perkins County, Carter County, MT, Harding County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023