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Moving to Nisland, South Dakota

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Nisland, South Dakota is a small city located in the state’s western region. With a population of just over 1,000 people, it is one of the smallest cities in South Dakota. Geographically, Nisland is situated on the edge of the Black Hills and is surrounded by rolling hills and prairies. The climate in Nisland is generally mild with hot summers and cold winters.

The city has a rich history, having been founded in 1881. The city was originally known as “Hazel Green” before being renamed to its current name after a local businessman, John Nisland. Throughout its long history, Nisland has seen its share of political ups and downs. In recent years, the city has been governed by both Republican and Democratic mayors with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility and community involvement.

The economy of Nisland is largely based on agriculture and tourism. Farming remains a major industry in the area with many local farms producing crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, hay and alfalfa. Tourism also plays an important role in Nisland’s economy as visitors flock to the area to explore its natural beauty or take part in outdoor activities such as fishing or hunting.

Nisland is home to several schools including an elementary school (grades K-6), middle school (grades 7-8), high school (grades 9-12), and community college (South Dakota State University). These institutions provide quality education for residents while also offering post-secondary opportunities for those looking to further their education beyond high school graduation.

Finally, some of the notable landmarks that can be found around Nisland include Mount Rushmore National Memorial which is located just outside of town; Spearfish Canyon which offers stunning views from its cliffs; Big Thunder Gold Mine which offers guided tours through an abandoned gold mine; Sylvan Lake State Park which provides recreational activities like boating or swimming; and Bear Butte State Park which offers hiking trails with breathtaking views of rolling hillsides.

Population: 204. Estimated population in July 2024: 208 (+2.0% change)
Males: 102 (50.0%), Females: 102 (50.0%)

Butte County

Zip code: 57762

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.5 years
Median household income: $19,063
Median house value: $18,800

Population by Race

Races in Nisland:

  • White Non-Hispanic (82.4%)
  • American Indian (10.8%)
  • Hispanic (6.9%)
  • Other race (5.9%)
  • Two or more races (1.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (35.8%), English (7.8%), Norwegian (5.9%), Polish (5.9%), Scottish (5.4%), Irish (4.9%).

Elevation: 2857 feet

Land area: 0.3 square miles

Population by Education

Nisland, South Dakota is a small town located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population of Nisland was 216 people. The town is located in the county seat of Butte County and is located just off Interstate 90. The majority of the population is made up of Native Americans and White Americans, with a small percentage being African American and Hispanic or Latino. In terms of age, the median age for Nisland’s population was 39.9 years old with 18% under 18 years old and 8% over 65 years old. Additionally, nearly half (48%) of Nisland’s population was female while 52% were male.

In terms of education, approximately one third (30%) had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher while another one-third (33%) had some college experience and only 18% had a high school diploma or lower level education. In terms of employment, about three fourths (76%) were employed full time while 14% were employed part-time. The median household income for Nisland was $27,500 which was slightly higher than both state and national averages at that time. As far as housing goes, most people in Nisland lived in single family homes but there were also some mobile homes and apartments scattered throughout the town as well as some vacant housing units which made up about 6%.

For population 25 years and over in Nisland

  • High school or higher: 71.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.4%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
  • Unemployed: 2.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 25.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Nisland town

  • Never married: 28.6%
  • Now married: 44.3%
  • Separated: 4.3%
  • Widowed: 6.4%
  • Divorced: 16.4%

0.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +30 (+17.2%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Nisland:

  • STURGIS COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CTR-CAH (about 20 miles; STURGIS, SD)
  • NORTHERN HILLS GENERAL HOSPITAL-CAH (about 26 miles; DEADWOOD, SD)
  • LOOKOUT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; SPEARFISH, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Nisland:

  • ELLSWORTH AFB (about 49 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RCA)
  • RAPID CITY REGIONAL (about 57 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RAP)
  • GILLETTE-CAMPBELL COUNTY (about 139 miles; GILLETTE, WY; Abbreviation: GCC)

Other public-use airports nearest to Nisland:

  • BLACK HILLS-CLYDE ICE FIELD (about 21 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Abbreviation: SPF)
  • BELLE FOURCHE MUNICIPAL (about 21 miles; BELLE FOURCHE, SD; Abbreviation: EFC)
  • STURGIS MUNI (about 22 miles; STURGIS, SD; Abbreviation: 49B)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Nisland:

  • BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 26 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
  • SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 47 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
  • CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 134 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
  • CASPER COLLEGE (about 226 miles; CASPER, WY; Full-time enrollment: 2,564)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 242 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
  • BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 244 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING (about 256 miles; LARAMIE, WY; Full-time enrollment: 9,665)

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