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Kadoka, South Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Kadoka is a small town located in South Dakota, with a population of just over 700 people. Situated in the southwestern corner of the state, Kadoka is surrounded by Jackson County and is close to many other small towns. Geographically, Kadoka is situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet above sea level and has an overall temperate climate, with cold winters and warm summers.

Kadoka was established in 1882 when the Chicago and North Western Railroad was built through the area. Originally called “The Junction” because it was a junction point for two different railroads, the town was later renamed after Chief Kadoka of the Brule Sioux tribe. The city’s economy has been heavily dependent on agriculture since its founding; however, modern industries such as tourism and energy production have helped to diversify its economic base.

The city is served by several schools including Kadoka Elementary School, Kadoka High School, and several smaller private institutions. These schools provide a variety of educational opportunities for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade as well as post-secondary education.

Kadoka boasts several landmarks that are popular tourist attractions including the Badlands National Park, which features some of America’s most spectacular scenery; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Crazy Horse Memorial; and Wind Cave National Park which contains one of the world’s longest caves. Other notable attractions include historic sites such as Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site which offer unique insight into American history.

Population: 706. Estimated population in July 2024: 668 (-5.4% change)
Males: 327 (46.3%), Females: 379 (53.7%)

Jackson County

Zip code: 57543

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.7 years
Median household income: $26,875
Median house value: $32,600

Population by Race

Races in Kadoka:

  • White Non-Hispanic (83.9%)
  • American Indian (15.6%)
  • Two or more races (2.5%)

Ancestries: German (28.6%), English (12.9%), Irish (11.9%), United States (5.9%), Danish (4.2%), French (4.1%).

Elevation: 2458 feet

Land area: 2.3 square miles

Population by Education

Kadoka, South Dakota is a small town located in Jackson County, South Dakota. It has a population of 674 people as of the 2020 US Census estimates. The majority of the population is Caucasian, with a smaller percentage being Native American and Hispanic. The median age for residents is 38 years old, which is slightly higher than the national average. The majority of the population is employed in either agricultural or government related jobs. Agriculture and livestock are important industries in Kadoka, with farmers growing wheat, corn, and other grains as well as raising beef cattle and hogs. Government jobs are mainly related to the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base, which provides employment opportunities to many locals. Other industries include retail stores, restaurants, and healthcare services. Education is also important to the town; there are two public schools (Kadoka Elementary School and Kadoka High School) that serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition to these public schools there are several private schools located in Kadoka as well as an extension campus of South Dakota State University located nearby.

For population 25 years and over in Kadoka

  • High school or higher: 83.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.5%
  • Unemployed: 1.2%
  • Mean travel time to work: 11.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Kadoka city

  • Never married: 18.3%
  • Now married: 57.6%
  • Separated: 0.4%
  • Widowed: 11.0%
  • Divorced: 12.8%

1.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -26 (-3.6%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Kadoka:

  • HANS P PETERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-CAH (about 20 miles; PHILIP, SD)
  • BENNETT COUNTY HEALTHCARE CENTER-CAH (about 44 miles; MARTIN, SD)
  • PHS INDIAN HOSPITAL (about 59 miles; ROSEBUD, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Kadoka:

  • PIERRE REGIONAL (about 93 miles; PIERRE, SD; Abbreviation: PIR)
  • RAPID CITY REGIONAL (about 108 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RAP)
  • ELLSWORTH AFB (about 112 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RCA)

Other public-use airports nearest to Kadoka:

  • KADOKA MUNI (about 3 miles; KADOKA, SD; Abbreviation: 5V8)
  • PHILIP (about 15 miles; PHILIP, SD; Abbreviation: PHP)
  • MARTIN MUNI (about 49 miles; MARTIN, SD; Abbreviation: 9V6)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Kadoka:

  • SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 119 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
  • CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 125 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
  • BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 170 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 209 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
  • BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 213 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
  • NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 237 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY (about 266 miles; KEARNEY, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,588)

Schools

Public high school in Kadoka:

  • KADOKA HI SCH (Students: 103; Location: 3 BAYBERRY ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Kadoka:

  • KADOKA ELEM (Students: 168; Location: 3 BAYBERRY ST; Grades: PK – 08)

Libraries

Library in Kadoka:

  • JACKSON COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $37,610; Location: MAIN STREET; 20,445 books; 25 audio materials; 63 video materials; 18 serial subscriptions)

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