Alcester, South Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
The current estimated population of Alcester, South Dakota is 793, with 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Alcester has seen stable population trends, reflecting its status as a small, rural community in southeastern South Dakota.
City Facts
- Year founded: 1879
- County: Union
- Land area: 0.6 square miles
- Population density: Approximately 1,322 people per square mile
- Area code: 605
- Zip code: 57001
Geography and Location
Alcester, South Dakota is located in Union County, in the southeastern corner of the state, about 35 miles south of Sioux Falls and near the Iowa and Nebraska borders. The town is situated along U.S. Highway 11, providing access to nearby cities and the surrounding rural landscape. Alcester is primarily an agricultural community, with corn, soybeans, and livestock farming playing important roles in the local economy. The town’s rural atmosphere, coupled with its proximity to Sioux Falls, makes it a quiet but convenient place for residents. The nearby Big Sioux River provides opportunities for outdoor activities like fishing and boating.
Demographics
Median resident age: 47.8 years
Median household income: $29,432
Median house value: $55,500
Population by Race
Races in Alcester:
- White Non-Hispanic (98.4%)
- Other Asian (0.9%)
- American Indian (0.6%)
Ancestries: German (32.0%), Norwegian (21.6%), Swedish (19.4%), Irish (11.5%), English (8.8%), Dutch (7.2%).
Elevation: 1370 feet
Land area: 0.3 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in Alcester
- High school or higher: 75.5%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.0%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9%
- Unemployed: 1.0%
- Mean travel time to work: 16.1 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Alcester city
- Never married: 18.7%
- Now married: 55.6%
- Separated: 0.8%
- Widowed: 18.7%
- Divorced: 6.3%
2.2% Foreign born (1.4% Asia, 0.8% Europe).
Population change in the 1990s: +37 (+4.4%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Alcester:
- HAWARDEN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 12 miles; HAWARDEN, IA)
- CANTON-INWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; CANTON, SD)
- HEGG MEMORIAL CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; ROCK VALLEY, IA)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Alcester:
- JOE FOSS FIELD (about 39 miles; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Abbreviation: FSD)
- SIOUX GATEWAY/COL. BUD DAY FIELD (about 47 miles; SIOUX CITY, IA; Abbreviation: SUX)
- CHAN GURNEY MUNI (about 53 miles; YANKTON, SD; Abbreviation: YKN)
Other public-use airports nearest to Alcester:
- HAWARDEN MUNI (about 11 miles; HAWARDEN, IA; Abbreviation: 2Y2)
- AKRON MUNI (about 16 miles; AKRON, IA; Abbreviation: Y40)
- CANTON MUNI (about 20 miles; CANTON, SD; Abbreviation: 7G9)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Alcester:
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA (about 27 miles; VERMILLION, SD; Full-time enrollment: 6,014)
- WESTERN IOWA TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 50 miles; SIOUX CITY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,639)
- WAYNE STATE COLLEGE (about 62 miles; WAYNE, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,026)
- SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 94 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
- NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 102 miles; NORFOLK, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,732)
- BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (about 104 miles; STORM LAKE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,524)
- SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY (about 115 miles; MARSHALL, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,405)
Schools
Public high school in Alcester:
- ALCESTER-HUDSON HI SCH (Students: 132; Location: 5TH & IOWA; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Alcester:
- ALCESTER ELEM (Students: 153; Location: 409 E 6TH ST; Grades: PK – 06)
- ALCESTER-HUDSON JR HI (Students: 56; Location: 5TH & IOWA; Grades: 07 – 08)
Libraries
Library in Alcester:
- ALCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $16,384; Location: 500 DAKOTA; 16,177 books; 181 audio materials; 290 video materials; 18 serial subscriptions)