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

Castlewood is a small town located in Hamlin County, South Dakota. The population of Castlewood is approximately 500 people. The town was established in 1883 and was named after the nearby Castlewood Creek.

The town of Castlewood has a mix of rural and urban features. It is home to several businesses, including a pharmacy, general store, hardware store, beauty salon, auto repair shop, and restaurant. There are also several churches in the area, including the Church of the Nazarene, United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church of Our Savior, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

The economy in Castlewood is largely based on agriculture. Local farmers grow corn and soybeans as well as raise cattle and hogs for sale at local markets or to be shipped elsewhere. Additionally, many residents work at jobs in neighboring towns or commute to Sioux Falls for employment opportunities.

Castlewood has a variety of recreational activities available for visitors and locals alike. There are two city parks: Custer Park which has a playground and picnic area; and Flandreau Park which provides access to fishing on Castlewood Lake as well as camping sites with electricity hookups for RVs or tents. Additionally there are trails for horseback riding just outside of town that lead into the Black Hills National Forest where visitors can enjoy hiking or hunting in season.

The annual Castlewood Days celebration takes place over Memorial Day weekend each year and includes parades, carnivals rides, food vendors, craft fairs and other events to celebrate the community’s rich history with its German-Russian settlers who arrived during the late 1800s looking for good farmland to call their own.

Overall Castlewood is a quaint small town that offers its residents an affordable cost of living with easy access to larger cities like Sioux Falls while still providing plenty of amenities such as churches, parks and businesses that make it an ideal place to call home if you’re looking for some peace and quiet away from the hustle bustle of big city life but still close enough so you can take advantage of all it has to offer when needed.

Population: 666. Estimated population in July 2024: 681 (+2.3% change)
Males: 324 (48.6%), Females: 342 (51.4%)

Hamlin County

Zip code: 57223

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.1 years
Median household income: $36,607
Median house value: $55,600

Population by Race

Races in Castlewood:

  • White Non-Hispanic (98.6%)
  • American Indian (0.9%)
  • Two or more races (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (35.9%), Norwegian (21.6%), Dutch (9.6%), Irish (8.9%), English (6.6%), United States (5.3%).

Elevation: 1690 feet

Land area: 1.1 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Castlewood

  • High school or higher: 86.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.4%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.6%
  • Unemployed: 3.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 21.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Castlewood city

  • Never married: 20.6%
  • Now married: 60.5%
  • Separated: 1.2%
  • Widowed: 9.8%
  • Divorced: 7.9%

0.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +99 (+17.5%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Castlewood:

  • MEMORIAL CARE UNIT (about 15 miles; WATERTOWN, SD)
  • PRAIRIE LAKES HOSP & CARE CTR (about 15 miles; WATERTOWN, SD)
  • DEUEL COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSP &CLINIC-CAH (about 24 miles; CLEAR LAKE, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Castlewood:

  • WATERTOWN MUNI (about 15 miles; WATERTOWN, SD; Abbreviation: ATY)
  • BROOKINGS MUNI (about 33 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Abbreviation: BKX)
  • JOE FOSS FIELD (about 83 miles; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Abbreviation: FSD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Castlewood:

  • ARLINGTON MUNI (about 25 miles; ARLINGTON, SD; Abbreviation: 3A9)
  • CLEAR LAKE MUNI (about 25 miles; CLEAR LAKE, SD; Abbreviation: 5H3)
  • LAKE PRESTON MUNI (about 36 miles; LAKE PRESTON, SD; Abbreviation: Y34)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Castlewood:

  • SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 30 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
  • SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY (about 89 miles; MARSHALL, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,405)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 111 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
  • NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 114 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA (about 132 miles; VERMILLION, SD; Full-time enrollment: 6,014)
  • RIDGEWATER COLLEGE (about 140 miles; WILLMAR, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,711)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 153 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)

Schools

Public high school in Castlewood:

  • CASTLEWOOD HI SCH (Students: 92; Location: 310 EAST HARRY ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Castlewood:

  • CASTLEWOOD ELEM (Students: 146; Location: 310 EAST HARRY ST; Grades: PK – 06)
  • CASTLEWOOD JR HI (Students: 50; Location: 310 EAST HARRY ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • CLAREMONT COLONY (Students: 13; Location: 46271 184TH ST; Grades: KG – 08)

Libraries

Library in Castlewood:

  • CASTLEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $6,738; Location: PO BOX 137; 6,340 books)