Moving to Milbank, South Dakota

Milbank, South Dakota is a small city in the northeastern corner of the state with a population of 3,611. The city lies on the eastern shore of Lake Kampeska, which feeds directly into the mighty Missouri River. It is surrounded by lush rolling hills and woodlands, making it an ideal place for outdoor recreation. The climate is typical for this part of the country, with hot summers and cold winters.

The history of Milbank dates back to 1881 when it was founded as a railroad town by the Milwaukee Road Railroad Company. It quickly grew in size and importance due to its strategic location between two major rivers, allowing goods to be transported up and down river quickly. As a result of this growth, Milbank was officially incorporated as a city in 1901.

Politically, Milbank is considered to be part of South Dakota’s 1st congressional district and is represented by Republican Dusty Johnson in the US House of Representatives. At the state level, it is part of District 5 and represented by Republican Senator Brock Greenfield in the South Dakota Senate.

The economy in Milbank relies heavily on agriculture; there are several large farms located nearby that produce corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops for sale both locally and abroad. Other sources of income include light manufacturing such as furniture production at local companies like Hennen Furniture Manufacturing Company as well as tourism from visitors who come to explore Lake Kampeska or take advantage of nearby hunting grounds.

Milbank has two schools: Milbank Elementary School which serves grades K-5; and Milbank High School which serves grades 6-12. Both schools are highly regarded within their respective districts for their academic excellence and extracurricular activities such as sports teams (football, basketball), music programs (band & choir) and student clubs (robotics & debate).

Finally, there are several landmarks that make up Milbank’s identity including: Kampeska Park – a sprawling park located along Lake Kampeska’s shoreline; Grange Hall – an old building that once served as a gathering place for farmers; Hennen Furniture Factory – a local factory that produces furniture; and Hotel Kempster – an old hotel built in 1920 that has since been converted into an apartment complex for seniors.

Population: 3,640. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,357 (-7.8% change)
Males: 1,672 (45.9%), Females: 1,968 (54.1%)

Grant County

Zip codes: 57252.

Demographics

Median resident age: 42.0 years
Median household income: $28,194
Median house value: $64,200

Population by Race

Races in Milbank:

• White Non-Hispanic (98.8%)

Ancestries: German (48.7%), Norwegian (20.1%), English (6.2%), Irish (6.2%), Swedish (5.1%), United States (4.6%).

Elevation: 1150 feet

Land area: 2.7 square miles

Population by Education

Milbank, South Dakota is a small town located in the northeast corner of the state. The population as of 2019 is estimated to be around 2,500 people. Milbank has a rural atmosphere, with plenty of farmland and outdoor activities for residents and visitors to enjoy. The median household income for Milbank residents is $44,844 and the median home value is $115,300. The cost of living in Milbank is low compared to other cities in the US; housing costs are especially affordable at only 12% above national averages.

The town of Milbank offers many activities for its residents and visitors alike. There are several parks within the city limits that offer walking trails and picnic areas; there also numerous churches and community centers. Shopping options range from small convenience stores to large chain stores like Walmart and Target. There are several restaurants located around town as well, including local favorites like Mama’s Pizza or KFC. For those looking for entertainment, there are movie theaters and bowling alleys located nearby as well as a casino located just outside of town limits.

In addition to its low cost of living, Milbank also boasts a variety of job opportunities within the city limits; many employers offer competitive wages with benefits packages available in some cases. Additionally, there are numerous local schools offering K-12 education options as well as post-secondary institutions such as South Dakota State University that are just an hour away from Milbank. All these factors make it an attractive place for families looking for a small-town feel with access to amenities found in larger cities without having to pay big city prices.

For population 25 years and over in Milbank

• High school or higher: 79.1%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.1%
• Graduate or professional degree: 5.6%
• Unemployed: 3.5%
• Mean travel time to work: 9.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Milbank city

• Never married: 20.5%
• Now married: 57.4%
• Separated: 0.5%
• Widowed: 12.9%
• Divorced: 8.7%

1.8% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -276 (-7.0%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Milbank:

• ST BERNARDS PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL – CAH (901 E VIRGIL AVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Milbank:

• ORTONVILLE MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; ORTONVILLE, MN)
• HOLY TRINITY HOSPITAL (about 27 miles; GRACEVILLE, MN)
• DEUEL COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSP &CLINIC-CAH (about 30 miles; CLEAR LAKE, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Milbank:

• WATERTOWN MUNI (about 42 miles; WATERTOWN, SD; Abbreviation: ATY)
• BROOKINGS MUNI (about 65 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Abbreviation: BKX)
• JOE FOSS FIELD (about 114 miles; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Abbreviation: FSD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Milbank:

• MILBANK MUNI (about 6 miles; MILBANK, SD; Abbreviation: 1D1)
• ORTONVILLE MUNI-MARTINSON FIELD (about 17 miles; ORTONVILLE, MN; Abbreviation: VVV)
• KAPAUN-WILSON FIELD (about 27 miles; GRACEVILLE, MN; Abbreviation: 00Y)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Milbank:

• SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 60 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
• NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 73 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
• SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY (about 80 miles; MARSHALL, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,405)
• RIDGEWATER COLLEGE (about 111 miles; WILLMAR, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,711)
• MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MOORHEAD (about 116 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 6,400)
• CONCORDIA COLLEGE AT MOORHEAD (about 116 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,771)
• NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 121 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)

Schools

Public high school in Milbank:

• MILBANK HI SCH (Students: 361; Location: 1001 E PARK AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Milbank:

• KOCH ELEM (Students: 368; Location: 400 E 10TH AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
• MILBANK MIDDLE SCH (Students: 263; Location: 305 S 5TH ST; Grades: 06 – 08)

Private primary/middle school in Milbank:

• ST LAWRENCE SCHOOL (Students: 167; Location: 113 S 6TH ST; Grades: PK – 6)

Libraries

Library in Milbank:

• GRANT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $209,854; Location: 207 E PARK AVE; 49,135 books; 1,742 audio materials; 1,458 video materials; 83 serial subscriptions)