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Moving to Onida, South Dakota

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Onida, South Dakota is a small city located in the central part of the state. The population of Onida was recorded at 892 in the 2010 census. It is located in Sully County, and is surrounded by agricultural land. The town has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters.

Onida’s history dates back to 1883 when it was founded by early settlers from Scandinavia. The town was originally named “Odin”, after the Norse god Odin, but later changed its name to Onida. In its early days, the town’s economy was based on farming and ranching, but with time it has transitioned to an economy based on services and manufacturing.

Onida currently has three schools: Onida High School, Onida Elementary School, and St Mary’s Catholic School. All three schools are part of Sully County Public Schools District 34-1, which also includes schools in nearby towns such as Agar, Highmore, and Harrold.

Onida is home to several landmarks including the Sully County Courthouse which dates back to 1912; the historic Lutheran church built in 1910; and the old train depot which now serves as a museum dedicated to preserving local history. In addition to these landmarks there are also several parks such as City Park featuring a playground for children and a picnic area; Lakeview Park where visitors can fish or take a walk along its trails; and Riverside Park which offers camping sites for those looking for outdoor adventures.

Population: 740. Estimated population in July 2024: 665 (-10.1% change)
Males: 372 (50.3%), Females: 368 (49.7%)

Sully County

Zip code: 57564

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.8 years
Median household income: $35,750
Median house value: $51,800

Population by Race

Races in Onida:

  • White Non-Hispanic (98.1%)
  • Two or more races (0.9%)
  • American Indian (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (42.4%), Irish (13.6%), English (9.3%), Norwegian (8.2%), French (5.3%), Swedish (4.5%).

Elevation: 1870 feet

Land area: 0.6 square miles

Population by Education

Onida, South Dakota is a small town located in the central part of the state. It has a population of around 600 people and is an agricultural community. The median household income is $47,000, which is slightly below the national average. The majority of the population are white with a few minorities making up the rest. The cost of living in Onida is relatively low with housing prices being around 15% below the national average. Renting an apartment in Onida can range from $400-600 per month for a one-bedroom unit, and utilities are usually included in that price. Groceries are also relatively inexpensive, with most items costing 10-15% less than in other parts of the country. Additionally, there are no sales taxes on purchases which can help to reduce costs further. Transportation costs are also relatively low as there are multiple options available to get around town including public buses and car rentals at reasonable rates. All these factors combined make Onida an affordable place to live for those looking for a rural lifestyle with a tight-knit community feel.

For population 25 years and over in Onida

  • High school or higher: 87.6%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
  • Unemployed: 1.0%
  • Mean travel time to work: 14.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Onida city

  • Never married: 18.7%
  • Now married: 66.8%
  • Separated: 0.5%
  • Widowed: 6.2%
  • Divorced: 7.7%

0.8% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -23 (-3.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Onida:

  • GETTYSBURG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-CAH (about 21 miles; GETTYSBURG, SD)
  • ST MARYS HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; PIERRE, SD)
  • HOLY INFANT HOSPITAL (about 41 miles; HOVEN, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Onida:

  • PIERRE REGIONAL (about 28 miles; PIERRE, SD; Abbreviation: PIR)
  • ABERDEEN REGIONAL (about 125 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Abbreviation: ABR)
  • HURON REGIONAL (about 130 miles; HURON, SD; Abbreviation: HON)

Other public-use airports nearest to Onida:

  • ONIDA MUNI (about 3 miles; ONIDA, SD; Abbreviation: 98D)
  • GETTYSBURG MUNI (about 21 miles; GETTYSBURG, SD; Abbreviation: 0D8)
  • HARROLD MUNI (about 27 miles; HARROLD, SD; Abbreviation: 5G3)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Onida:

  • NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 121 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 150 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
  • BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 155 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
  • SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 222 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
  • SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 228 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
  • CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 242 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA (about 252 miles; VERMILLION, SD; Full-time enrollment: 6,014)

Schools

Public high school in Onida:

  • SULLY BUTTES HI SCH (Students: 93; Location: 500 8TH ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Onida:

  • ONIDA ELEM (Students: 102; Location: 500 8TH ST; Grades: PK – 06)
  • SULLY BUTTES JR HI (Students: 50; Location: 500 8TH ST; Grades: 07 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Onida:

  • SULLY AREA LIBRARY (Operating income: $27,000; Location: 500 8TH STREET; 20,000 books; 80 audio materials; 941 video materials; 81 serial subscriptions)

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