The Town Files

Dewey County, South Dakota

5,205 people. The median home is worth $69,600 (typical South Dakota town: $182,100) and the median household earns $54,104.

Towns in Dewey County

Towns in Dewey County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
North Eagle Butte1,879$33,100$34,35823.7
Eagle Butte1,258$65,900$45,74128.0
Timber Lake509$81,400$60,69423.8

People and housing

Dewey CountyTypical South Dakota town
Median home value$69,600$182,100
Median rent$692$785
Median household income$54,104$66,086
Median age27.739.5
Bachelor's degree or higher18.8%23.6%
Below the poverty line33.0%10.1%

Jobs and pay

2,447 jobs in 2024, average pay $51,085 a year.

Largest industries in Dewey CountyRetail212 jobs · $23,146Hotels & restaurants88 jobs · $15,913Wholesale trade43 jobs · $56,694Information25 jobs · $23,433Other services14 jobs · $45,270
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Dewey County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 5.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 748 storm events in Dewey County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Dewey County by type since 1996Hail228Flood20Drought65Tornado13Blizzard41High Wind83Heavy Snow29Flash Flood14Winter Storm21Excessive Heat9
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Dewey County has been included in 16 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3475: Covid-19
June 7, 2019FloodDR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding
February 1, 2017Severe StormDR-4298: Severe Winter Storm
July 28, 2014FloodDR-4186: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
November 8, 2013Severe StormDR-4155: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).