Clark County is a county in South Dakota, United States, on the rolling prairie of the state’s northeastern lake country. It had a population of 3,837 at the 2020 census and covers 967 square miles (2,500 km2), centred near 44°52′N 97°44′W.
Clark is the county seat, and its postal code is 57225. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 5 incorporated towns, 6 census-designated colony communities and 3 unincorporated places. Clark County observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Clark County
Clark County has 16 named places, split between 2 cities, 5 towns, 6 CDPs (mostly Hutterite colonies) and 3 unincorporated communities. Clark, the seat, is the only place with more than a thousand residents; most of the rest are small farm-service towns and rural post offices.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | City · seat | — | 57225 |
| Willow Lake | City | — | 57278 |
| Bradley | Town | — | 57217 |
| Garden City | Town | — | 57236 |
| Naples | Town | — | — |
| Raymond | Town | — | 57258 |
| Vienna | Town | — | 57271 |
| Collins Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Fordham Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Hillcrest Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Mayfield Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Silver Lake Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Carpenter | Unincorp. | — | 57322 |
| Elrod | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Melham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crocker | Unincorp. | — | — |
Six of Clark County’s places — Collins, Fordham, Hillcrest, Mayfield and Silver Lake colonies — are Hutterite communal farm colonies rather than towns; the Census Bureau tracks them as census-designated places because each functions as a self-contained agricultural settlement with its own housing cluster.
ZIP Codes
- 57225 — Clark (also serves Naples and the surrounding colonies)
- 57278 — Willow Lake
- 57258 — Raymond
- 57322 — Carpenter
- 57271 — Vienna
- 57217 — Bradley
- 57236 — Garden City
Elrod, Melham and Crocker have no post office of their own; mail for these unincorporated places is handled through the nearest ZIP-coded town.
Geography
Clark County sits on rolling glacial-till prairie in northeastern South Dakota, dotted with lakes and ponds, especially across the east-central townships. Nearly all of the land is farmed; the county covers 958 square miles of land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) of water, about one percent of its total area.
The county borders Day County to the north, Codington County to the east, Hamlin County to the southeast, Kingsbury County to the south, Beadle County to the southwest and Spink County to the west.
Demographics
Clark County’s population was 3,837 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 4 people per square mile. Clark and Willow Lake are the county’s two largest communities. South Dakota’s statewide median household income is the state median of $71,810; Clark County, a sparsely populated farm county, typically runs below that figure, though no verified county-level estimate is available for this page.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county’s economy — corn, soybeans and cattle on the uplands, with the colonies around Willow Lake and Garden City running large-scale communal farming and livestock operations. Clark, the seat, serves as the county’s retail, school and government hub, with the county courthouse and a public school district drawing students from across the surrounding farm townships. The lakes and ponds scattered through the east-central part of the county support seasonal fishing and small-scale recreation for residents.
History
Clark County was created in 1873 and organized in 1881, taking its name from Newton Clark, a Dakota Territory legislator that same year. Like much of northeastern South Dakota, it was settled by homesteaders drawn by the Dakota Territory’s post-Civil War land rushes, followed later by Hutterite colonies that established several of the county’s present-day communal farms.
Getting There
U.S. Route 212 crosses the county through Clark, and South Dakota Routes 20, 25 and 28 connect its smaller towns.
- Watertown — 30 miles east
- Huron — 45 miles southwest
- Aberdeen — 45 miles northwest
- Brookings — 55 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Watertown Regional Airport, east of the county on US-212.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clark County, South Dakota?
It lies in northeastern South Dakota, bordered by Day, Codington, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Beadle and Spink counties.
What is the population of Clark County?
3,837 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Clark County?
967 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 958 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Clark County?
Clark is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clark County?
Two cities, five towns, six Hutterite colony CDPs and three unincorporated communities — 16 named places in all.
What ZIP codes are in Clark County?
57225 (Clark), 57278 (Willow Lake), 57258 (Raymond), 57322 (Carpenter), 57271 (Vienna), 57217 (Bradley) and 57236 (Garden City).
Why is it called Clark County?
It was named for Newton Clark, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1873, the year the county was created.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.