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Aurora County, South Dakota

15 topographic sheets cover 5 settlements here, and 9 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

9 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

South Dakota within the United States
Aurora County within South Dakota

What the record shows

  • 49 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 9 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 9 buildings.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 5 populated places in this county; 5 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

9

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Aurora County Courthousebuilding199392001855
Hilton Housebuilding200000001352
Hofmeister Housebuilding200706001307
Lincoln Housebuilding200202000023
Patten Consolidated Schoolbuilding200808000797
Raesly Housebuilding200404000472
William P. Smith Housebuilding200404000471
Sweep Hotelbuilding200505000033
Underwood United Methodist Churchbuilding200808000798

Wildfire, 1999 to 2018

162 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 162 of them, burning about 11,644 acres. 12 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined82
Equipment and vehicle use32
Debris and open burning30
Natural12
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Smoking2
Other causes1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 February 2002Equipment and vehicle use7,000 acresPlankinton Volunteer Fire DepartmentRUSSELL EHLERS
28 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use750 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
28 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use700 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionAMICK
11 January 2000Debris and open burning400 acresPlankinton Volunteer Fire DepartmentNINETEEN
21 October 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined350 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionHORNING BEAN FIRE
6 October 2011Equipment and vehicle use250 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionCOMBINE WIRING
8 April 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined220 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionTENHIGH
9 April 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionCONTROLLED BURN BY FD

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1958 to 2025

60 of 306 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 306 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $5,554,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail152
Thunderstorm Wind114
Tornado16
Flood14
Flash Flood6
Funnel Cloud2
Lightning1
Heavy Rain1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1973Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
June 2024FloodAurora Center$2,540,000Rainfall amounts across Aurora County from June 20-22 ranged from 3 to 9 inches. Widespread overland flooding ensued. ||Numerous county and township roads were impacted by flood waters and closed. Interstate 90 was closed near the Aurora/Davison County line and South Dakota Highway 16 was closed in multiple areas parallel to the interstate. Preliminary damage assessments estimate there to be 1.93 million dollars in damage to public infrastructure. ||Multiple structures were impacted by backed up water or sewage. Four residences reported damage in White Lake, estimated at a cost of 31 thousand dollars. Eighteen residences and 4 businesses in Plankinton reported damage, estimated at a cost of 582 thousand dollars.
September 2019FloodAurora Center$709,000Around 80 percent of Aurora County experienced water over county and township roads, with the greatest impacts over the southern half of the county. Travel was not recommended from Thursday through Sunday. Interstate 90 was briefly closed between Plankinton and Mount Vernon due to areas of water across the roadway. Property damage costs include damage to public infrastructure.
March 2019FloodPlankinton$600,000Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.80 inches at White Lake) resulted in significant flooding of agricultural lands and inundation of county roads as Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon (gage site MTVS2) reached moderate flood stage, cresting 6.44 feet above flood stage on March 22.
March 2019FloodAurora Center$600,000Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges. The property damage costs include estimates for public property losses.
May 2007Tornado (EF3)Plankinton$300,000A tornado destroyed a hunting lodge and nearby outbuildings. The tornado also severely damaged a house, tossed a trailer 100 yards, and caused tree damage.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake$200,000Thunderstorm winds partly or totally destroyed numerous farm buildings, moved a large semi-truck 30 feet, blew another semi-truck into a ditch, caused widespread tree and power line damage including 2 foot diameter trees blown down, and damaged homes and vehicles, mainly with flying debris. Power outages resulted from the power lines and poles being blown down.
August 2009HailAurora Center$100,000Large hail dented vehicles, broke windows on vehicles and buildings, and damaged siding. The Aurora Center Reformed Church suffered considerable damage, resulting in the need to board the broken windows for Sunday service the next day. The hail also damaged crops, mainly corn. The amount of crop damage was not known.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake$100,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage and also damaged at least two buildings.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindStickney Arpt$50,000An empty metal grain bin was blown apart by thunderstorm winds.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake$40,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a house and heavily damaged the adjoining garage. The winds also blew out car windows and caused tree damage, including several trees blown down.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindStickney$35,000A pole barn was significantly damaged. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindStickney$30,000Extensive damage occurred to a grain bin, with minor damage done to the roof of a pole barn. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindStickney$25,000Cattle and calf shelters were damaged. Several calves were killed. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
September 2019FloodPlankinton$25,000Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon (gage site MTVS2) responded sharply to 5 to 9 inches of rainfall between September 10-12 (6.49 inches at White Lake, 5.68 inches near Stickney and 7.83 inches 5 miles west southwest of Mitchell) to reach the sixth highest crest on record at 7.17 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable county and township roads were inundated and damaged, along with extensive agricultural flooding.
July 1986Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2020Thunderstorm WindAurora Center$20,000An anchored play set and gazebo were destroyed. Several large limbs were also downed by the strong winds. Minor damage occurred to house skirting and siding. Property damage amounts are rough estimates. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindStickney$20,000Extensive tree damage in Stickney. A tree fell onto power lines near a transformer, causing a power outage in town.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake$20,000no account filed
July 2017HailPlankinton$10,000Hail, blown by 65 to 75 mph winds, caused considerable damage to vehicle windshields on Interstate 90.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindPlankinton$10,000Broken windshields causing by wind blown hail along Interstate 90 between mile markers 305 and 308.
July 2009HailPlankinton$10,000Large hail covered the ground and severely damaged crops. The amount of crop damage was not known. The hail also damaged windows on a home and vehicles, and dented vehicles. The hail was accompanied by damaging winds.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindPlankinton$10,000Thunderstorm winds destroyed a hog barn, killing one sheep and injuring several others. The winds also blew off shingles from a barn and caused tree damage. The winds contributed to crop damage caused by accompanying large hail.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindStickney$10,000Thunderstorm winds tipped over a semi trailer, blew feed bunks 100 yards, and blew down several trees.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindPlankinton$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a large tree blown onto a trailer.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake$10,000no account filed
June 2020Flash FloodStickney$5,000Several county roads were flooded. Rainfall overnight and through the morning totalled 3.94 inches at Corsica and 3.33 inches 10 miles west of Dimock. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindStorla$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down up to 4 inch diameter trees and branches, and also blew down power lines.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindStorla$5,000Thunderstorm winds rolled over a trailer home and caused tree damage.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindPlankinton$2,000Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, blew doors off a barn, and damaged railroad ties in fencing.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindStickney$1,000Strong winds blew pickup truck sideways and downed several larger limbs.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindStorla$1,000Thunderstorm winds snapped a power pole.
July 2001LightningPlankinton$1,000Lightning started a fire that destroyed 15 large round hay bales.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindAurora Center$250Thunderstorm winds broke several limbs of 4 to 6 inches in diameter.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindStickney$250Thunderstorms winds removed several tree limbs to 3 inches diameter.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm winds downed several 3-to-4-inch diameter tree branches across Plankinton.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Plankinton.
July 2025Funnel CloudWhite Lake-A funnel cloud developed over White Lake.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-A second distinct period of severe thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor 5 miles west of Plankinton.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake-A full-sized tree with an estimated diameter of at least 16 inches was broken in half. Some minor building damage occurred from the thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2025HailAurora Center-Hail ranged in size up to quarter size.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindWhite Lake-An extended period of thunderstorm severe wind gusts were measured by South Dakota Mesonet station WTES2 White Lake.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor 5 miles west of Plankinton.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station 3 miles northeast of Plankinton.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-The emergency manager measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindAurora Center-The emergency manager measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 73 mph.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-An extended period of severe wind gusts measured by South Dakota RWIS site near Plankinton.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindStickney-Several 4 inch diameter tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Winds were measured by a personal weather station, with a peak gust at 2041 CST.
June 2025HailAurora Center-Hail was mostly pea to dime size, but a few stones were as big as a nickel.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts peaked at 64 mph at 155 am CST at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Plankinton.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindAurora Center-A large cottonwood tree fell on a pickup. Numerous large branches were blown down across the yard.
June 2024Flash FloodPlankinton-Early evening rainfall was intense with 2 to 2.5 inches in a couple of hours, which resulted in widespread flash flooding in Plankinton. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for areal and river flooding for Aurora County.
June 2024Flash FloodPlankinton-Continued rainfall exacerbated flooding of roads with numerous barricaded and impassable. Several homes had flooded basements. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for areal and river flooding for Aurora County.
June 2024FloodPlankinton-Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon rose above flood stage the evening of June 21st, cresting around 8.94 feet above flood stage (16.94 feet) on June 22nd. This crest is in the Major Stage. The creek then fell below flood stage on the afternoon of June 27th. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Aurora County.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindStickney-Thunderstorm wind gusts as high as 63 mph were measured by a personal weather station 5 miles north-northeast of Stickney.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindStickney-Thunderstorm winds were measured by a personal weather station 5 miles north-northeast of Stickney.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindPlankinton-Thunderstorm wind gusts as high as 60 mph were measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD533 4 miles west of Plankinton.
July 2023HailStorla-Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Mines and quarries

3 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 3 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction3

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Alten PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Markhardt PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Robby Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

5

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.