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Clark County, South Dakota

30 topographic sheets cover 24 settlements here, and 10 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

10 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

South Dakota within the United States
Clark County within South Dakota

What the record shows

  • 188 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 10 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 10 buildings.
  • 1 of the 10 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 24 populated places in this county; 24 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

10

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
Bradley First Lutheran Churchbuilding200000001213
Clark Center Lutheran Churchbuilding200505001336
Clark County Courthousebuilding200202000026
Gov. S. H. Elrod Housebuilding197979002399
Garden City Opera Housebuilding198888002839
Good Hope Lutheran Churchbuilding200202000727
Raymond Farmers and Citizens State Bankbuilding201616000824
Security State Bankbuilding200202000577
Southeast Merton School No. 19building199089002338
Telemarken Lutheran Churchbuilding198989001720

Wildfire, 1998 to 2020

89 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 89 of them, burning about 1,399 acres. 6 started naturally and 3 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined27
Debris and open burning24
Equipment and vehicle use19
Natural6
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Arson/incendiarism3
Recreation and ceremony2
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
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
16 July 2006Natural400 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
16 July 2006Natural240 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
8 April 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined150 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionSOUTH SLOUGH
21 October 2000Equipment and vehicle use70 acresRaymond Volunteer Fire DepartmentKENNEALLEY
25 July 2016Equipment and vehicle use40 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionERICKSON
16 July 2006Natural30 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
14 May 2008Debris and open burning30 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
18 April 2008Debris and open burning30 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named

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

Storms, 1953 to 2025

60 of 427 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 427 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 10 injuries and about $3,777,330 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail233
Thunderstorm Wind131
Tornado36
Flood12
Flash Flood10
Funnel Cloud3
Heavy Rain1
Lightning1

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
June 1961Tornado (F3)not stated1 killed, 7 hurt, $250,000no account filed
July 1982Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
August 2010Thunderstorm WindClark1 hurtSeventy mph winds blew a semi off of Highway 212. The semi suffered extensive damage with the driver receiving minor injuries.
May 1984Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
July 1977Tornadonot stated$250,000no account filed
May 1960Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2023FloodCrocker$150,000no account filed
April 2019FloodCrocker$120,800no account filed
June 1994HailWillow Lake$50,000Hail fell in a narrow path estimated to be 15 miles long across southern Clark County and including the Willow Lake area. Corn, wheat, and soybean crops were severely damaged. The hail broke windows on several homes, damaged siding and shingles, and damaged vehicles.
July 1985Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1963Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1962Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1953Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1953Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1995HailClark SD to$5,000Golf ball-size hail broke windows. The hail, combined with heavy rain and 40 mph Winds, also damaged crops, especially corn and small grain.
September 1995HailGarden City$5,000Hail broke windows and caused undetermined crop damage.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindClark$5,000Thunderstorm Winds blew down several large trees. One tree in Clark fell onto a house, damaging the roof, chimney, television antenna, and a porch roof.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake$5,000Thunderstorm Winds blew a large tree down onto a vehicle and small shed.
April 2006Flash FloodRaymond$5,000no account filed
April 1967Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2025LightningClark$2,000Lightning struck the Clark water tower, destroying the generator transfer switch and the emergency services repeater.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindElrod$2,000Thunderstorm Winds caused tree damage.
June 1992Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-Photos of thunderstorm wind damage posted to social media include multiple trees damaged or toppled.
July 2025FloodRaymond-The Clark County Emergency Manager sent photos of street flooding in the town of Raymond.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCarpenter-The Clark County Emergency Manager sent photos of wind damage which included sheet metal torn from an elevator, and a pair of doors blown off a machine shed.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCarpenter-The Clark County Emergency Manager reported that thunderstorm winds had damaged a cattle pod and grain bin.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindRaymond-A trained spotter estimated the wind speeds at between 60 and 70 mph.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-Trained spotter reports an uprooted pine tree and four inch diameter branches broken off of multiple trees.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindClark-A trained spotter reported a tree in their yard snapped at the base.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindVienna-The mesonet weather station in Mayfield Colony measured a 68 mph wind gusts, which damaged a machine shed.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindVienna-Tree branches were reported down in the city of Vienna.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-On Dry Lake, winds caused a boat to capsize, and three boaters required rescue.
July 2024FloodBradley-A trained observer reported water over the gravel road north of Cottonwood Lake.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindCrocker-A trained spotter reported several tree branches were knocked down due to thunderstorm winds.
June 2024Flash FloodWillow Lake-Emergency management reported water over 422nd ave and 424th ave around highway 28.
June 2023Tornado (EF0)Clark Co Arpt-A landspout tornado was observed north of the Clark County airport to the northeast of Clark.
July 2023HailCarpenter-Mostly quarter size hail, with a few larger stones, covered the ground with no gravel visible on roads. The hail was three inches deep in some spots.
August 2023Tornado (EF0)Willow Lake-Law enforcement and a storm chaser reported the brief touchdown of a tornado in an open field. The tornado path was later visible on hi-resolution satellite imagery.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-Emergency management reported that thunderstorm winds had blown in the doors on a barn.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Garden City-The tornado touched down quickly on the southern edge of the|farm. A barn completely lost the roof and external walls on about|two thirds of the structure. Debris from the barn was spread to|the northeast. 2x4 s were pierced vertically into the ground and|sheet metal from the barn was wrapped around trees. One|2x4 pierced through the garage attached to the house. Debris|would continue to be found about a quarter mile to the northeast,|across an open field and into the neighbor's farm yard.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Elrod-A brief tornado touchdown resulted in the loss of half a barn|roof. Debris from the barn was spread to the north northwest. The|small track was evident through a shelterbelt where large tree|branches were broken and debris was left in the upper reaches of|the trees. Barn debris would continue to track into an open field|roughly 0.3 miles from the original location. Other structures on|the property were also damaged by wind and flying debris.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindClark-Storage buildings were damaged, and hail bailers were tipped by estimated 75 mph winds.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindVienna-Wind gusts were estimated to be 60 mph.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Raymond-An eyewitness observed a brief tornado touchdown while planting|a field 5 miles north and 2 miles east of Raymond, SD. No damage |occurred.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindClark-One inch tree limbs were broken and shingles were blown off of a roof by estimated 75 mph wind gusts.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-Both a storage garage and a shed were destroyed by estimated 75 mph wind gusts.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindClark-Damaging winds embedded within a line of thunderstorms downed several large trees and power poles, displaced a 40 pound iron gate 40 yards, and caused minor structural damage. 500 people were without electricity after a tree took out an electric substation.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindClark-Estimated 80 mph winds downed multiple trees and power lines. A grain bin was destroyed and a roof was torn off a building as well.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindClark-Tree branches were downed by estimated 60 mph winds.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-A tree was toppled onto a house by estimated 70 mph winds.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindVienna-An estimated 60 mph wind was reported.
March 2019FloodCrocker-Many city, county, and township roads had been flooded and closed throughout the county.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindElrod-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindElrod-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
July 2018HailWillow Lake-Quarter size hail and strong winds damaged many acres of corn and beans.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindWillow Lake-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindElrod-Sixty-five mph winds were estimated.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindClark-Eighty mph winds removed a shed roof along with downing several trees.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 1 working inside this county. It still produces. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Seefelt PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

24

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.

The vanished settlements of Clark County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

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.