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Lyman County, South Dakota

33 topographic sheets cover 9 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

2 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

South Dakota within the United States
Lyman County within South Dakota

What the record shows

  • 74 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 2 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 1 site and 1 building.
  • 1 of the 2 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 9 populated places in this county; 9 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

2

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
Iron Nation's Gravesitesite201414000032
Edgar Vernon Housebuilding197878002562

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,138 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,138 of them, burning about 23,570 acres. 101 started naturally and 88 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Fireworks263
Equipment and vehicle use190
Misuse of fire by a minor187
Missing data/not specified/undetermined118
Natural101
Debris and open burning96
Arson/incendiarism88
Smoking42
Recreation and ceremony26
Power generation/transmission/distribution14
Other causes10
Railroad operations and maintenance3

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
28 September 2000Misuse of fire by a minor3,500 acresLower Brule AgencyCLOVER
16 July 2006Natural3,300 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
18 October 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,000 acresKennebec Volunteer Fire DepartmentJESSOP
5 October 2011Arson/incendiarism1,790 acresLower Brule AgencyHIGHWAY 47
19 February 2000Smoking1,300 acresLower Brule AgencyBAD HORSE
15 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined800 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionBIRD
5 November 2016Equipment and vehicle use782 acresLower Brule AgencyPOTTER
16 April 2009Debris and open burning530 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named

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

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 605 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 605 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 8 injuries and about $363,120 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind291
Hail234
Tornado40
Flood21
Flash Flood12
Funnel Cloud6
Wildfire1

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 2011Flash FloodLower Brule2 killedVery heavy rainfall of 5 to 7 inches brought flash flooding to mainly eastern Lyman county. Many roads were flooded with some washed out. Two women died in two separate vehicles after driving into a washed out portion of a road. One woman was found 100 yards downstream while the other woman was found 4 miles downstream. The accidents were believed to happen between 930 and 10 am. The location was 9 miles north of Reliance on BIA 10 just north of the intersection with Highway 47.
July 2010HailVivian5 hurtThe eight inch diameter hailstone was a United States record. The hailstone also had a circumference of 18.625 inches and weighed 1.9375 pounds. The hailstone broke the previous United States record for diameter (7.0 inches - 22 June 2003 in Aurora, NE) and weight (1.67 pounds - 3 September 1970 in Coffeyville, KS). The Aurora, Nebraska hailstone will retain the record for circumference (18.75 inches). Extensive damage to buildings and vehicles had occurred with this record setting stone. Five minor injuries occurred on Interstate-90 as the large hailstones went through car windshields.
July 1971Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurtno account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindPresho/Vivien1 hurt, $50,000Winds destroyed a tin shed and overturned a camper causing a neck injury to one of the occupants. Numerous tree branches were broken.
August 1987Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2019FloodMc Clure$25,500no account filed
July 1960Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
February 2009FloodOacoma$5,000The White River rose above the flood stage of 15 feet near Oacoma in the late afternoon hours of February 11th. The White River crested at 17.64 feet around noon on February 13th before it fell below flood stage in the mid morning hours of the 15th.
July 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1960Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLower Brule-A trained spotter estimated the winds at 75 mph.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPresho-The caller stated that they estimated the wind speed at 60 mph.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMc Clure-A peak gust of 72 mph was measured on the South Dakota Department of Transportation RWIS 9 miles north-northwest of Vivian.
July 2025HailLyman-A trained spotter reported hen egg to tennis ball-sized hail near Lyman. The time was estimated based on radar.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindReliance Arpt-The caller stated that high winds had tipped trees over and blown them onto the house.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindOacoma-A measured wind gust of 72 mph was recorded at the South Dakota State University mesonet weather station near Oacoma.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindReliance Arpt-A member of the public reported that multiple trees were downed in the area and an outbuilding was shifted by the winds.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindOacoma-The public observed that wind-driven hail stripped siding from a house. In addition, barn doors were blown off and cattle were forced through a fence and out onto the road.
July 2025Tornado (EF0)Oacoma-A waterspout observed northeast of Oacoma on the Missouri River.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLower Brule-A peak wind gust of 80 mph was observed by the South Dakota State University mesonet station near Lower Brule. West Central Electric Cooperative reported multiple power outages due to broken poles and wires in and around Lower Brule.
August 2025Funnel CloudPresho Muni Arpt-A trained spotter witnessed a funnel cloud just south of Interstate 90.
August 2025Flash FloodLower Brule-A trained spotter reported water flowing over the roads in West Brule.
August 2025HailOacoma-Hail measuring one inch in diameter was reported nine miles southwest of Oacoma.
August 2025HailKennebec-Hail measuring 1.25 inches in diameter was reported in the town of Kennebec.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindVivian-A peak wind gust of 73 mph was recorded at a South Dakota State University mesonet station 12 miles south of Vivian.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindPresho-A caller stated that winds with the storms gusted to between 50 and 60 mph.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindIona-The public reported hail to the size of nickels and an estimated 60 mph thunderstorm winds was responsible for damage to the siding on their home.
June 2024Flash FloodOacoma-Emergency Management reported several county roads under as much as 3 to 4 feet of water. Additionally, runoff from an estimated three to five inches of rain caused the White River near Oacoma to crest at 16.07 ft at 215am CST. Minor flooding of agricultural land was observed in association with this river flooding.
June 2023HailKennebec-Estimated quarter to half dollar sized hail damaged crops. The timing of the hail was estimated by radar.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindLower Brule-A South Dakota Mesonet weather station recorded a wind gust of 82 mph.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindOacoma-A South Dakota Mesonet weather station recorded a wind gust of 62 mph.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindLower Brule-A trained spotter estimated 70 mph winds, which caused tree damage and downed powerlines. Solar panels were also damaged.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindOacoma-A semi was tipped over on Instate 90.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindReliance-Report of a semi tipped over along Interstate 90.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindOacoma-A trained spotter reported tree damage, downed powerlines, tipped over campers, and roof damage in and around Oacoma.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindVivian-A semi tractor trailer was overturned near Vivian on Interstate 90. The report was relayed via social media, and the time and location is approximate.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindVivian-A semi jackknifed on southbound US 83 due to estimated 70 mph wind gusts.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindVivian-A trained spotter estimated wind speeds around 75 mph.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindVivian-Many small tree limbs were downed by estimated 60 mph wind gusts.
June 2022Tornado (EFU)Lower Brule-A tornado was observed to be moving east-northeasterly for a short time before becoming rain-wrapped.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindPresho-Tree branches were snapped, ranging from small to large in size.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindPresho-Severe thunderstorm winds near 80 mph caused multiple semis to top over on Interstate 90. No injuries reported.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindIona-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindVivian-Estimated eighty mph winds took the roof off a building.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindMc Clure-Seventy-five mph winds were estimated.
March 2019FloodMc Clure-Snowmelt flooding resulted in some closed roads.
March 2019FloodVivian-A large ice jam formed along the White River around the Highway 47 Bridge. Water backed up behind the ice, causing hundreds of acres of agricultural land to be flooded. The high water inundated several outbuildings and neared a home along Highway 47. The river crested just shy of 25 feet on March 19th. With the continued snow melt, additional rises were recorded, resulting in a second crest of 20.5 feet and a flow of 37,900 cfs on March 25th. This was the 3rd highest flow on record at this location.
July 2019HailPresho-Golf ball size hail dented vehicles and broke windshields.
July 2019HailPresho-Golf ball size hail and strong winds caused vehicle damage and brought down some small tree branches.
May 2019FloodVivian-Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along the White River around the Highway 47 bridge south of Reliance. The river crested a few feet over the flood stage of 15 feet to 19 feet on May 29th.
May 2019FloodVivian-Minor flooding of agricultural land occurred along the White River around the Highway 47 bridge south of Reliance. The river crested a few feet over the flood stage of 15 feet to 18.9 feet on May 24th.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindLower Brule-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindPresho-Estimated seventy mph winds flattened crops.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindOacoma-A vehicle was damaged when an estimated seventy mph wind blew a sign into it.
August 2019HailLower Brule-Tennis to baseball size hail damaged homes and vehicle windows.

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. None of them still produces: all are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction7
Manganese1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Chamberlain Manganese DistrictManganeseUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Lower Brule Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Milwaukee Rr PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Mowry PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Rosebud Sioux Gravel Pit 2352Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

9

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.