Alexandria, South Dakota
12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1899 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Wayne Township. It lies in ZIP code area 57311. The Survey maps it on the Alexandria quadrangle. 649 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,352 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Alexandria
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
- Old Rockport Hutterite Colonylisted 1982
Population over time
2 figuresAlexandria grew from 615 to 649 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 615 | |
| 2020 | 649 | +34 (+6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 12 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1899 USGS Alexandria quadrangle1:125000, 5 printings
- 1955 USGS Sioux Falls quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Alexandria quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS Sioux Falls quadrangle1:250000
- 1985 USGS Salem quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
9 since 2003Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 9 fires within 5 miles of Alexandria between 2003 and 2020, burning about 135 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 August 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 4.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | CRP 02 |
| 21 May 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | HURON |
| 29 April 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Hanson County | WILLIAM GRASS FIRE |
| 26 April 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | KEN ZEB |
| 23 March 2003 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 80 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | ALBERTZ'S BLAZE |
| 23 March 2003 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | not named |
| 22 March 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Hanson County | KUNKEL BAIL FIRE |
| 12 October 2020 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | GRANITE SPRINGS |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
7 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Alexandria: 4 past producers, 3 producers. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Quarries,Inc | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
51 since 1997Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Alexandria in 51 storm reports between 1997 and 2025: 22 thunderstorm wind, 22 hail, 3 flood, 2 tornado. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | 3 hurt, $1,200,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage to homes, trailers, barns, other structures, trees, and vehicles at the Oak Lane Hutterite colony south of Alexandria. Three people were injured when their trailer home was flipped and damaged. |
| May 2007 | Flood | Alexandria | $100,000 | Heavy rainfall caused flooding of low areas including fields, homes, businesses, schools, roads, streams, and bridges. The flooding was a longer term event than flash flooding, which also had resulted. Long term major flooding of the James River also resulted. Some parks and other recreation areas were affected. A few roads and bridges were washed out by the high water. The flooding delayed planting of crops in some areas. |
| August 2009 | Hail | Alexandria | $50,000 | Large hail broke windows in buildings and vehicles, and dented vehicles. |
| August 2004 | Lightning | Alexandria | $50,000 | Lightning struck a house, starting a fire which destroyed the top floor of the house. The fire took three hours to extinguish. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | $30,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Alexandria | $20,000 | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Tornado (EF1) | Alexandria | $10,000 | A tornado damaged barns and blew out windows. |
| August 2005 | Hail | Alexandria | $5,000 | Large hail broke windows in vehicles and homes. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Alexandria. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | A thunderstorm wind gust up to 66 mph was measured by the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Alexandria. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts as high as 58 mph were measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD502 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | A thunderstorm wind gust of 81 mph was measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD502 4 miles east-northeast of Alexandria. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| September 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts measured by South Dakota RWIS site SD502 4 miles east northeast of Alexandria. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | South Dakota RWIS station SD502 4 miles east northeast of Alexandria measured a wind gust of 66 mph. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm wind gust to 65 mph measured by hand-held anemometer. |
| July 2020 | Hail | Alexandria | - | Ping-pong ball size hail fell at the Interstate 90 exit for Alexandria. |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Measured by RWIS station. |
| August 2015 | Hail | Alexandria | - | Large hail was accompanied by damaging winds. |
| August 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including 1.5 inch diameter branches blown down. The winds were accompanied by large hail. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including branches up to 5 inches in diameter and a few trees up to 10 inches in diameter blown down. |
| June 2007 | Flood | Alexandria | - | Long term minor to moderate flooding of the James River continued at the start of June. Additional moderate to heavy rainfall over the basin kept the river above flood stage through the month. The flooding was not nearly as great as during the previous month. While lowland flooding continued along the river, no additional damage was reported. |
| May 2007 | Flash Flood | Alexandria | - | Heavy rain caused flooding of Lake Hanson and nearby low areas, causing an unknown amount of damage to several homes. A large part of an earthern dam broke, draining the lake and easing the flooding of lakeside property, but the recreation value of the lake was destroyed. |
| March 2007 | Flood | Alexandria | - | Warm temperatures caused a rapid snowmelt which caused the James River to rise above flood stage for several days. The flooding was minor to moderate and no significant damage was reported. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including small branches blown down. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds damaged trees and power lines, resulting in power outages. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Alexandria | - | Large hail damaged vehicles. The amount of damage was not known. |
| August 2004 | Hail | Alexandria | - | Large hail dented vehicles. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, littering streets in Alexandria with branches and smaller debris. |
| July 2003 | Hail | Alexandria | - | Large hail caused an unknown amount of crop damage. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| July 2020 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| September 2006 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| September 2004 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
| September 1999 | Hail | Alexandria | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millbrook Colony | 5.0 miles | 12 | |
| Fulton | 5.4 miles | 12 | |
| Rockport Colony | 5.8 miles | 11 | |
| Farmer | 7.0 miles | 11 | |
| Bard (historical) | 7.1 miles | 12 | |
| Emery | 9.2 miles | 11 | |
| Riverside | 10.0 miles | 12 | |
| Oak Lane Colony | 10.1 miles | 11 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Alexandria | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2414602 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1253612. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.




