BlockBefore

Colman, South Dakota

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1955 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Colman City. It lies in ZIP code area 57017. The Survey maps it on the Colman quadrangle. 634 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,693 feet above sea level.

Colman within Moody County

Population over time

2 figures

Colman grew from 594 to 634 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.

YearPeople Change
2010594
2020634+40 (+7%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched 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.

Fires near this place

69 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 69 fires within 5 miles of Colman between 1999 and 2018, burning about 433 acres in total. 1 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/undetermined29
Debris and open burning24
Equipment and vehicle use10
Other causes2
Smoking2
Natural1
Fireworks1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
2 August 2001Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreColman Volunteer Fire DepartmentPAT G.
2 August 2001Smokingunder an acreColman Volunteer Fire DepartmentMARTIN CRAMER
11 August 2016Debris and open burningunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression238 FIRE
26 July 2001Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreColman Volunteer Fire DepartmentMM 112
1 July 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionFIREWORK
1 July 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionWHIZ BANG
7 June 2000Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreColman Volunteer Fire DepartmentI-29

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Moody County

Storms near this place

60 of 66 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Colman in 66 storm reports between 1997 and 2025: 34 hail, 16 thunderstorm wind, 13 flood, 2 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
September 2019FloodColman$604,000Flooding resulted in some crop loss and 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. Crop loss estimates provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindColman$300,000no account filed
March 2019FloodColman$260,000Flooding resulted in damage to public infrastructure including county and township roads and culverts.
April 2011FloodColman$200,000Major flooding of the Big Sioux River, as well as flooding of lakes and lowlands in the county, continued through April, though small stream flooding abated and flooding in other areas such as the city of Flandreau abated some. Some farmland remained flooded, both near to and away from the Big Sioux River. A few roads remained closed by the flooding for part of the month. Water was covering some other roads, mainly from flooded lowlands. Some roads were damaged. High water and groundwater levels from record precipitation in the year 2010, a main reason the flooding onset was so fast in March, was also a main reason that the flooding subsided so slowly during April.
June 2024FloodColman$105,000Rainfall amounts across Moody County from June 20-22 ranged from 4 to 9 inches. This rainfall resulted in some overland flooding and minor to moderate flooding along the Big Sioux River and Flandreau Creek. ||Overland flooding resulted in some damages to township and county roads. Preliminary damage assessments estimate loss to public infrastructure to be around 105 thousand dollars.||The majority of overland flooding subsided by June 23, bur river flooding continued through the end of the month. For additional information on river flooding, please see other flood entries for Moody County.
June 2000LightningColman$70,000Lightning struck a house, starting a fire which caused heavy damage.
June 2014FloodColman$50,000Persistent moderate to heavy rain caused flooding of fields and other lowlands, including several roads, homes, and businesses. This flooding lasted for almost two days, and was aggravated locally by additional storms during that time. Some roads were damaged or washed out.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindColman$30,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, and blew electrical poles over to a 45 degree angle.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindColman$25,000Farm equipment and a few trees were damages.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindColman$10,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage and blew down power lines along state highway 34, 2 miles east of Interstate 29.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindColman$10,000Thunderstorm winds tore the roof off a cattle shed. The winds also caused tree damage, including at least 20 trees blown down.
September 2019FloodColman$5,000After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (record 2-day 8.52 inches 2 miles north of Chester), Skunk Creek near Chester (gage site SCCS2) reached the second highest stage on record of 0.33 feet above flood stage on September 12. Significant amounts of agricultural land were inundated.
October 1997Thunderstorm WindColman$5,000no account filed
September 2009LightningColman$1,000Lightning started a grass fire which burned over two acres, before being contained by the Brookings Fire Department.
June 2025FloodColman-The Big Sioux River near Brookings rose above flood stage the morning of June 30th, cresting around 0.98 feet above flood stage (9.98 feet) on June 30th. The river continued rising into early July.
July 2025FloodColman-The Big Sioux River near Brookings continued above flood stage from June, further rising to a crest around 1.39 feet above flood stage (10.39 feet). The river then fell below flood stage during the afternoon of July 9th.
July 2023HailColman-Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindColman-A recreational vehicle was flipped and destroyed near Lake Campbell.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindColman-Large and mature trees were bent over at least 30 degrees.
August 2021HailColman-Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindColman-Large tree branches downed by strong winds, which were accompanied by up to dime-size hail.
June 2019FloodColman-During crop planting season, prolonged flooding led to the loss of or inability to plant crops across the area. Crop loss estimates provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindColman-Several large branches were snapped off trees.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindColman-A small tree was snapped off at the base.
March 2019FloodColman-Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.01 inches 2 miles north of Chester) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land in the flood plain. Skunk Creek near Chester (gage site SCCS2) reached the second highest crest on record at 0.2 feet above flood stage on March 18.
April 2018FloodColman-Snow melt and runoff from periods of heavier rainfall produced minor flooding which produced significant impact to lowland agricultural areas. River levels reached 0.8 feet above flood stage near Medary (gage site BSMS2) on April 24.
March 2018FloodColman-Runoff from rainfall, snow melt, and ice breakup caused minor flooding of lowland agricultural areas along middle portions of the Big Sioux River. The river reached a crest of 0.3 feet above flood stage near Brookings (gage site BRKS2) on March 25, with a second rise to a stage 1.2 feet above flood stage at months end.
June 2017HailColman-Social media report.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindColman-Power lines and trees downed.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindColman-Six inch diameter tree branch downed.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindColman-Six diameter tree branches were downed.
May 2012HailColman-Large hail followed estimated 50 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
March 2011FloodColman-Melting of a heavy winter snow cover caused moderate flooding of the Big Sioux River, as well as flooding of small streams and lakes in the county. Farmland was flooded, both near to and away from the Big Sioux River. Other lowlands were flooded, including the Flandreau City Park. The Big Sioux River crested at 2.90 feet above flood stage at Flandreau on March 24th. Several roads were closed by the flooding, and water was running over other roads, from flooded streams, creeks, and fields as well as from the Big Sioux River. The flooded roads included numerous rural roads. Some roads were heavily damaged, but the amount of damage could not be determined before repairs began. Some homes and businesses were also flooded. The flooding onset was rapid for a snow melt flood due to high water and groundwater levels from record precipitation in the year 2010.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindColman-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees blown down.
June 2007HailColman-Large hail was accompanied by estimated 50 mph wind gusts.
September 2006Thunderstorm WindColman-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including one foot diameter limbs broken off.
September 2006Tornado (F0)Colman-A tornado which caused F1 damage in Minnehaha County then crossed over a small corner of Lake County also moved briefly into Moody County before dissipating. No damage was reported in Moody County.
July 2004HailColman-Large hail broke windshields, dented vehicles, and damaged crops. The amount of damage was not known.
June 2003HailColman-Large hail covered the ground to a depth of one inch. The hail caused crop damage, but the amount of crop damage was not known.
April 2022HailColman-no account filed
April 2022HailColman-no account filed
April 2022HailColman-no account filed
August 2021HailColman-no account filed
August 2021HailColman-no account filed
June 2019HailColman-no account filed
June 2015HailColman-no account filed
May 2012HailColman-no account filed
September 2007HailColman-no account filed
September 2006HailColman-no account filed
April 2005HailColman-no account filed
May 2005HailColman-no account filed
June 2005HailColman-no account filed
April 2004HailColman-no account filed
April 2004HailColman-no account filed
July 2004HailColman-no account filed
June 2003HailColman-no account filed
June 2003HailColman-no account filed
May 2002HailColman-no account filed
June 2001HailColman-no account filed
June 2001HailColman-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Moody County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Lone Tree4.5 miles8
Sioux Falls Junction6.6 miles8
Egan8.8 miles8
Trent10.0 miles8
Flandreau12.5 miles8
Pleasant Valley Colony19.1 miles9
Ward22.2 miles8

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 ColmanAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1110140The 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 1254433. 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.

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.