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Dolton, South Dakota

11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Dolton Township. It lies in ZIP code area 57319. The Survey maps it on the Dolton quadrangle. 34 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,447 feet above sea level.

Dolton within Turner County

Population over time

2 figures

Dolton fell from 37 to 34 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
201037
202034-3 (-8%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 11 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

15 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 15 fires within 5 miles of Dolton between 1999 and 2018, burning about 168 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/undetermined9
Debris and open burning3
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Equipment and vehicle use1

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
26 September 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionARBACH FIRE
26 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined40 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression272ND / 444TH
25 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionDOLTON GRASS FIRE
23 August 2008Debris and open burning35 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
20 August 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined20 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionTOM LEIN
18 August 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionKANE
4 July 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionUNKOWN
11 July 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionUNKOWN

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Turner County

Storms near this place

31 since 1998

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Dolton in 31 storm reports between 1998 and 2025: 16 flood, 8 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 1 tornado. 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
June 2014FloodDolton$100,000Persistent 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.
March 2010FloodDolton$100,000Rapid melting of a heavy winter snowpack resulted in major to record flooding of the Vermillion River, including the east and West Fork Vermillion Rivers. Fields and most county and smaller roads were flooded with some roads washed out. U.S. Highway 18 near Davis was flooded and closed. Homes and businesses were flooded, especially in the hard hit town of Davis, but also in and near Centerville, where ice jams and at least two broken dikes added to the flooding problems. The Vermillion River crested at 5.4 feet above flood stage near Davis on March 15th. The East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers crested at 2 and 3.2 feet above flood stage, respectively, near Parker on march 14th.
September 2019FloodDolton$50,000After record two-day rainfall in the headwaters of the Vermillion River (7.13 inches at Howard, 5.90 inches 5 miles northeast of Salem), the West Fork of the Vermillion River near Parker (gage site PKRS2) reached the second highest crest on record at 4.13 feet above flood stage on September 13. Numerous township and county roads were inundated.
April 2005Thunderstorm WindDolton$50,000Thunderstorm winds damaged trees, power lines, and farm buildings. A 60 foot silo was blown down, grain bins were damaged, and outbuildings were pushed off foundations.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindDolton$2,000Thunderstorm winds toppled several gravestones.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindDolton-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
June 2024FloodDolton-The West Fork of the Vermillion River near Parker rose above flood stage the morning of June 21st, cresting around 6.51 feet above flood stage (15.51 feet) on June 22nd. This crest is in the Major Stage and broke the previous record. The river then fell below flood stage on the morning of June 26th. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Turner County.
May 2019FloodDolton-The West Fork of the Vermillion River near Parker (gage site PKRS2) reached a crest of 1.59 feet above flood stage on May 30. Impacts were mainly agricultural, causing further delays to spring planting and preparations throughout the flood plain.
March 2019FloodDolton-Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.80 inches at Marion and 3.06 inches 7 miles west southwest of Parker) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural lands and inundation of numerous county and township roads (including 456th Avenue and 276th Street east of Parker). Flood water inundated areas of Thunder Valley drag strip. The West Fork of the Vermillion River near Parker (gage site PKRS2) reached major flood stage cresting 3.9 feet above flood stage on March 14, the second highest crest on record. Several lesser crests occurred occurred through March 18.
April 2019FloodDolton-Runoff from occasional precipitation in early April produced considerable flooding of agricultural lands along the river. The West Fork of the Vermillion River near Parker (gage site PKRS2) crested at 1.09 feet above flood stage on April 17.
June 2018FloodDolton-A week of periodic heavy rainfall ending June 26 resulted in a widespread 5 to 9 inches of rainfall, much of which occurred on June 20 and 25. Specific weekly totals including 6.08 at Montrose, 7.59 near Hurley and 8.57 at Marion. Major flooding occurred with significant amounts of crop and pasture land as well as most county roads were inundated as the river crested near Parker (gage site PKRS2) 2.5 feet above flood stage on June 21. The river dropped below flood stage on June 23, but returned above flood stage with moderate flooding again on June 26 before falling back below flood stage on June 28.
July 2015Tornado (EF0)Dolton-A tornado caused an unknown amount of crop damage.
May 2012FloodDolton-Heavy rain caused flooding of the Vermillion River, with some roads, parkland and farmland affected. The river crested at 2.0 feet above flood stage near Davis on May 10th.
April 2011FloodDolton-Flooding of lowlands and lakes continued into most of April. Flooding of the Vermillion River abated early in the month, then had a minor crest near Davis on April 20th. Water was generally low to recede. High water and groundwater levels from record precipitation in the year 2010 contributed to the slow nature of abatement of the flooding.
March 2011FloodDolton-Melting of a heavy winter snow cover caused moderate flooding of the Vermillion River, as well as flooding of the East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers, and some small streams and lakes in the county. Farmland as well as other lowlands was flooded in some areas. The Vermillion River crested at 3.0 feet above flood stage near Davis on March 20th. Ice jams threatened more significant flooding of the Davis area, but they were broken up before this happened. A few roads were closed by the flooding, and water was running over other roads. A few roads were heavily damaged, but the amount of damage could not be determined before repairs began. The flooding onset was rapid for a snow melt flood due to high water and groundwater levels from record precipitation in the year 2010. The river flooding ended before the end of the month, but some lowland flooding continued.
September 2010FloodDolton-Heavy rain caused minor to moderate flooding of the Vermillion River and the East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers. Lowlands including some farmland and a few roads were affected, and some parkland was affected in Davis. The Vermillion River crested at 2.9 feet above flood stage near Davis on September 26th.
July 2010FloodDolton-Heavy rain cause moderate to record flooding of the Vermillion River, including the East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers. Lowlands, fields, and some roads were flooded. The Vermillion River crested at 3.9 feet above flood stage near Davis on July 23rd, fell a few days later, then was rising again at the end of the month. The East Fork Vermillion River crested at 1.52 feet above flood stage, a record, near Parker on July 31st, and the West Fork Vermillion River crested at 3.12 feet above flood stage, also near Parker, on July 30th.
June 2010FloodDolton-Heavy rain caused minor to moderate flooding of the Vermillion River, including the East and West fork Vermillion Rivers. Lowlands, fields, and some roads were flooded. The Vermillion River crested at 3.6 feet above flood stage near Davis on June 15th. The East Fork Vermillion River crested at 1 feet above flood stage on June 15th, and the west Fork crested at a little more than 2 feet above flood stage on June 11th, both near Parker.
August 2010FloodDolton-Moderate to major flooding of the Vermillion River, as well as the East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers, triggered by late July heavy rains, continued into early August before abating. Lowlands, fields, and some roads were flooded. The Vermillion River crested at 4.6 feet above flood stage near Davis on August 7th, then water levels steadily decreased, with the river falling below flood stage on August 12th. The East and West Fork Vermillion Rivers were already falling at the start of the month and fell below flood stage a few days later.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindDolton-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including up to 6 inch diameter limbs blown down.
June 2008HailDolton-Large hail damaged crops. The amount of crop damage was not known.
June 2008FloodDolton-Heavy rain caused moderate to major flooding along the Vermillion River. Farmland was extensively flooded, and some county roads were also flooded. The amount of crop damage and damage to farmland from erosion was not known.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindDolton-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one large tree uprooted. Power lines and poles were also blown down.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindDolton-no account filed
August 2007HailDolton-no account filed
July 2007HailDolton-no account filed
May 2005Thunderstorm WindDolton-no account filed
May 2004HailDolton-no account filed
April 2002HailDolton-no account filed
April 2002HailDolton-no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindDolton-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Turner 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
Marion8.1 miles11
Monroe9.0 miles11
Parker14.7 miles11
Turkey Ridge18.0 miles11
Spring Valley20.7 miles11
Hurley21.3 miles11
Cameron Colony21.8 miles11
Chancellor22.7 miles10

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 DoltonAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q3239900The 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 1254727. 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.