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Ellis, South Dakota

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1955 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Wayne Township. It lies in ZIP code area 57107. It stands on Willow Creek. The Survey maps it on the Sioux Falls West quadrangle.

Ellis within Minnehaha County

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

35 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 35 fires within 5 miles of Ellis between 1999 and 2020, burning about 148 acres in total. 5 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/undetermined17
Natural5
Fireworks3
Debris and open burning3
Equipment and vehicle use3
Smoking2
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

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
6 August 2020Natural1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionN. KIWANIS FIRE
2 August 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
19 August 2008Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
11 August 1999Natural1.0 acresMound City Volunteer Fire DepartmentKON THORSTENSON
4 July 2011Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionSANDS
4 July 2007Fireworks1.0 acresSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
2 July 1999Naturalunder an acreLong Valley Volunteer Fire DepartmentLANG VALLEY
15 July 1999Natural80 acresMurdo Volunteer Fire DepartmentHERMAN RANCH

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Minnehaha County

Mines and quarries near this place

8 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Ellis: 4 producers, 3 unknowns, 1 past producer. 4 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Concrete Materials Co QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Concrete Materials Company QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Quartzite QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenUnknown
Bill Gage Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Carey Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Fodness Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Friessens West PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Vincent Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Minnehaha County

Storms near this place

60 of 64 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ellis in 64 storm reports between 1999 and 2025: 29 hail, 21 thunderstorm wind, 9 flash flood, 2 flood. 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 2010Thunderstorm WindEllis$500,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage in the Sioux Falls area. Wood and siding were blown off a new house and a nearby fence was blown over. The winds caused tree damage, including 2 to 3 foot diameter trees blown down. Debris from the tree damage blocked several roads. Garages were blown off three homes which were next to each other, and other nearby homes suffered significant damage in an area on West Eli Court which was subjected to the strongest winds, estimated at 100 mph. Windows were blown out in several of these homes, and a large camper was overturned in the same area. A wind gust of 74 mph was measured elsewhere in the city. The winds blew down out power lines in parts of the city.
August 2015Flash FloodEllis$300,000Heavy rainfall of 3 to 8 inches caused widespread flooding of streets, parking lots, parks, ditches, basements and ground floors of homes and businesses, and other low areas. Water several feet deep on roads stalled numerous vehicles. Several vehicles had to be abandoned, some of which became completely submerged. Windows, flooring, and walls in some of the flooded homes and businesses were damaged, causing additional flooding in the affected buildings. Some residents were displaced from their homes by the flooding. The area suffering the worst flooding was in the southwestern corner of Sioux Falls, between 41st and 57th Streets, including the Empire Mall area. The flash flooding included a brief rise in the Big Sioux River at Western Avenue to 3 feet above flood stage.
June 2014Flash FloodEllis$100,000Heavy rain caused flash flooding of streets, including numerous urban streets in Sioux Falls, basements, and other low areas including parkland.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindEllis$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and caused tree damage.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindEllis$5,000Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a hand held device. The winds blew shingles off new homes in the area and caused tree damage.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindEllis$5,000Thunderstorm winds tore siding off a house, damaged a garage door, blew down an 18 inch diameter tree, and split a 10 to 12 inch diameter tree.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm winds resulted in significant tree and fence damage on the west side of Sioux Falls.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindEllis-A couple of birch trees were knocked over by thunderstorm winds, with other large tree limbs down.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm winds were measured on a personal weather station 5 miles west of Sioux Falls.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindEllis-Up to three inch diameter branches were broken by thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2022HailEllis-Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindEllis-Numerous 3 inch tree limbs were broken off by thunderstorm winds.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindEllis-A thunderstorm wind gust of 72 mph was measured by South Dakota State University mesonet site SFWS2 3 miles southeast of Wall Lake.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindEllis-Several 3 inch tree branches were downed by thunderstorm winds.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindEllis-A wind gust of 58 mph was measured by a personal weather station.
July 2021HailEllis-Hail was mostly dime to nickel sized, with a few stones as large as quarters.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm wind gusts downed several 6 inch tree limbs.
August 2021Flash FloodEllis-Ponding of water caused water to reach basements.
August 2021Flash FloodEllis-Significant ponding of water resulted in some basement flooding.
August 2021Flash FloodEllis-Significant ponding and flooding of a small creek resulted in some basement flooding in lower spots.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindEllis-Limbs up to 3 inches were broken from trees by strong thunderstorm winds.
July 2018Funnel CloudEllis-Funnel cloud was observed from the NWS office out the west window for a couple of minutes.
July 2018Tornado (EF0)Ellis-Brief touchdown in open area. No damage.
September 2018FloodEllis-Water was flowing over Madison Street at a depth of 8 to 10 inches east of La Mesa Drive.
September 2018FloodEllis-Much of Ellis has standing water, and water flowing over gravel roads west of Ellis.
August 2018HailEllis-Hail stripped leaves from trees, seen on social media video.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindEllis-Tree downed.
August 2017Heavy RainEllis-Intersection at 26 and Stebben flooded.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a large tree blown down.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage.
June 2014Flash FloodEllis-Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding of several streets in Sioux Falls.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindEllis-Damaging thunderstorm winds were accompanied by golf ball size hail. The winds contributed to vehicle, home, and window damage.
June 2014HailEllis-Golf ball size hail, accompanied by damaging winds, dented vehicles, damaged siding & roofs, and broke windows on vehicles and buildings. The amount of damage was not known.
June 2010Flash FloodEllis-Heavy rain caused flash flooding of several streets in the southern part of Sioux Falls, with water up to two feet deep. Basement flooding was also reported.
July 2010Flash FloodEllis-Heavy rainfall of up to 4 inches caused flash flooding of numerous streets in Sioux Falls. Water was high enough to cause several vehicles to stall out.
July 2010Flash FloodEllis-Heavy rain on saturated ground caused flash flooding of numerous roads, parking areas, basements, and other low areas.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindEllis-Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including one tree which fell on a power line, causing a power outage.
July 2025HailEllis-no account filed
July 2025HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
May 2022HailEllis-no account filed
June 2022HailEllis-no account filed
June 2022HailEllis-no account filed
June 2020HailEllis-no account filed
August 2018HailEllis-no account filed
August 2018HailEllis-no account filed
August 2018HailEllis-no account filed
August 2018HailEllis-no account filed
June 2017HailEllis-no account filed
June 2014HailEllis-no account filed
June 2014HailEllis-no account filed
June 2014HailEllis-no account filed
June 2014HailEllis-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Minnehaha 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
Webster Grove Addition1.4 miles9
Reppert Addition2.0 miles9
West Acres Development2.2 miles9
Silver Valley Addition2.3 miles9
Hayward Addition2.6 miles9
Ellis Corner2.7 miles9
Martindale Addition3.9 miles9
Skyline Heights4.8 miles9

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 EllisAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q5365820The 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 1265637. 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.