Parker, South Dakota
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Parker City. It lies in ZIP code area 57053. The Survey maps it on the Parker quadrangle. 1,194 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,345 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Parker
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 7 records
Bones Hereford Ranch Sale Barnlisted 1995
Bridge No. 63-137-090-Parkerlisted 1999
Parker Masonic Halllisted 2004
South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-132-040listed 1999
Thielman-Stoddard Houselisted 1979- Chandler Gray and Mary Abbie Newhall House and Homestead Shacklisted 1992
- South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-160-056listed 1999
Population over time
2 figuresParker grew from 1,022 to 1,194 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 | 1,022 | |
| 2020 | 1,194 | +172 (+17%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 11 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.
- 1898 USGS Parker quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1955 USGS Sioux Falls quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Sioux Falls quadrangle1:250000
- 1968 USGS Parker quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Freeman quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
68 since 1999Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 68 fires within 5 miles of Parker between 1999 and 2020, burning about 749 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/undetermined | 37 |
| Debris and open burning | 14 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 6 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Other causes | 2 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
| Natural | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2020 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | SILAGE FIRE |
| 27 September 2012 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | BURN BARREL |
| 26 September 2015 | Equipment and vehicle use | 5.0 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | SHORTHANDED |
| 10 September 1999 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Parker Volunteer Fire Department | HANNON |
| 8 August 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | GRASS FIRE |
| 21 August 1999 | Debris and open burning | 4.0 acres | Parker Volunteer Fire Department | HAAS |
| 2 August 2014 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | SECTION 18 FIRE |
| 2 August 2008 | Smoking | under an acre | South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
2 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Parker: 1 producer, 1 past producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
Storms near this place
60 of 77 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Parker in 77 storm reports between 1997 and 2025: 37 hail, 21 thunderstorm wind, 14 flood, 3 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2003 | Tornado (F2) | Parker | $3,000,000 | A tornado heavily damaged or destroyed numerous structures at the county fairgrounds, uprooted numerous trees, and blew down power lines, resulting in power outages which lasted up to a day. The tornado damaged other structures in Parker including homes and the county courthouse. One home was shifted off its foundation and received broken windows and damaged siding. Some of the damage resulted from falling trees or wind blown debris. |
| April 2004 | Hail | Parker | $500,000 | Large hail dented vehicles, broke windshields, damaged roofs and siding, and broke windows in numerous homes and businesses. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Parker | $100,000 | Excessive rainfall from September 10-12 in upper portions of the Vermillion River Basin (6.78 inches 2 miles east of Montrose, 5.63 inches at Montrose) resulted in the fourth highest crest on record at Davis (gage site DVSS2) of 4.65 feet above flood stage on September 14. Highway 18 was closed due to high water, and flood waters surrounded several homes on the west side of Davis. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including large trees blown down. Power lines and poles were blown down by the wind and also damaged by tree debris. Power outages and at least two small fires resulted from damaged power lines. Minor damage to homes and buildings resulted mainly from falling trees and debris. |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew shingles off roofs and caused caused tree damage. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds severely damaged three outbuildings on a farm. The winds also caused tree damage and blew down power lines, resulting in brief power outages. Crops, especially corn, were damaged by the wind, but the amount of damage was not determined. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds toppled a few trees, one of which damaged a car when it fell; and broke large branches from other trees. The winds also caused damage to power lines, resulting in power outages; and overturned and damaged several crop irrigators. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $5,000 | Several trees were uprooted near Parker. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| October 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | $5,000 | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | An extended period of damaging thunderstorm wind gusts was measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Parker. The initial severe gusts were reached at 1946 CST with a peak of 85 mph at 1953 CST. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | The initial thunderstorm wind gust to 61 mph was measured at 0023CST with the peak of 65 mph at 0025CST. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a Road Weather Information System sensor near Parker. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Initial severe winds gusts were reported at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Parker, with a peak wind gust of 66 mph at 346 am CST. |
| June 2024 | Flood | Parker | - | The West Fork of the Vermillion River near Chancellor rose above flood stage the morning of June 21st, cresting around 7.87 feet above flood stage (1297.87 feet) on June 22nd. This crest is in the Major Stage. The river then fell below flood stage on the evening of June 27th. For a more comprehensive description of flood damage, please see other entries for Turner County. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts as high as 59 mph were measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD605 3 miles east-southeast of Parker. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | An extended period of thunderstorm wind gusts of 58 mph or greater was measured by South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD605 3 miles east-southeast of Parker. A peak wind gust of 79 mph occurred at 1522CST. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD605 3 miles east-southeast of Parker measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 64 mph. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees, which blocked many streets. | Power was out in most sections of town due to downed powerlines. |
| March 2020 | Flood | Parker | - | The Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) crested 1.20 feet above flood stage on March 7. Water encroached on U.S. Highway 18 west of Davis, with large amounts of agricultural land flooded. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| June 2019 | Flood | Parker | - | A continuation of flooding from May, the Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) started at 2.60 feet above flood stage on June 1. Many rural roads near the river were inundated, with continued flooding of significant amounts of agricultural land. |
| March 2019 | Flood | Parker | - | Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 3.06 inches 7 miles west southwest of Parker and 2.80 inches at Marion) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural lands and inundation of numerous county and township roads (as well as overtopping U.S. Highway 18 just west of Davis on March 14-15). The Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) reached the second highest stage on record cresting 5.2 feet above flood stage on March 15. |
| May 2019 | Flood | Parker | - | The Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) reached a crest of 1.56 feet above flood stage on May 11. Water briefly flowed across a section of U.S. Highway 18 west of Davis and additional delays to spring planting occurred in the flood plain. |
| May 2019 | Flood | Parker | - | The Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) reached a crest of 2.90 feet above flood stage on May 31. Water flowed across a section of U.S. Highway 18 west of Davis and additional delays to spring planting occurred in the flood plain. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month. |
| April 2019 | Flood | Parker | - | Runoff from occasional precipitation in late March and early April produced considerable flooding of agricultural lands along the river, along with some brief flooding of Highway 18 west of Davis. The Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) crested at 3.20 feet above flood stage on April 18. |
| March 2018 | Flood | Parker | - | Heavy rainfall along with snow melt and some ice jamming caused minor flooding of lowland agricultural areas along portions of the Vermillion River. The river reached a crest of 1.0 feet above flood stage near Davis (gage site DVSS2) on March 25. |
| June 2018 | Flood | Parker | - | 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. Moderate flooding occurred with significant amounts of crop and pasture land as well as a couple of county roads were inundated as the river crested near Davis (gage site DVSS2) 3.4 feet above flood stage on June 23. The river dropped below flood stage on June 30. |
| September 2018 | Flood | Parker | - | Periodic heavy rainfall from September 18 to September 20 resulted in a widespread accumulation from 3 to 7 inches. Moderate flooding occurred, with U.S. Highway 18 west of Davis inundated for a few days along with significant amounts of crop and pasture land, as the Vermillion River near Davis (gage site DVSS2) crested 3.1 feet above flood stage on September 22. The river dropped below flood stage on September 25. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm outflow winds were measured on a handheld anemometer. |
| October 2018 | Flood | Parker | - | A widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches fell on already saturated soils from October 9-11, resulting in minor flooding along portions of the Vermillion River. The river near Davis (gage site DVSS2) crested 0.3 feet above flood stage on October 12, producing flooding of agricultural lands near the river. |
| June 2016 | Hail | Parker | - | Hail was mostly quarter size or smaller with just a few stones of golf ball size. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a building. |
| May 2013 | Hail | Parker | - | Large hail damaged vehicles. The amount of damage was not known. |
| September 2010 | Hail | Parker | - | Large hail covered the ground. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Parker | - | Large hail fell over a small area with only tree damage reported. |
| May 2007 | Flood | Parker | - | Heavy rain caused flooding of low areas including fields, as well as small streams, beyond the flash flood time frame. The Vermillion River also flooded, peaking at 2.5 feet above flood stage near Davis on May 8th. The West Fork Vermillion River peaked at 2.9 feet above flood stage near Parker on May 7th. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including branches blown off trees. The winds also blew shingles off roofs. |
| March 2007 | Flood | Parker | - | Warm temperatures caused a rapid snowmelt which caused the Vermillion River to rise above flood stage for a few days. The flooding was minor to moderate and no significant damage was reported. The river crested at 2.2 feet above flood stage at Davis on March 12th. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. Corn crops were damaged by the wind, but the amount of crop damage was not known. |
| June 2005 | Flash Flood | Parker | - | Heavy rain caused flooding of numerous roads, including streets in town and nearby county roads. Some county roads were partially washed out. |
| April 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Parker | - | A brief tornado caused no reported damage. |
| May 2004 | Flash Flood | Parker | - | One to three inches of rain fell on ground saturated from the previous day caused flooding of roads and nearby fields. |
| June 2003 | Tornado (F0) | Parker | - | A weak tornado tracked across farmland. |
| June 1997 | Hail | Parker | - | Large hail damaged corn and soybean crops. |
| June 2019 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| August 2017 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2016 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| March 2011 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| April 2010 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| October 2009 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| August 2008 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| October 2007 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Hail | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parker | - | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Parker | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | 6.8 miles | 11 | |
| Monroe | 7.4 miles | 11 | |
| Chancellor | 8.1 miles | 10 | |
| Hurley | 8.3 miles | 11 | |
| Davis | 12.2 miles | 10 | |
| Turkey Ridge | 13.0 miles | 11 | |
| Dolton | 14.7 miles | 11 | |
| Hooker | 14.9 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 Parker | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2124451 | 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 1265677. 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.




