The Surprising Numbers That Make Up the South Dakota Map

South Dakota is a wholly unique state, made up of 310 incorporated cities and towns from East to West River.

That number alone is pretty fascinating when you look at the surrounding map. South Dakota actually has fewer incorporated municipalities than most of its neighbors, including states like Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and even North Dakota, which has 355 cities.

When you dive into the data across every single one of its 310 communities, you get a wild, and fascinating look into how the Mount Rushmore State actually functions on a daily basis.

From corner gas stations and fast food joints to local libraries and neighborhood churches, we pulled the total statewide counts for some of South Dakota's most common fixtures. And the final numbers say a lot about what makes this state tick.

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Fast Food Restaurants

Credit: Canva

South Dakota Count: 835 fast food spots

• McDonald's: 27 to 29+ locations (Rank #5)

Gas Stations & Convenience Stores

Credit: Canva

South Dakota Count: 1083 Gas Stations

• Larger brand-affiliated stations: 653 locations (60.30%)

Licensed Grain Elevators & Warehouses

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South Dakota Count: 257 Grain Elevators

• Shift to large terminals: Small-town and older elevators have been steadily closing, replaced by larger, high-speed mechanized terminals and big regional cooperatives.

Public Schools

Credit: Canva

South Dakota Count: 139 Active Public School Districts

Other notable numbers of note: 312 statewide Post Offices, 130 Public Libraries, 1,688 Churches, and 84 Dollar Generals.