# Bison, South Dakota

Bison is a town in and the county seat of Perkins County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 302 at the 2020 census.

## History

Bison was platted in 1907, and named after the American bison which were once numerous in the area. A post office has been in operation at Bison since 1907. Bison was declared county seat in 1908.

## Geography

Bison is located approximately six miles south of the South Fork of the Grand River and near the headwaters of Thunder Butte Creek. It is just south of the Grand River National Grassland.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.99 square miles (2.56 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

Climate data for Bison, South Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1916–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 71 (22) | 81 (27) | 92 (33) | 102 (39) | 110 (43) | 111 (44) | 107 (42) | 107 (42) | 92 (33) | 88 (31) | 69 (21) | 111 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.9 (11.1) | 54.9 (12.7) | 68.3 (20.2) | 78.8 (26.0) | 86.0 (30.0) | 92.4 (33.6) | 98.6 (37.0) | 97.9 (36.6) | 93.8 (34.3) | 82.7 (28.2) | 66.2 (19.0) | 53.4 (11.9) | 100.4 (38.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 32.8 (0.4) | 45.1 (7.3) | 57.4 (14.1) | 68.2 (20.1) | 77.9 (25.5) | 86.2 (30.1) | 85.6 (29.8) | 76.4 (24.7) | 59.7 (15.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 57.8 (14.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.7 (−6.8) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 33.4 (0.8) | 44.4 (6.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 65.2 (18.4) | 72.4 (22.4) | 71.3 (21.8) | 61.9 (16.6) | 47.2 (8.4) | 33.0 (0.6) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 45.7 (7.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 9.7 (−12.4) | 12.4 (−10.9) | 21.8 (−5.7) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 42.7 (5.9) | 52.4 (11.3) | 58.6 (14.8) | 57.0 (13.9) | 47.5 (8.6) | 34.7 (1.5) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 12.9 (−10.6) | 33.6 (0.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −14.7 (−25.9) | −9.4 (−23.0) | −0.9 (−18.3) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 41.2 (5.1) | 48.4 (9.1) | 45.1 (7.3) | 32.7 (0.4) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 2.7 (−16.3) | −9.8 (−23.2) | −20.0 (−28.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −42 (−41) | −28 (−33) | −6 (−21) | 11 (−12) | 28 (−2) | 37 (3) | 33 (1) | 18 (−8) | −8 (−22) | −17 (−27) | −34 (−37) | −42 (−41) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.46 (12) | 0.56 (14) | 0.87 (22) | 1.76 (45) | 3.11 (79) | 3.15 (80) | 2.50 (64) | 1.83 (46) | 1.38 (35) | 1.52 (39) | 0.52 (13) | 0.44 (11) | 18.10 (460) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.6 (14) | 8.0 (20) | 7.0 (18) | 5.4 (14) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 3.0 (7.6) | 4.1 (10) | 5.9 (15) | 39.7 (101) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 2.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 57.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 16.1 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 333 people, 158 households, and 100 families living in the town. The population density was 336.4 inhabitants per square mile (129.9/km$^2$). There were 180 housing units at an average density of 181.8 per square mile (70.2/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3% of the population.
There were 158 households, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.72.
The median age in the town was 48.6 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 25.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 373 people, 177 households and 109 families living in the town. The population density was 372.5 inhabitants per square mile (143.8/km$^2$). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 226.7 per square mile (87.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 99.73% White and 0.27% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.
There were 177 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.78.
Age distribution was 22.3% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median household income was $30,000, and the median family income was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,594 versus $17,386 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,856. About 4.5% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.