Willow Lake is a city in Clark County, South Dakota, home to about 433 people across 0.4 square miles. Its ZIP code is 57278.
Mostly Willow Lake; also Mayfield Colony
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| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)219 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY)32 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN217 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL538 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Willow Lake; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Willow Lake had 255 residents in the 2020 census, down 13% since 2000.
It’s the 165th largest of 440 towns in South Dakota by population.
Clark County grew from 6,942 residents in 1900 to 3,837 in 2020.
Clark County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 4°F. About 24.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Clark, SD weather station (18 miles away).
738 jobs at 125 businesses in Clark County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Nearest hospitals
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.
Public schools here are run by Willow Lake School District 12-3. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Lake Elementary - 02Willow Lake | Pre-K–5 | 153 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Mayfield Colony Elementary - 04Willow Lake | K–8 | 31 | Public | 6.8 mi |
| Willow Lake Middle School - 03Willow Lake | 6–8 | 54 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Willow Lake High School - 01Willow Lake | 9–12 | 69 | Public | 1.9 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Mayfield Colony.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.