Buffalo County
South DakotaFIPS 46017
Buffalo County has no hospital. Residents must travel to neighboring counties for hospital care.
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Buffalo County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 16.6% | 9.5% | ▲ |
| Adult Obesity | 44.4% | 36.8% | ▲ |
| Uninsured Rate | 12.8% | 11.1% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 0.0 | 6.2 | ▲ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 46,417.852 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Buffalo County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 18.7% | — | |
| Obesity | 48.4% | — | |
| Depression | 22.4% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 22.7% | — | |
| COPD | 10.6% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 31.5% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 8.9% | — | |
| Stroke | 5.4% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 37.3% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 32.1% | — | |
| Disability | 45.9% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 37.0% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 16.5% | — | |
| Uninsured | 14.4% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Buffalo County has no hospital. 21 of South Dakota's counties are hospital deserts.
See all hospital deserts in South DakotaSocial Vulnerability Index
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Nearest Hospitals
Since Buffalo County has no hospital, residents travel to nearby facilities.
| Hospital | County | Beds | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center | Brule | 25 | 18.8 mi |
| Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center - Cah | Jerauld | 16 | 31.9 mi |
| Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital and Clinic | Hand | 11 | 34.5 mi |
| Avera Gregory Hospital | Gregory | 25 | 47.3 mi |
| Platte Health Center | Charles Mix | 17 | 49.2 mi |
Related Pages
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.