Spencer, South Dakota
| Spencer, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location in McCook County and the state of South Dakota |
|
| Coordinates: 43°43′40″N 97°35′31″W / 43.72778°N 97.59194°WCoordinates: 43°43′40″N 97°35′31″W / 43.72778°N 97.59194°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | McCook |
| Incorporated | 1917 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2) |
| • Land | 0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,385 ft (422 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 154 |
| • Estimate (2013) | 155 |
| • Density | 570.4/sq mi (220.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 57374 |
| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-60060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1258228 |
Spencer is a city in McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 154 at the 2010 census. The city was almost destroyed by a violent F4 tornado on May 30, 1998 which killed 6.
Spencer was laid out in 1887 when the railroad was extended to that point. The city was named for H. Spencer, a railroad official. A post office has been in operation in Spencer since 1887.
On May 30, 1998, the most destructive and second deadliest tornado in South Dakota history struck Spencer. It began as a large, dust-cloaked tornado NW of Farmer, South Dakota in Hanson County, concurrent with the demise of the "Fulton" tornado. Continuing toward the ESE, it struck several farmsteads before crossing the Hanson/McCook County line a half mile WNW of Spencer. At this time, the tornado was being observed by the OU Doppler on Wheels crew, whose mobile Doppler radar data showed up to 246 mph winds in the tornado a few tens of meters above ground level. The population of the town diminished soon after to less than half of what it was previous to the tornado, from 315 to 145 in April 1999.
Spencer is located at 43°43′40″N 97°35′31″W / 43.72778°N 97.59194°W (43.727853, -97.592033).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2), all of it land.
Spencer has been assigned the ZIP code 57374 and the FIPS place code 60060.
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