Anyone Familiar with Clark, SD? (Rapid City, Aberdeen: co-op, house, to buy)
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DH has a job offer but it's in Clark. We're in New Underwood now. From what I can glean from C-D, Clark looks like New Underwood but more geographically isolated and with worse weather. I am inclined to stay put as I like it here but suppose it depends on the numbers they come back with. DH is indifferent.
Anyone been there/lived there who can chime in with an opinion?
Used to go through there, many years ago, on the way to cattle auctions. We always stopped there at the cafe because they had the best food. The people seemed real friendly. Nice little community. But that was years ago, couldn't tell you what it's like today.
I'm not a lot of help either. My business partner's wife is from there and I used to travel through there years ago. I do know that this community has really taken a hit as to lost population over the years. During my high school days there was close to 300 kids in the high school. Now, even though they co-op with Willow Lake for football, they play 9 man which means there can't be much more than 120 kids in the high school. There used to be quite a few businesses in town and it had a nice main street as well as businesses on the highway.
It's only about 25 miles from Watertown which is a big plus for the community. It's going to be colder than New Underwood since you're close to Rapid City and the "banana belt" of SD.
It's not just a whistle stop burg, but a town of still decent size, PLUS it's close to Watertown. I know I wouldn't have too tough of a time living there.
I haven't lived in Clark but I have friends living there that we visit and they love the town. I have been in both towns and Clark seems to be a bit larger than New Underwood - not by much, smile I would think that one of the plus factors here would be the close proximity to Watertown, which is a much larger town. Watertown is not as large as Rapid City but has just about everything that Rapid has - Malls, WalMart, and lots of restaurants. If you like New Underwood, I would say you would probably like Clark.
Clark is a nice little town if you're into pheasant/goose hunting and fishing. Lots and lots of good land and water surrounding it. Even better if you can befriend some of the locals and get to do it on private property.
Other than that, it's VERY isolated. It doesn't even offer that much for a town of a shade over 1,000 people, other than maybe a couple of decent homestyle cafes and convenience stores.
The only other bad thing is that all your real retail and entertainment options are in Watertown (which I would recommend avoiding like the plague). It's a community of 25,000 that has the mindset of a town of 250. Very, very clique-ish and backwards (basically a bunch of hillbillies that think they're millionaires). Aberdeen (it's about Watertown's size, but it's a college town and is a bit warmer to outsiders) and Huron (was a college town until it closed a couple of years back, about 10-12K) are each a solid hour away from Clark, so you're pretty much screwed unless you want to consider living outside of Clark and commuting (Redfield is about a half hour due west of Clark)
I apologize if I sound negative in any way, I promise I'm not trolling! I haven't been to NE South Dakota in about a half decade but let's just say from my experience, Watertown isn't the most idyllic community out there. If you choose to live in Clark and shop & dine in Watertown, I sincerely hope you have a better experience. Good luck.
Clark's housing market is kaput. If you buy a house plan on retiring there or take a major loss. Not uncommon to see a 2 story 4 bdm house go for $60,000. Watertown can be cliquish but it is a nice community. Of course I was born there so maybe I'm biased but if you're into hunting, fishing, and trapping you'll fit right in. Good healthcare system though not as good as Aberdeen. I now live near Redfield.
Hello Clark, SD
My name is Richard from the south east. I drove though Clark several times on my west not to many years ago. I love the little town. I'm going to be coming that way again real soon and this time I'm looking for a home to buy as well to start a small business. I have one house that's on my short list to look at, I guess there is no long list with so few people. I'm a single white male who has been single for ten years and ready to start a new life. I'll be honest up front it would be great to meet a local lady to be friends with. If not in Clark there is Watertown, SD for fun.
If someone wants to help me by taking some pictures of the downtown. I would be happy living in a easy going area with people who say hello and wave when you walk by... I have a great easy going style that never meets a stranger. Because so many people seem to worry about who maybe moving to their town, I'm a honest well like person with no type of bad record...
Hope to here from you soon.
Thanks Have a good day.
Richard S.
[email]t.richard8@yahoo.com[/email] ( for pictures )
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