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Radon Levels in Lincoln County, South Dakota

EPA puts Lincoln County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 56.5% of the 795 radon tests reported to CDC (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) came back at or above 4 pCi/L. Homes with elevated levels occur in all three zones, so only a test measures yours.

Data checked By Radon411Methodology

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    56.5%

    2.0 pts below SD

    Lincoln
    56.5%
    SD
    58.5%

    795 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    4.7pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Lincoln
    4.7 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    795

    3rd of 23 by tests

    Lincoln
    795
    Minnehaha
    1,920

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 1

    Highest potential

    1. Zone 1
    2. 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts over 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in SD

    16 of 23

    Middle half

    Lincoln
    56.5%
    Lake
    76.0%

    By share, of 23 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Lincoln County

Starts at Lincoln County's median, 4.7 pCi/L

4.7pCi/L

EPA’s own thresholds; the figures are the area’s, never this home’s.

EPA’s reading of 4.7 pCi/L

At or above 4 pCi/L

  1. Under 20 to 1.9 pCi/L
  2. 2 to 4consider a fix
  3. 4 and aboveEPA says fix it

This result is at or above 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. Lincoln County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Lincoln County, At a glance

Lincoln County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Lincoln County in and predicts an average indoor of greater than 4 pCi/L (greater than 150 Bq/m³) across the county. That is one forecast for the whole county, not a reading of any address in it; homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: High across 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Lincoln County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Lincoln County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 26%2 to 4 pCi/L: 18%4 pCi/L and above: 56%

Of 795 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Lincoln County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L20525.8%
2 to 4 pCi/L14117.7%
4 pCi/L and above44956.5%
What these figures count

These are the 795 tests reported to CDC for Lincoln County over 2008 to 2017 (laboratory totals), many from homes being sold or already suspected of a problem: they describe the county's reported tests, not this house.

Measured: CDC tracking data. Figure above: 2008 to 2017, laboratory. Measured data period: 2005 to 2017 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Lincoln County, Compared

Lincoln County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 56.5% of the 795 radon tests reported to CDC for Lincoln County over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 16th of 23 South Dakota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 2.0 points below the 58.5% pooled from 62 South Dakota counties.

The median result, 4.7 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 63.0 pCi/L. The rest split 25.8% under 2 pCi/L and 17.7% from 2 to 4 (South Dakota: 23.6% and 17.9%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 56.5% share point the same way here.

4 of its 6 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Sioux County, IA at 84.2%; Union County reported 51.1%. Statewide for the same period, Lake County reported the highest share (76.0%) and Davison County the lowest (48.8%).

CDC's ten-year totals for Lincoln County went from 517 tests (2005 to 2014) to 795 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 55.3% to 56.5%.

Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.7%; Lincoln County sits 20.8 points above it. CDC also counts 8 tests taken after mitigation in Lincoln County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Lincoln County against South Dakota, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Lincoln County
Lincoln County79556.5%4.7 pCi/LThis county
South Dakota, pooled62 counties, pooled6,27558.5%Not pooled+2.0 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−20.8 points
Lake Countyhighest in the state5076.0%8.5 pCi/L+19.5 points
Davison Countylowest in the state8448.8%3.8 pCi/L−7.7 points
Sioux County, IAborders it1,98284.2%10.7 pCi/L+27.7 points
Lyon County, IAborders it23777.6%8.3 pCi/L+21.1 points
Turner County, SDborders it5858.6%4.8 pCi/L+2.1 points
Minnehaha County, SDborders it1,92058.5%4.8 pCi/L+2.0 points
Clay County, SDborders it8351.8%4.2 pCi/L−4.7 points
Union County, SDborders it34851.1%4.1 pCi/L−5.4 points
Where Lincoln County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside South Dakota and the United States
ResultLincoln County testsLincoln County shareSouth Dakota shareU.S. shareAgainst South Dakota
Under 2 pCi/L20525.8%23.6%39.6%+2.2 points
2 to 4 pCi/L14117.7%17.9%24.7%−0.2 points
4 pCi/L and above44956.5%58.5%35.7%−2.0 points
Lincoln County ranked among the 23 South Dakota counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Codington County11 of 237764.9%5.8 pCi/L
Beadle County12 of 235459.3%4.8 pCi/L
Turner County13 of 235858.6%4.8 pCi/L
Minnehaha County14 of 231,92058.5%4.8 pCi/L
Lawrence County15 of 2316056.9%5.3 pCi/L
Lincoln County16 of 2379556.5%4.7 pCi/L
Grant County17 of 237855.1%5.0 pCi/L
Pennington County18 of 231,02953.6%4.3 pCi/L
Clay County19 of 238351.8%4.2 pCi/L
Meade County20 of 2319751.8%4.1 pCi/L
Union County21 of 2334851.1%4.1 pCi/L
Lincoln County ten-year laboratory totals, against South Dakota's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestSouth Dakota, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201779556.5%4.7 pCi/L63.0 pCi/L58.5%+3.2 points
2007 to 201670953.3%4.3 pCi/L63.0 pCi/L57.4%−2.1 points
2006 to 201561955.4%4.7 pCi/L63.0 pCi/L58.8%+0.1 points
2005 to 201451755.3%4.7 pCi/L45.8 pCi/L59.6%First on file

Pooled shares: Radon411's sum of CDC's county counts for one period.

Lincoln County, Geology

The ground under Lincoln County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Lincoln County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. The map puts 69.5% of Lincoln County in the area it calls Missouri Coteau/James River Lowland/Coteau des Prairies and 30.5% in Loess-Covered Drift Plains. USGS gives the first a radon index of 14 and the second 13, both in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Lincoln County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Missouri Coteau/James River Lowland/Coteau des PrairiesGlacial drift derived largely from Cretaceous marine shale.High1469.5%
Loess-Covered Drift PlainsPre-Illinoian and Illinoian glacial deposits, and loess.High1330.5%

Names, descriptions and indexes: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Radon Potential Map (2025). Shares: Radon411, from the map cut to the boundary.

Lincoln County beside the ground around it

Lincoln County has more high-potential ground than South Dakota as a whole: 100% of its land against 56.7%. Of the 6 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Clay County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Lincoln County, the 6 counties bordering it and South Dakota
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Lincoln CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Turner CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Clay CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Minnehaha CountyZone 1NoneNone99.9%
Lyon County, IAZone 1NoneNone100%
Sioux County, IAZone 1NoneNone100%
Union CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
South Dakota66 counties, pooled by land areaVaries1.0%42.3%56.7%

The map rates the ground, not the air in any home.

Local help

Lincoln County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Lincoln County

Listed radon businesses with an address in Lincoln County:

Listed radon professionals by town: Sioux Falls, Hudson

What South Dakota's program says
Phone
1-800-438-3367

What it means

Lincoln County, Questions

Questions about radon in Lincoln County

Are radon levels high in Lincoln County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 56.5% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Lincoln County, South Dakota were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 4.7 pCi/L. Of 23 South Dakota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 15 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 58.5%.

Which counties border Lincoln County?

Lincoln County borders 6 counties: Turner County, SD, Clay County, SD, Minnehaha County, SD, Lyon County, IA, Sioux County, IA and Union County, SD.

Products

Lincoln County, Products

Testing a home in Lincoln County

In Lincoln County, 56.5% of 795 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 58.5% pooled across South Dakota. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Lincoln County is the one to know: a long-term test (more than 90 days) or a monitor, with a short-term kit for a first answer.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Lincoln County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest predicted radon potential. Best radon monitors for Zone 1 counties like Lincoln County

Explore

Lincoln County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Lincoln County

Calculated by Radon411

Lincoln County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Lincoln County

Lincoln County is growing: the Census Bureau puts it at 77,145 residents on July 1, 2025, up 17.5% from 65,650 in 2020. That works out to 134 people per square mile of land. Sioux Falls, the largest place on its list (213,748 residents in all), extends beyond Lincoln County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 795 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 10.3 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 6.7 for South Dakota.

From Sioux Falls to Fairview, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Lincoln County's.

The cities and towns in Lincoln County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Sioux Fallsextends beyond Lincoln County213,748+10.5%Counted whole
Harrisburg10,405+52.0%13.5%
Tea8,019+40.7%10.4%
Canton3,001−2.4%3.9%
Lennox2,657+9.6%3.4%
Beresfordextends beyond Lincoln County2,105−3.4%Counted whole
Worthing927−0.5%1.2%
Hudson342+7.9%0.4%
Fairview63LevelUnder 0.1%

9 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025). A place that extends beyond Lincoln County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Lincoln County, Homes

Homes in Lincoln County

Of Lincoln County's 27,552 homes, 63% are detached houses, against 67% across South Dakota; 19% are in buildings of five or more homes. Much of Lincoln County is recent building: 61% of its homes have gone up since 2000 and the middle year built is 2004, against 1979 for South Dakota. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (South Dakota: 69%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Lincoln County, South Dakota, 2019 to 2023
HomesLincoln CountySouth Dakota
Housing units27,552402,364
Detached houses63%67%
In buildings of 5 or more19%16%
Mobile homes2%8%
Built before 196012%29%
Built since 200061%28%
Middle year built20041979
Owner-occupied72%69%

Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023: estimates from a sample of homes, looser for a small place. Shares by Radon411.