Tea is a Lincoln County city on the southwest side of the Sioux Falls area. It was laid out in 1894, and its unusual name was picked simply because it was short. The city sits at about 1,490 feet on open prairie with no river or lake inside its 3.9 square miles.
Small town, quick growth
Tea had 3,806 residents in 2010, 5,598 in 2020 and an estimated 7,699 in 2024. The 2020 census found 1,970 housing units and a homeowner vacancy rate of just 1%, so houses here sell quickly. The Tea Area School District runs three elementary schools, a middle school and Tea Area High School. Families spend summer evenings at Tea City Park, the Tea Athletic Complex, Howling Ridge Park and Prairie Trails Park.
Short test or long test?
South Dakota DANR accepts both passive test kits and active electronic monitors. A short test of a few days is the usual first step and is common during a home sale. A long test of three months or more shows your year-round average better, because radon levels change with the seasons. DANR has also offered free radon test kits to South Dakota residents, so check with the state before you buy one.
When the number is high
If a Tea test came back at or above 4 pCi/L, send the result through the form. A local, independent radon mitigation contractor contacts you about a free quote.
Free request service, not a radon mitigation contractor. How it works