SOUTH DAKOTA
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 10.7
People per square mile, 2020: 11.7
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
|
Year |
Population |
1790 |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
1810 |
0 |
1820 |
0 |
1830 |
0 |
1840 |
0 |
1850 |
0 |
1860 |
4,837 |
1870 |
11,776 |
1880 |
98,268 |
1890 |
348,600 |
1900 |
401,570 |
1910 |
583,888 |
1920 |
636,547 |
1930 |
692,849 |
1940 |
642,961 |
1950 |
652,740 |
1960 |
680,514 |
1970 |
666,257 |
1980 |
690,768 |
1990 |
696,004 |
2000 |
754,844 |
2010 |
814,180 |
2020 |
886,667 |
2030 |
*973,361 |
2040 |
*1,043,032 |
Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
South Dakota Population News Articles
South Dakotan tells Congress of ‘growing water security risk’ if pipeline project is delayed – April 22, 2026
Rapid City population climbs again in 2025, shaping planning and development – March 31, 2026
Is Butte County, SD's population growing or shrinking? – March 3, 2026
Monarch measure draws ‘neighs’, yeas but passes House – Feb 26, 2026
South Dakota Senate endorses $10 million for water quality – Feb 25, 2026
What Smithfield's move could mean for environment, economy – Feb 25, 2026
SD near the bottom in rate of kids prepared for kindergarten – February 20, 2026
South Dakota Regulators Approve Wind Farm That Will Be the Largest in the State – Feb 17, 2026
South Dakota House backs E-Verify use by all employers to check citizenship, immigration status – Feb 13, 2026
Statewide groundwater recharge requirement fails in House - February 2, 2026
Rapid City counts homeless population in annual Point in Time Survey – Jan 30, 2026
How Sioux Falls is serving its homeless population – Oct 17, 2025
Mina area residents air concerns about proposed dairy’s effect on water – Oct 20, 2025
Natural Disasters Are Getting Costly—But This Town Keeps Retirement Affordable – Sep 29, 2025
'We are known as the stinky town': Board finds Freeman rendering plant in violation of permit – Sep 24, 2025
Rapid City and Black Hills towns see population boom – June 13, 2025
Americans Told To Stay Indoors in 5 States – June 11, 2025
Truth is, South Dakota does not have a pollution goal – May 23, 2025
Advocates say cutting renewable energy tax credits could hurt state – May 22, 2025
Governor, attorney general visit the border and seek a bigger immigration enforcement role – May 21, 2025
Renewable energy industry powers new job growth in SD - May 19, 2025
New report identifies pollution reductions needed to clean up segment of Big Sioux River – Sept 12, 2024
Poll: Most SD voters disapprove of local control limits on carbon pipelines – Sept 9, 2024
37.9% of South Dakota Residents Are Experiencing Drought Conditions in 2024 – Sept 4, 2024
Noem rejects more than $70 million in federal funds for energy and environmental programs – Aug 23, 2024
Flooded farmland in southeastern South Dakota – June 25, 2024
City's Population Now Estimated Over 82,400 – June 20, 2024
Support grows for threatened SD grasslands – June 12, 2024
Over one hundred and fifty new citizens to be naturalized at Mount Rushmore – June 10, 2024
Goodwin-area Community Gathers to Discuss Proposed Large Dairy Operation – June 6, 2024
Leaving South Dakota? The top destinations for people who move out – October 30, 2023
The 5 Fast-Growing Counties in South Dakota Are Exploding in Growth – October 9, 2023
It’s awfully dry out, but could be worse – July 5, 2023
South Dakota population on track to top 1 million by 2030 after ‘significant’ growth – June 21, 2023
South Dakota cities take new, more compassionate approach to addressing homelessness – December 19, 2022
South Dakota seeks funds to upgrade deteriorating short line – December 13, 2022
South Dakota city seeks funding for $2.6M recycling transfer station – December 8, 2022
Public not sold on Navigator pipeline despite attempts to build landowner trust – December 1, 2022
There is a growing need for sustainable water – November 29, 2022
Importance of testing bodies of water – July 13, 2022
Box Elder gets infrastructure projects underway – July 7, 2022
Wet weather forcing farmers to delay or cut back on planting of crops – June 18, 2022
Meade County School Board looking into new potential high school – March 15, 2022
HB 1033 shows promise for future development of Rapid City area – March 14, 2022
Angry residents bring more dust concerns to Fermilab officials – March 7, 2022
Rapid City addresses housing crisis as population grows – February 28, 2022