Census 2000: South Dakota

More of this Feature • Part 2: Cities G-L • Part 3: Cities M-R • Part 4: Cities S-Z

The United States government has released the results of the 2000 Census.  South Dakota increased in population, from 696,004 people in 1990 to 754,844 in 2000, an increase of 58,840 people.

Sioux Falls remains the state's largest city, with 123,975 residents, an increase of nearly 23 percent.  Rapid City had a solid population increase of 9.3% from 1990 to 2000, going from 54,523 people to 59,607.  It was a mixed bag for the rest of the Black Hills.  Spearfish boomed the past ten years, increasing their population over 23%.  Sturgis also grew by nearly 21 percent.  Deadwood and Lead, however, had substantial population decreases.  Deadwood lost 24.6% of their population, and Lead 16.7% from 1990 to 2000.

Here are some of the towns in western South Dakota that increased in population the past 10 years: Belle Fourche, Box Elder, Colome, Custer, Dallas, Eagle Butte, Fort Pierre, Harrold, Hermosa, Hill City, Interior, Keystone, Mission, New Underwood and White River.

Unfortunately, the population decreases in small town South Dakota are more than the increases.  The following towns in western South Dakota declined in population from the 1990 to the 2000 Census:  Bison, Burke, Dupree, Edgemont, Gregory, Herrick, Hot Springs, Isabel, Kadoka, Lemmon, McIntosh, Martin, Midland, Murdo, Newell, Philip, Presho, Timber Lake, Wall, Wasta and Winner. 

Here's the list of selected city and town populations in all of South Dakota in 1990 and 2000, and the percentage change in the ten years.  All data is from the United States Census Bureau.

City Populations A-F