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We've enhanced the "Places" section of our Community Profiles to make it easier for you to discover popular nearby places.

South Dakota Gazetteer

South Dakota - Basic Information

Became a State: November 2, 1889 - 39th State
Population: 814,180 (2010 Census) - Ranks 46th
Land Area: 75,811.0 square miles - Ranks 16th
Population Density: 10.7 persons per square mile - Ranks 46th
Housing Units: 363,438 (2010 Census)
Housing Unit Density: 4.8 housing units per square mile
July 1, 2023 Estimates: South Dakota Data and Demographics
State Capital: Pierre
State Website: Official State of South Dakota Website
South Dakota State Flag
South Dakota state flag

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Use HTL Address Research for a South Dakota Address and get...

Boundary Maps, Demographic Data, School Zones Review maps and data for the neighborhood, city, county, ZIP Code, and school zone. July 1, 2023, data includes home values, household income, percentage of homes owned, rented or vacant, etc.


South Dakota Neighborhood Explorer

NOTE: The BEST tool for researching a neighborhood is the HTL Address Research Tool (above). However, if you do not have an address, the South Dakota Neighborhood Explorer is the SECOND-BEST-TOOL to research a neighborhood (it provides a subset of the information that the Address Research Tool provides), but you can get a report by simply marking a spot on a map.

The South Dakota Neighborhood Explorer helps you to research any South Dakota neighborhood (census block group) and get home values, average household income, owner/renter/ occupancy rates, projected growth rates, boundary maps, comparisons to other communities, and much more.

Simply mark a spot on a state map and you'll have your results within 3-seconds!

South Dakota Neighborhood Explorer


South Dakota History

South Dakota State Flower
South Dakota State Flower - American Pasqueflower

The United States acquired almost all of the area of South Dakota from France in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. A small portion in the northeast part of the present-day state was added by a convention signed with Great Britain in 1818. Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861, from unorganized area formerly within Minnesota Territory and part of Nebraska Territory. Dakota Territory included all of the present-day states of North Dakota and South Dakota, most of Montana, the northern half of Wyoming, and a small part of Nebraska. The territory was reduced in 1863 with the organization of Idaho Territory, enlarged in 1864 with the addition of most of the remainder of present-day Wyoming, and again reduced with the organization of Wyoming Territory in 1868. In 1882, the state of Nebraska acquired an area north of the Keya Paha River and Niobrara River. South Dakota was admitted to the Union simultaneously with North Dakota on November 2, 1889, as the 39th and 40th states, with generally the same boundary as the present state.

Census data for the combined area in present-day North Dakota and South Dakota are available in the 1860 census (and listed in national tables with South Dakota). The 1860 census population is for territory reported as unorganized Dakota and territory now in Montana. Although the state had not yet been legally established, the 1870 and 1880 populations are for the area of the present state. The population of Dakota Territory as legally established was 135,177 in 1880 and 14,181 in 1870.

Data for the legally established state of South Dakota are available beginning with the 1890 census.

South Dakota Geographical Areas

See: Geographic Terms & Concepts

Counties & County Equivalents

Interactive Map of South Dakota Counties | Static Overview Map of South Dakota Counties

There are 66 counties in South Dakota.  Each county is governed by a board of commissioners.


County Subdivisions

There are 1,339 county subdivisions in South Dakota known as minor civil divisions (MCDs). There are 914 townships with functioning, but not necessarily active, governments.  Townships are each governed by a board of supervisors.  The 311 incorporated places in South Dakota are independent of MCDs and serve as 320 county subdivisions.  In addition, there are 105 unorganized territories in South Dakota.  Bennett, Bon Homme, Buffalo, Campbell, Custer, Dewey, Haakon, Harding, Potter, Shannon, Stanley, Sully, Todd, Walworth, and Ziebach Counties have no townships and are covered entirely by unorganized territories and incorporated places.

Places (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))

South Dakota State Bird
South Dakota State Bird - Chinese Ring-necked Pheasant

South Dakota has 390 places; 311 incorporated places and 79 census designated places (CDPs).  The incorporated places consist of 156 cities, 154 towns, and 1 village.  Incorporated places are independent of county subdivisions.

Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z

South Dakota Civil Features

South Dakota Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas

There are 2 Metropolitan and 9 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in South Dakota. SD Metopolitan & Micropolitan Areas

South Dakota ZIP Code Tabulation Areas

There are 387 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in South Dakota. View South Dakota ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.

School Districts

South Dakota has 156 unified school districts. View South Dakota Public and Private Schools.

Congressional Districts

South Dakota has 1 congressional districts. An interactive map shows the contact information for each Representative as well as the boundaries for each South Dakota district. View Map of South Dakota Congressional Districts.

State Legislative Districts

There are 35 state senate districts and 37 state house districts in South Dakota.

American Indian Areas

South Dakota has 11 American Indian areas. There are nine reservations, four with associated off-reservation trust lands.  There are also two off-reservation trust lands associated with reservations in neighboring states.

South Dakota Physical, Cultural and Historic Features

  1. South Dakota Physical Features such as lakes, islands, streams, valleys, summits, etc.
  2. South Dakota Cultural Features such as schools, churches, hospitals, parks, dams, reservoirs, etc.
  3. South Dakota Historical Features and South Dakota Historic Landmarks

South Dakota Maps

  • To find a ZIP Code: input the address in the top-left search box of any ZIP Code Map.
  • To find the County: input the address in the top-left search box of the interactive SD map.
  • To find the School Attendance Zone: input the address in the top-left search box of any SD school map

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

South Dakota Census Data Comparison Tool

Compare South Dakota July 1, 2023 Data
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