Fastest growing cities in South Dakota
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in South Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. Mitchell
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +494
--- #4,865 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 3.3%
--- #154 among cities in South Dakota, #12,757 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,660
--- #6 largest city in South Dakota, #2,822 largest city nationwide
#19. Mission
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +557
--- #4,576 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 93.0%
--- #16 among cities in South Dakota, #944 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,156
--- #67 largest city in South Dakota, #13,982 largest city nationwide
#18. North Sioux City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +591
--- #4,419 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 24.1%
--- #69 among cities in South Dakota, #4,749 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,042
--- #27 largest city in South Dakota, #8,742 largest city nationwide
#17. Agency Village
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +690
--- #4,086 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 802.3%
--- #3 among cities in South Dakota, #46 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 776
--- #95 largest city in South Dakota, #16,365 largest city nationwide
#16. Piedmont
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +933
--- #3,441 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 2455.3%
--- #1 among cities in South Dakota, #10 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 971
--- #74 largest city in South Dakota, #14,970 largest city nationwide
#15. Hartford
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +948
--- #3,411 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 39.4%
--- #43 among cities in South Dakota, #2,887 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,354
--- #23 largest city in South Dakota, #8,276 largest city nationwide
#14. Yankton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,168
--- #3,014 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.2%
--- #131 among cities in South Dakota, #9,747 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,411
--- #7 largest city in South Dakota, #2,861 largest city nationwide
#13. Vermillion
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,178
--- #2,996 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.2%
--- #110 among cities in South Dakota, #8,345 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,695
--- #12 largest city in South Dakota, #3,591 largest city nationwide
#12. Summerset
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,255
--- #2,892 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 73.1%
--- #20 among cities in South Dakota, #1,341 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,972
--- #30 largest city in South Dakota, #8,854 largest city nationwide
#11. Watertown
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,337
--- #2,771 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.3%
--- #138 among cities in South Dakota, #10,796 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,655
--- #5 largest city in South Dakota, #2,024 largest city nationwide
#10. Brookings
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,911
--- #2,227 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 8.9%
--- #128 among cities in South Dakota, #9,398 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,377
--- #4 largest city in South Dakota, #1,960 largest city nationwide
#9. Spearfish
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +1,998
--- #2,166 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 19.6%
--- #81 among cities in South Dakota, #5,720 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,193
--- #10 largest city in South Dakota, #3,481 largest city nationwide
#8. Tea
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,145
--- #2,043 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 62.1%
--- #26 among cities in South Dakota, #1,689 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,598
--- #19 largest city in South Dakota, #6,078 largest city nationwide
#7. Huron
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,149
--- #2,041 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 17.7%
--- #90 among cities in South Dakota, #6,193 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,263
--- #8 largest city in South Dakota, #3,046 largest city nationwide
#6. Aberdeen
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,782
--- #1,670 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.8%
--- #114 among cities in South Dakota, #8,513 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,495
--- #3 largest city in South Dakota, #1,571 largest city nationwide
#5. Brandon
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +2,815
--- #1,656 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 34.2%
--- #53 among cities in South Dakota, #3,346 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,048
--- #13 largest city in South Dakota, #3,757 largest city nationwide
#4. Harrisburg
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +3,173
--- #1,519 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 89.2%
--- #17 among cities in South Dakota, #1,005 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,732
--- #16 largest city in South Dakota, #5,425 largest city nationwide
#3. Box Elder
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,060
--- #1,208 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 52.8%
--- #34 among cities in South Dakota, #2,063 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 11,746
--- #11 largest city in South Dakota, #3,571 largest city nationwide
#2. Rapid City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,559
--- #607 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 12.9%
--- #105 among cities in South Dakota, #7,663 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 74,703
--- #2 largest city in South Dakota, #513 largest city nationwide
#1. Sioux Falls
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +43,669
--- #65 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 29.3%
--- #60 among cities in South Dakota, #3,925 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 192,517
--- #1 largest city in South Dakota, #135 largest city nationwide
