South Dakota

Brookings

34,375
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Brookings

Brookings, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 163. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 34,375.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202034,375
201031,965
200028,220
199025,207
198024,332
197022,158
196020,046
195017,851
194016,560
193016,847
192016,119
191014,178
190012,561
189010,132
18804,965
1870163
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Brookings

National Register of Historic Places listings in Brookings, South Dakota.

Wenona Hall and Wecota Hall
Brookings
Micheel, Herman F., Gothic Arched-Roof Barn
White
Brookings County Courthouse
Brookings
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot
Brookings
Nick's Hamburger Shop
Brookings
Brookings University Residential Historic District
Brookings
Haugen, E.E., House
Brookings
Coughlin Campanile
Brookings
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more South Dakota counties.

BeadleBennettBon HommeBoremanBrownBruleBuffaloButteCampbellCharles MixCheyenne River ReservationChoteauClarkClayCodingtonCorsonCrow Creek ReservationCusterDavisonDay
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Everything a full report reveals about Brookings County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Brookings County, South Dakota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore South Dakota records

South Dakotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Dakota›

Frequently asked about Brookings

When does Brookings first appear in the US census?
Brookings, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 163.
What is the population of Brookings?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Brookings had a recorded population of 34,375.
How many historic places are in Brookings?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Brookings, South Dakota.
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