South Dakota

Brown

38,301
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Brown

Brown, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 353. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 38,301.

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

On the ground today, 46 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202038,301
201036,531
200035,460
199035,580
198036,962
197036,920
196034,106
195032,617
194029,676
193031,458
192029,509
191025,867
190015,286
189016,855
1880353
Source

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

Historic places in Brown

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

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Depot
Aberdeen
Geranen, Paul and Fredriika, Farm
Frederick
Augustana Swedish Lutheran Church
Claremont
Aberdeen Historic District
Aberdeen
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad Depot
Aberdeen
Plana School
Plana
Welsh Presbyterian Church
Plana
Savo Hall-Finnish National Society Hall
Savo Township
Aurland United Norwegian Lutheran Church
Frederick
Martilla-Pettingel and Gorder General Merchandise Store
Frederick
Western Union Building
Aberdeen
Trinity Episcopal Church
Groton
Brown County Courthouse
Aberdeen
Ward, Alonzo, Hotel
Aberdeen
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Brown County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Brown 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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Frequently asked about Brown

When does Brown first appear in the US census?
Brown, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 353.
What is the population of Brown?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Brown had a recorded population of 38,301.
How many historic places are in Brown?
46 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Brown, South Dakota.
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