South Dakota

Butte

10,243
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Butte

Butte, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,037. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,243.

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

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Crook's "Horsemeat March" — Starvation March, and 39 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,243
201010,110
20009,094
19907,914
19808,372
19707,825
19608,592
19508,161
19408,004
19308,589
19206,819
19104,993
19002,907
18901,037
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Butte

Military engagements that took place in Butte, South Dakota.

Crook's "Horsemeat March" — Starvation March
1876

Historic places in Butte

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

Belle Fourche Band Shell
Belle Fourche
Minnesela Bridge
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche Dam
Belle Fourche
Wide Awake Grocery Building
Belle Fourche
Butte County Courthouse amd Historic Jail Building
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche Commercial Historic District
Belle Fourche
Ditchrider House
Nisland
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Belle Fourche
Gartner, Carl Friedrick, Homestead
Newell
Fruitdale School
Fruitdale
Newell High School
Newell
Snoma Finnish Cemetery
Fruitdale
Lincoln School
Belle Fourche
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

EdmundsEwingFall RiverFaulkGrantGregoryHaakonHamlinHandHansonHardingHughesHutchinsonHydeJacksonJayneJerauldJonesKingsburyLake
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Everything a full report reveals about Butte County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Butte 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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South Dakotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Dakota›

Frequently asked about Butte

When does Butte first appear in the US census?
Butte, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,037.
What is the population of Butte?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Butte had a recorded population of 10,243.
Were any battles fought in Butte?
1 documented military engagement took place in Butte, including Crook's "Horsemeat March" — Starvation March.
How many historic places are in Butte?
39 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Butte, South Dakota.
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