South Dakota

Corson

3,902
2020 population
1910
first census record
12
census records

About Corson

Corson, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1910, when it recorded a population of 2,929. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,902.

Its recorded population peaked at 9,535 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 59 percent.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Leavenworth Site Arikara Conflict, Battle of the Arikaras (La Jonquière Account), Arikara War — Leavenworth Expedition, and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,902
20104,050
20004,181
19904,195
19805,196
19704,994
19605,798
19506,168
19406,755
19309,535
19207,249
19102,929
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Corson

Military engagements that took place in Corson, South Dakota.

Leavenworth Site Arikara Conflict
1400
Battle of the Arikaras (La Jonquière Account)
1720
Arikara War — Leavenworth Expedition
1823
Arikara War 1823 — Attack on Ashley Expedition
1823
Engagement in the Badlands Dakota Territory
1864
Standing Rock Area Skirmishes 1876–1877
1876
Standing Rock Agency — Hunkpapa Resistance (1876–1877)
1876
Sitting Bull's Death Fight
1890
Killing of Sitting Bull — Standing Rock Dec 15 1890
1890
Sitting Bull Arrested and Killed, Standing Rock SD
1890
Battle of the Grand River — Ghost Dance 1890
1890
Standing Rock Agency — Arrest of Sitting Bull December 1890
1890
Killing of Sitting Bull — Grand River (December 15, 1890)
1890
Killing of Sitting Bull
1890
Hump Engagement
1890
Death of Sitting Bull
1890
Killing of Sitting Bull at Standing Rock
1890

Historic places in Corson

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

Holy Spirit Chapel
Firesteel
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 Corson County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Corson 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 Corson

When does Corson first appear in the US census?
Corson, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1910, with a recorded population of 2,929.
What is the population of Corson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Corson had a recorded population of 3,902.
When did Corson's population peak?
Corson's recorded population peaked at 9,535 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Corson?
17 documented military engagements took place in Corson, including Leavenworth Site Arikara Conflict, Battle of the Arikaras (La Jonquière Account), Arikara War — Leavenworth Expedition.
How many historic places are in Corson?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Corson, South Dakota.
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