South Dakota

Custer

8,318
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Custer

Custer, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 995. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,318.

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

On the ground today, 53 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,318
20108,216
20007,275
19906,179
19806,000
19704,698
19604,906
19505,517
19406,023
19305,353
19203,907
19104,458
19002,728
18904,891
1880995
Source

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

Historic places in Custer

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

Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District
Custer
Buffalo Gap Historic Commercial District
Buffalo Gap
Norbeck, Peter, Summer House
Custer
Hermosa Masonic Lodge
Hermosa
Buffalo Gap Cheyenne River Bridge
Buffalo Gap
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 Custer County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Custer 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 Custer

When does Custer first appear in the US census?
Custer, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 995.
What is the population of Custer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Custer had a recorded population of 8,318.
How many historic places are in Custer?
53 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Custer, South Dakota.
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