South Dakota

Day

5,449
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Day

Day, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 231. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,449.

Its recorded population peaked at 15,194 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 64 percent.

On the ground today, 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,449
20105,710
20006,267
19906,978
19808,133
19708,713
196010,516
195012,294
194013,565
193014,606
192015,194
191014,372
190012,254
18909,168
1880231
Source

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

Historic places in Day

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

Williams, John and Kittie, House
Webster
Waldorf Hotel
Andover
Waddel Mansion
Webster
Barber, Charles A., Farmstead
Lily
Barber, Charles A., Farmstead (Boundary Increase)
Lily
Roslyn Auditorium
Roslyn
Zoar Norwegian Lutheran Church
Grenville
First National Bank Building
Webster
Karpen, Anton and Mary Agnes, House
Webster
Havens, William, House
Webster
Fiksdal, Lars J., House
Webster
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

TurnerUnionWalworthWashabaughWashingtonYanktonZiebachArmstrongAuroraBeadleBennettBon HommeBoremanBrookingsBrownBruleBuffaloButteCampbellCharles Mix
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Everything a full report reveals about Day County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Day 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 Day

When does Day first appear in the US census?
Day, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 231.
What is the population of Day?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Day had a recorded population of 5,449.
When did Day's population peak?
Day's recorded population peaked at 15,194 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Day?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Day, South Dakota.
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