South Dakota

Dewey

5,239
2020 population
1880
first census record
13
census records

About Dewey

Dewey, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 46. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,239.

Its recorded population peaked at 6,476 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 19 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fay Tolton Site Massacre, Ghost Dance — Cheyenne River Agency Tensions 1890, Cheyenne River Agency — Ghost Dance Tensions 1890, and 5 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,239
20105,301
20005,972
19905,523
19805,366
19705,170
19605,257
19504,916
19405,709
19306,476
19204,802
19101,145
188046
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Dewey

Military engagements that took place in Dewey, South Dakota.

Fay Tolton Site Massacre
1400
Ghost Dance — Cheyenne River Agency Tensions 1890
1890
Cheyenne River Agency — Ghost Dance Tensions 1890
1890

Historic places in Dewey

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

Laurens Polygonal Hog House
Eagle Butte
Molstad Village
Mobridge
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 Dewey County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Dewey 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 Dewey

When does Dewey first appear in the US census?
Dewey, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 46.
What is the population of Dewey?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dewey had a recorded population of 5,239.
When did Dewey's population peak?
Dewey's recorded population peaked at 6,476 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Dewey?
3 documented military engagements took place in Dewey, including Fay Tolton Site Massacre, Ghost Dance — Cheyenne River Agency Tensions 1890, Cheyenne River Agency — Ghost Dance Tensions 1890.
How many historic places are in Dewey?
5 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dewey, South Dakota.
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