South Dakota

Hughes

17,765
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Hughes

Hughes, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 268. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,765.

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

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Over Site Fortified Village, Fay Tolton Site Massacre, Sully Site Fortified Village, and 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,765
201017,022
200016,481
199014,817
198014,220
197011,632
196012,725
19508,111
19406,624
19307,009
19205,711
19106,271
19003,684
18905,044
1880268
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Hughes

Military engagements that took place in Hughes, South Dakota.

Over Site Fortified Village
1300
Fay Tolton Site Massacre
1300
Sully Site Fortified Village
1350
Swiftbird Site Massacre – Missouri River
1400
Heerdt Site Conflict
1450

Historic places in Hughes

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

Hughes County Courthouse
Pierre
Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge
Pierre
Blackburn, Dr. William and Elizabeth, House
Pierre
McClure Site (39HU7)
Pierre
Hansen, Peter, House
Pierre
South Dakota State Capitol
Pierre
Brink-Wagner House
Pierre
Karcher Block
Pierre
Medicine Creek Archeological District
Lower Brule
Crawford-Pettyjohn House
Pierre
Hipple, John E. and Ruth, House
Pierre
Central Block
Pierre
Karcher-Sahr House
Pierre
St. Charles Hotel
Pierre
Hilger Block
Pierre
Methodist Episcopal Church
Pierre
Farr House
Pierre
Horner-Hyde House
Pierre
Goodner, I. W., House
Pierre
Arzberger Site
Pierre
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

HansonHardingHutchinsonHydeJacksonJayneJerauldJonesKingsburyLakeLawrenceLincolnLower Brule ReservationLymanMarshallMartinMcCookMcPhersonMeadeMellette
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Everything a full report reveals about Hughes County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Hughes 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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Frequently asked about Hughes

When does Hughes first appear in the US census?
Hughes, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 268.
What is the population of Hughes?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Hughes had a recorded population of 17,765.
Were any battles fought in Hughes?
5 documented military engagements took place in Hughes, including Over Site Fortified Village, Fay Tolton Site Massacre, Sully Site Fortified Village.
How many historic places are in Hughes?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hughes, South Dakota.
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