South Dakota

Lake

11,059
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Lake

Lake, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 2,657. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,059.

Its recorded population peaked at 12,412 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 11 percent.

On the ground today, 16 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,059
201011,200
200011,276
199010,550
198010,724
197011,456
196011,764
195011,792
194012,412
193012,379
192012,257
191010,711
19009,137
18907,508
18802,657
Source

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

Historic places in Lake

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

Chapel Emmanuel Railroad Car
Madison
Madison Masonic Temple
Madison
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Depot
Madison
St. Ann's Catholic Church of Badus
Ramona
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

MoodyNowlinOglala LakotaPenningtonPerkinsPine Ridge ReservationPotterPrattPreshoRobertsRosebud ReservationSanbornSchnasseScobeyShannonSisseton and Wahpeton ReservationSpinkStanding Rock ReservationStanleySterling
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Everything a full report reveals about Lake County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Lake 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 Lake

When does Lake first appear in the US census?
Lake, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 2,657.
What is the population of Lake?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lake had a recorded population of 11,059.
When did Lake's population peak?
Lake's recorded population peaked at 12,412 in 1940.
How many historic places are in Lake?
16 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lake, South Dakota.
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