South Dakota

Lawrence

25,768
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Lawrence

Lawrence, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 13,248. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 25,768.

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 Deadwood First Season Violence — Black Hills Dakota Territory, Murder of Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood SD, Seth Bullock Takes Over Deadwood Law, SD, and 60 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202025,768
201024,097
200021,802
199020,655
198018,339
197017,453
196017,075
195016,648
194019,093
193013,920
192013,029
191019,694
190017,897
189011,673
188013,248
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Lawrence

Military engagements that took place in Lawrence, South Dakota.

Deadwood First Season Violence — Black Hills Dakota Territory
1876
Murder of Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood SD
1876
Seth Bullock Takes Over Deadwood Law, SD
1877
Deadwood-Cheyenne Stage Robberies — Johnny Slaughter Conflicts SD
1877
Homestake Mine Labor Conflict, Lead SD
1879

Historic places in Lawrence

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

Galena School
Galena
Episcopal Church of All Angels
Spearfish
Lead Historic District
Lead
Frawley Historic Ranch
Spearfish
Spearfish Historic Commercial District
Spearfish
St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church
Central City
Spearfish Fisheries Center
Spearfish
Hill, John, Ranch-Keltomaki
Brownsville
Walsh Barn
Spearfish
Mount Theodore Roosevelt Monument
Deadwood
Browse all South Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Dakota

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

JonesKingsburyLakeLincolnLower Brule ReservationLymanMarshallMartinMcCookMcPhersonMeadeMelletteMeyerMinerMinnehahaMoodyNowlinOglala LakotaPenningtonPerkins
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Everything a full report reveals about Lawrence County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Lawrence 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 Lawrence

When does Lawrence first appear in the US census?
Lawrence, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 13,248.
What is the population of Lawrence?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lawrence had a recorded population of 25,768.
Were any battles fought in Lawrence?
5 documented military engagements took place in Lawrence, including Deadwood First Season Violence — Black Hills Dakota Territory, Murder of Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood SD, Seth Bullock Takes Over Deadwood Law, SD.
How many historic places are in Lawrence?
60 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lawrence, South Dakota.
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