South Dakota

Potter

2,472
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Potter

Potter, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 2,910. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,472.

Its recorded population peaked at 5,762 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 57 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Larson Site Arikara Village Siege, and 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20202,472
20102,329
20002,693
19903,190
19803,674
19704,449
19604,926
19504,688
19404,614
19305,762
19204,382
19104,466
19002,988
18902,910
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Potter

Military engagements that took place in Potter, South Dakota.

Larson Site Arikara Village Siege
1400

Historic places in Potter

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

St. Bernard's Catholic Church
Hoven
Potter County Courthouse
Gettysburg
Curran, D. H. and Leah, House
Gettysburg
Stocker, G. L., Blacksmith Shop
Gettysburg
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 Potter County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Potter 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 Potter

When does Potter first appear in the US census?
Potter, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 2,910.
What is the population of Potter?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Potter had a recorded population of 2,472.
When did Potter's population peak?
Potter's recorded population peaked at 5,762 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Potter?
1 documented military engagement took place in Potter, including Larson Site Arikara Village Siege.
How many historic places are in Potter?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Potter, South Dakota.
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