South Dakota

Roberts

10,280
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Roberts

Roberts, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,997. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,280.

Its recorded population peaked at 16,514 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 38 percent.

On the ground today, 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,280
201010,149
200010,016
19909,914
198010,911
197011,678
196013,190
195014,929
194015,887
193015,782
192016,514
191014,897
190012,216
18901,997
Source

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

Historic places in Roberts

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

Walla Lutheran Church
New Effington
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 Roberts County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Roberts 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 Roberts

When does Roberts first appear in the US census?
Roberts, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,997.
What is the population of Roberts?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Roberts had a recorded population of 10,280.
When did Roberts's population peak?
Roberts's recorded population peaked at 16,514 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Roberts?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Roberts, South Dakota.
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