South Dakota

Shannon

13,586
2010 population
1880
first census record
11
census records

About Shannon

Shannon, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 113. At the most recent census, in 2010, its population stood at 13,586.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2010.

On the ground today, 32 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them White River Skirmish 1879, Battle of White Clay Creek, Sitting Bull Reservation Outbreak, and 1 place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
201013,586
200012,466
19909,902
198011,323
19708,198
19606,000
19505,669
19405,366
19304,058
19202,003
1880113
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Shannon

Military engagements that took place in Shannon, South Dakota.

White River Skirmish 1879
1879
Battle of White Clay Creek
1890
Sitting Bull Reservation Outbreak
1890
Ghost Dance War — Pine Ridge Stronghold Occupation
1890
Pine Ridge Skirmishes — Ghost Dance Occupation 1890
1890
White Clay Creek Fight
1890
Battle of Wounded Knee – Hotchkiss Gun Barrage
1890
White Clay Creek Skirmish 1890
1890
Drexel Mission Fight — 9th Cavalry Rescue of 7th (December 30, 1890)
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre — Disarmament and First Shots (December 29, 1890)
1890
Drexel Mission Fight
1890
Battle of Drexel Mission (after Wounded Knee)
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre, Pine Ridge Reservation SD
1890
Pine Ridge Occupation 1890–91
1890
Ghost Dance — Messiah Letter and Army Response
1890
Ghost Dance War — Cordon Around Pine Ridge Reservation
1890
Battle of Wounded Knee – Survivors Hunted
1890
Wounded Knee — Hotchkiss Gun Positions
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre — December 29
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre
1890
Battle of Drexel Mission
1890
Battle of Wounded Knee Creek
1890
Battle of Wounded Knee – Opening Fire
1890
Battle of White Clay Creek (after Wounded Knee)
1890
Ghost Dance — The Stronghold Operations, Pine Ridge 1890
1890
Battle of Wounded Knee – Flight into the Ravine
1890
Battle of Pine Ridge (Ghost Dance Campaign)
1890
Wounded Knee Massacre — Initial Firing
1890
Chase of Kicking Bear and Short Bull — Ghost Dance Leaders
1890
Ghost Dance Surrender at Pine Ridge
1891
Wounded Knee Occupation and Siege
1973
Pine Ridge Disturbances (1973)
1973

Historic places in Shannon

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

Wounded Knee
Batesland

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 Shannon County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Shannon 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 Shannon

When does Shannon first appear in the US census?
Shannon, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 113.
What is the population of Shannon?
At the most recent federal census (2010), Shannon had a recorded population of 13,586.
Were any battles fought in Shannon?
32 documented military engagements took place in Shannon, including White River Skirmish 1879, Battle of White Clay Creek, Sitting Bull Reservation Outbreak.
How many historic places are in Shannon?
1 site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shannon, South Dakota.
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