South Dakota

Stanley

2,980
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Stanley

Stanley, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 793. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,980.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,975 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 80 percent.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Talking Crow Site Conflict, Thomas Riggs Phase Warfare, Fay Tolton Site Violence – South Dakota, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20202,980
20102,966
20002,772
19902,453
19802,533
19702,457
19604,085
19502,055
19401,959
19302,381
19202,908
191014,975
19001,341
18901,028
1880793
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Stanley

Military engagements that took place in Stanley, South Dakota.

Talking Crow Site Conflict
1200
Thomas Riggs Phase Warfare
1250
Fay Tolton Site Violence – South Dakota
1300
Thomas Riggs Fortified Village Conflict
1400
Coalescent Tradition Conflict
1400
Hump's Band Surrender 1890
1890

Historic places in Stanley

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

Fort Pierre Chouteau Site
Fort Pierre
La Verendrye Site
Fort Pierre
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 Stanley County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Stanley 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 Stanley

When does Stanley first appear in the US census?
Stanley, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 793.
What is the population of Stanley?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Stanley had a recorded population of 2,980.
When did Stanley's population peak?
Stanley's recorded population peaked at 14,975 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Stanley?
6 documented military engagements took place in Stanley, including Talking Crow Site Conflict, Thomas Riggs Phase Warfare, Fay Tolton Site Violence – South Dakota.
How many historic places are in Stanley?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Stanley, South Dakota.
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