South Dakota

Sully

1,446
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Sully

Sully, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 296. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,446.

Its recorded population peaked at 3,852 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 62 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Larson Site Massacre, Swan Creek Site Massacre, Fay Tolton Site Conflict, and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,446
20101,373
20001,556
19901,589
19801,990
19702,362
19602,607
19502,713
19402,668
19303,852
19202,831
19102,462
19001,715
18902,412
1880296
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Sully

Military engagements that took place in Sully, South Dakota.

Larson Site Massacre
1325
Swan Creek Site Massacre
1400
Fay Tolton Site Conflict
1400
Sully Site Massacre – Missouri River
1430
Larson Site Fortified Village
1450

Historic places in Sully

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

Goosen, Jacob D., Barn
Onida
Cooper Village Archeological Site
Onida
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 Sully County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Sully 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 Sully

When does Sully first appear in the US census?
Sully, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 296.
What is the population of Sully?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sully had a recorded population of 1,446.
When did Sully's population peak?
Sully's recorded population peaked at 3,852 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Sully?
5 documented military engagements took place in Sully, including Larson Site Massacre, Swan Creek Site Massacre, Fay Tolton Site Conflict.
How many historic places are in Sully?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sully, South Dakota.
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