South Dakota

Washington

1,789
1940 population
1890
first census record
4
census records

About Washington

Washington, South Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 40. At the most recent census, in 1940, its population stood at 1,789.

Its recorded population peaked at 1,827 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
19401,789
19301,827
19201,521
189040
Source

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

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 Washington County, South Dakota

This page charts the census history of Washington 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 ›Notable people from South Dakota›

Frequently asked about Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, South Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 40.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (1940), Washington had a recorded population of 1,789.
When did Washington's population peak?
Washington's recorded population peaked at 1,827 in 1930.
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