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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Spearfish

South Dakota · 8,606 residents · 17.2 sq mi
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The short version

With 8,606 people, Spearfish is a city in South Dakota. Owners hold 49% of the housing stock. This skews young, with a median age of 31.7. That trails the South Dakota median by roughly 24%. Growth has run 24% since 1990, or 1,640 more people. Median household income is $26,887, under the $42,589 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 31.7
US median: 35.2
More educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,606
+24%since 1990
from 6,966 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.7
+3%since 1990
from 30.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
17.2 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K8K10K12K14K19902000201020202024Spearfish
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.9%(421)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.6%(486)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146%(515)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1911%(950)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2414.2%(1,222)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.2%(968)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4412%(1,036)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.1%(954)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.8%(583)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.9%(590)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.9%(592)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over3.4%(289)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,887
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $20,680 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,565
+52%since 1990
from $10,886 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
17.4%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 18.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$85,200
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $60,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$392
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $297 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
49.1%
+3.8 ptssince 1990
from 45.3% in 1990
50.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(6,695)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(92)
Asian0.1%(7)
2000
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(8,121)
Black0.3%(24)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(149)
Asian0.3%(30)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.7%(352)
Cuban0.5%(66)
Puerto Rican0.3%(36)
Spaniard0.1%(11)
Salvadoran0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Chinese0.4%(57)
Japanese0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German30.3%(3,924)
English13.6%(1,759)
Irish11.5%(1,483)
Norwegian10%(1,294)
American4.9%(630)
Swedish4%(514)
Italian2.9%(369)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(293)
Polish2.2%(282)
Dutch1.8%(239)
Russian1.7%(220)
Czech1.6%(210)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
French1.5%(199)
Scottish1.3%(170)
Danish1.2%(155)
Welsh0.7%(90)
Ukrainian0.6%(77)
Finnish0.6%(74)
Turkish0.5%(59)
British0.2%(24)
Belgian0.2%(20)
Canadian0.1%(17)
Lithuanian0.1%(17)
Swiss0.1%(17)
Croatian0.1%(15)
Arab0.1%(13)
Greek0.1%(12)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.7%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 25.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
86.9%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 84.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+2.2 ptssince 1990
from 6.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.8 min
−15%since 1990
from 15.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.7%(945)
Married57.4%(1,888)
Widowed3.7%(121)
Divorced10.2%(336)
Women 15+
Never married25%(975)
Married49.7%(1,943)
Widowed14.4%(561)
Divorced11%(428)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
8.4%
−4.6 ptssince 2013
from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
50.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2020
from 55.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
23.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 26.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
21.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 23.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
12.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 5.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2020
from 79.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 32.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)37.6%(346)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)46%(423)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era19%(175)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.4%(22)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 919 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Spearfish, South Dakota?

Spearfish, South Dakota has about 8,606 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Spearfish, South Dakota?

The typical household in Spearfish, South Dakota earns about $26,887 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spearfish, South Dakota expensive?

In Spearfish, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $85,200, and the typical rent is about $392 a month.

How educated are people in Spearfish, South Dakota?

About 28.7% of adults age 25 and over in Spearfish, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spearfish, South Dakota?

About 17.4% of people in Spearfish, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spearfish, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Spearfish, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,640 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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