RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 19 SHOWN OF 19

Most sparsely populated, South Dakota cities · 2020

South Dakota cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 19 cities in South Dakota that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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South DakotaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Belle Fourche, SDSD5,791634+23%

02Spearfish, SDSD14,154707+42%

03Box Elder, SDSD13,936796+313%

04Pierre, SDSD13,8481,082+2%

05Sturgis, SDSD6,9221,093+9%

06Watertown, SDSD23,7361,229+12%

07Rapid Valley, SDSD6,9751,252+15%

08Madison, SDSD6,0651,341−5%

09Rapid City, SDSD80,5891,357+25%

10Mitchell, SDSD15,7561,359+8%

11Harrisburg, SDSD10,4051,412+603%

12Huron, SDSD14,6071,468+20%

13Tea, SDSD8,0191,478+221%

14Brookings, SDSD25,3551,675+26%

15Aberdeen, SDSD27,9611,725+16%

16Yankton, SDSD15,8161,772+14%

17Brandon, SDSD11,3061,931+94%

18Sioux Falls, SDSD213,7482,329+55%

19Vermillion, SDSD11,7202,509+20%

SHOWING 1–19 OF 19

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES