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There are three major races in America that come to most of our minds right away:
- White
- Hispanic
- African American
But those are only the major races, there's a whole bunch of other races people are interested in knowing about.
And today, we are going to look at the percent of the population in South Dakota that are Native American.
Native Americans are not a major portion of the current American Population, but they are still very important.
There are now over 2 million people who identify as Native American living in America, making up .65% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Native American population in South Dakota is 70,363 - at 8.0% of the total population of South Dakota.
So, what how does the Native American population stratify across South Dakota? Which cities and towns in South Dakota have seen the greatest increase in their Native American population?
The 10 Cities In South Dakota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023
Which city in South Dakota had the largest Native American population?
Box Elder took the number one over all spot for the largest Native American population in South Dakota for 2023. 10.02% of Box Elder identify as Native American.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.
To see where South Dakota ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.
And if you already knew these places were Native American, check out the best places to live in South Dakota or the most diverse places in South Dakota.
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Buy A House In South Dakota
- Best Places To Retire In South Dakota
- Richest Cities In South Dakota
Cities In South Dakota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023
/10
Population: 11,527
% Native American: 10.02%
# Of Native American Residents: 1,155
Percent Change Since 2010: 283.72%
More on Box Elder: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 14,126
% Native American: 9.85%
# Of Native American Residents: 1,391
Percent Change Since 2010: -9.26%
More on Pierre: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 73,942
% Native American: 8.08%
# Of Native American Residents: 5,975
Percent Change Since 2010: -15.04%
More on Rapid City: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 28,500
% Native American: 4.31%
# Of Native American Residents: 1,228
Percent Change Since 2010: 47.07%
More on Aberdeen: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 11,506
% Native American: 4.01%
# Of Native American Residents: 461
Percent Change Since 2010: 42.28%
More on Vermillion: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 15,332
% Native American: 3.93%
# Of Native American Residents: 603
Percent Change Since 2010: 60.8%
More on Yankton: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 12,031
% Native American: 3.03%
# Of Native American Residents: 365
Percent Change Since 2010: 157.04%
More on Spearfish: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 22,577
% Native American: 2.45%
# Of Native American Residents: 554
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.81%
More on Watertown: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 15,677
% Native American: 2.33%
# Of Native American Residents: 365
Percent Change Since 2010: -7.59%
More on Mitchell: Real Estate | Data | Photos
/10
Population: 6,388
% Native American: 2.19%
# Of Native American Residents: 140
Percent Change Since 2010: 118.75%
More on Madison: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In South Dakota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023
We still believe in the accuracy of data -- especially from the census. So that's where we went to get the breakdown of race across South Dakota.
That lead us to the Census's most recently available data, the 2017-2021 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone.
We limited our analysis to places with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 16 cities.
We then calculated the percent of residents that are American Indian and Alaska Native. The percentages ranked from 10.02% to 0.25%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of American Indian and Alaska Native population with a higher score being more American Indian and Alaska Native than a lower score. Box Elder took the distinction of being the most American Indian and Alaska Native, while Brandon was the least Native American city.
Read on for more information on how the cities in South Dakota ranked by population of American Indian and Alaska Native residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: Native American Populations Across South Dakota
If you're looking for a breakdown of Native American populations across South Dakota according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.
If you're curious enough, here are the least Native American places in South Dakota:
- Brandon
- Sturgis
- Brookings
For more South Dakota reading, check out:
What Are The Most Native American Places In South Dakota?
| Rank | City | % Native American |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Box Elder | 10.02% |
| 2 | Pierre | 9.85% |
| 3 | Rapid City | 8.08% |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 4.31% |
| 5 | Vermillion | 4.01% |
| 6 | Yankton | 3.93% |
| 7 | Spearfish | 3.03% |
| 8 | Watertown | 2.45% |
| 9 | Mitchell | 2.33% |
| 10 | Madison | 2.19% |
| 11 | Sioux Falls | 1.71% |
| 12 | Belle Fourche | 1.37% |
| 13 | Huron | 1.06% |
| 14 | Brookings | 0.74% |
| 15 | Sturgis | 0.63% |
| 16 | Brandon | 0.25% |
