South Dakota is the 40th state of the United States, joining the union on November 2, 1889, alongside North Dakota. It was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 before becoming part of the Dakota Territory in 1861. Today, the state has 66 counties and 311 incorporated municipalities, which also consist of 156 cities, 154 towns, and one village (Wentworth).
All Municipalities in South Dakota are classified based on three classes, mainly influenced by their population threshold, which are as follows: first-class cities (5,000+ residents), second-class cities (500–4,999), and third-class towns (less than 500).
In addition, all the municipalities are formed through petitions from those eligible to bot but guided under the state laws, specifically SDCL Chapters 6-16 and 9-3. Lastly, municipalities can rule themselves independently from township governance and can adopt the home rule charters to promote local decision-making based on the community’s needs.
State Information Overview
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Municipalities | 311 |
| Number of Cities | 156 |
| Number of Towns | 154 |
| Number of Villages | 1 |
| Total Counties | 66 |
| Land Area | ~77,116 sq mi |
| Population (2025) | ~917,000 |
Cities and Towns by Alphabetical Letter
Cities in South Dakota that start with A
- Aberdeen
- Agar
- Agency Village
- Akaska
- Albee
- Alcester
- Alexandria
- Allen
- Alpena
- Altamont
- Anderson
- Andover
- Angostura
- Antelope
- Arlington
- Armour
- Artas
- Artesian
- Ashland Heights
- Ashton
- Astoria
- Aurora
- Aurora Center
- Avon
Cities in South Dakota that start with B
- Badger
- Baltic
- Bancroft
- Batesland
- Bath
- Bath Corner
- Belle Fourche
- Belvidere
- Beresford
- Big Stone City
- Bison
- Blackhawk
- Blucksberg Mountain
- Blunt
- Bonesteel
- Boulder Canyon
- Bowdle
- Box Elder
- Bradley
- Brandon
- Brandt
- Brant Lake
- Brant Lake South
- Brentford
- Brentwood Colony
- Bridger
- Bridgewater
- Bristol
- Britton
- Broadland
- Brookings
- Bruce
- Bryant
- Buffalo
- Buffalo Gap
- Bullhead
- Burbank
- Burke
- Bushnell
- Butler
Cities in South Dakota that start with C
- Cameron Colony
- Camp Crook
- Canistota
- Canova
- Canton
- Caputa
- Carthage
- Castlewood
- Cavour
- Centerville
- Central City
- Chamberlain
- Chancellor
- Chelsea
- Cherry Creek
- Chester
- Claire City
- Claremont
- Clark
- Clark Colony
- Clearfield Colony
- Clear Lake city
- Clear Lake CDP
- Colman
- Colome
- Colonial Pine Hills
- Colton
- Columbia
- Conde
- Corn Creek
- Corona
- Corsica
- Cottonwood
- Cow Creek
- Cresbard
- Crocker
- Crook City
- Crooks
- Custer
Cities in South Dakota that start with D
- Dakota Dunes
- Dallas
- Dante
- Davis
- Deadwood
- Dell Rapids
- Delmont
- De Smet
- Dimock
- Doland
- Dolton
- Draper
- Dudley
- Dupree
Cities in South Dakota that start with E
- Eagle Butte
- Eden
- Edgemont
- Egan
- Elk Point
- Elkton
- Emery
- Enemy Swim
- Erwin
- Estelline
- Ethan
- Eureka
- Evergreen Colony
Cities in South Dakota that start with F
- Fairburn
- Fairfax
- Fairview
- Faith
- Farmer
- Faulkton
- Fedora
- Ferney
- Flandreau
- Florence
- Forestburg
- Fort Pierre
- Fort Thompson
- Frankfort
- Frederick
- Freeman
- Fruitdale
- Fulton
Cities in South Dakota that start with G
- Gann Valley
- Garden City
- Garretson
- Gary
- Gayville
- Geddes
- Gettysburg
- Glendale Colony
- Glenham
- Golden View Colony
- Goodwin
- Grassland Colony
- Green Grass
- Green Valley
- Gregory
- Grenville
- Groton
Cities in South Dakota that start with H
- Harrisburg
- Harrison
- Harrold
- Hartford
- Hayti
- Hazel
- Hecla
- Henry
- Hermosa
- Herreid
- Herrick
- Hetland
- Highmore
- Hill City
- Hitchcock
- Horse Creek
- Hosmer
- Hot Springs
- Hoven
- Howard
- Hudson
- Humboldt
- Hurley
- Huron
Cities in South Dakota that start with I
- Ideal
- Interior
- Ipswich
- Irene
- Iroquois
- Isabel
Cities in South Dakota that start with J
- Jamesville Colony
- Java
- Jefferson
- Johnson Siding
Cities in South Dakota that start with K
- Kadoka
- Kaylor
- Kenel
- Kennebec
- Keystone
- Kidder
- Kimball
- Kranzburg
- Kyle
Cities in South Dakota that start with L
- La Bolt
- Lake Andes
- Lake City
- Lake Madison
- Lake Norden
- Lake Poinsett
- Lake Preston
- Lane
- Langford
- Lantry
- La Plant
- Lead
- Lebanon
- Lemmon
- Lennox
- Leola
- Lesterville
- Letcher
- Little Eagle
- Long Hollow
- Long Lake
- Loomis
- Lower Brule
- Lowry
- Lyons
Cities in South Dakota that start with M
- Madison
- Manderson-White Horse Creek
- Mansfield
- Marion
- Martin
- Marty
- Marvin
- Maverick Junction
- Mayfield Colony
- McIntosh
- McLaughlin
- Meadow View Addition
- Meckling
- Mellette
- Menno
- Midland
- Milbank
- Millbrook Colony
- Miller
- Millerdale Colony
- Milltown
- Mina
- Mission
- Mission Hill
- Mitchell
- Mobridge
- Monroe
- Montrose
- Morningside
- Morristown
- Mound City
- Mountain Plains
- Mount Vernon
- Murdo
Cities in South Dakota that start with N
- Naples
- New Effington
- Newell
- New Elm Spring Colony
- New Holland
- New Underwood
- New Witten
- Nisland
- Norris
- North Eagle Butte
- North Sioux City
- North Spearfish
- Northville
- Nunda
Cities in South Dakota that start with O
- Oacoma
- Oahe Acres
- Oak Lane Colony
- Oelrichs
- Oglala
- Okaton
- Okreek
- Old Elm Spring Colony
- Oldham
- Olivet
- Onaka
- Onida
- Oral
- Orient
- Orland Colony
- Ortley
Cities in South Dakota that start with P
- Parker
- Parkston
- Parmelee
- Peever
- Peever Flats
- Philip
- Pickstown
- Piedmont
- Pierpont
- Pierre
- Pine Lakes Addition
- Pine Ridge
- Plankinton
- Platte
- Pollock
- Porcupine
- Prairie City
- Prairiewood Village
- Presho
- Pringle
- Pukwana
Cities in South Dakota that start with Q
- Quinn
Cities in South Dakota that start with R
- Ramona
- Rapid City
- Rapid Valley
- Ravinia
- Raymond
- Redfield
- Ree Heights
- Reliance
- Renner Corner
- Revillo
- Richland
- Rockham
- Rockport Colony
- Roscoe
- Rosebud
- Rosholt
- Roslyn
- Rowena
- Running Water
- Rustic Acres Colony
Cities in South Dakota that start with S
- Salem
- Scotland
- Selby
- Seneca
- Shamrock Colony
- Sherman
- Shindler
- Sicangu Village
- Sinai
- Sioux Falls
- Sisseton
- Smithwick
- Soldier Creek
- South Shore
- Spearfish
- Spencer
- Spink Colony
- Spring Creek
- Spring Creek Colony
- Springfield
- Spring Lake Colony
- St. Charles
- Stephan
- St. Francis
- Stickney
- St. Lawrence
- Stockholm
- St. Onge
- Storla
- Strandburg
- Stratford
- Sturgis
- Summerset
- Summit
- Sunset Colony
- Swift Bird
Cities in South Dakota that start with T
- Tabor
- Tea
- Timber Lake
- Tolstoy
- Toronto
- Trent
- Tripp
- Tschetter Colony
- Tulare
- Turton
- Twin Brooks
- Two Strike
- Tyndall
Cities in South Dakota that start with U
- Utica
Cities in South Dakota that start with V
- Vale
- Valley Springs
- Veblen
- Verdon
- Vermillion
- Viborg
- Vienna
- Vilas
- Virgil
- Vivian
- Volga
- Volin
Cities in South Dakota that start with W
- Wagner
- Wakonda
- Wakpala
- Wall
- Wallace
- Wanblee
- Ward
- Warner
- Wasta
- Watertown
- Waubay
- Waverly
- Webster
- Wentworth
- Wessington
- Wessington Springs
- West Brule
- Westport
- Wetonka
- White
- Whitehorse
- White Horse
- White Lake
- White River
- White Rock
- Whitewood
- Willow Lake
- Wilmot
- Winfred
- Winner
- Wolsey
- Wonderland Homes
- Wood
- Woonsocket
- Worthing
- Wounded Knee
Cities in South Dakota that start with Y
- Yale
- Yankton
Note
South Dakota has no towns in alphabetical order, beginning with the letters X and Z.
Interactive South Dakota Map
Questions & Answers
How many cities and towns are in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 311 incorporated municipalities, which also consist of 156 cities, 154 towns, and one village.
What is the oldest city in South Dakota?
Fort Pierre
What are the 4 largest cities in South Dakota?
The four largest cities in South Dakota are Sioux Falls is the largest city with a population of approximately 206,410 people, followed by Rapid City, with about 79,404 residents, Aberdeen with around 28,110; and Brookings, with a population of about 24,312 residents.
When did South Dakota become a state?
November 2, 1889
