County facts · Population growth · October 24, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in South Dakota, 2020 to 2025
South Dakota's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in South Dakota? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, South Dakota went from about 886,656 to 935,094 residents, a change of +48,438 (+5.5%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Lincoln County (+18.4%), while Minnehaha County added the most people (+15,486, +7.9%).
Every row below links to the county's Platbookmapper page and straight to its official parcel viewer, handy if growth is why you are looking at land there.
South Dakota growth at a glance
- Counties: 66
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +48,438 residents (+5.5%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +7,984 (+0.9%)
- Grew: 40 of 66 · Lost residents: 26
- Fastest growing by percent: Lincoln County (+18.4%); most people added: Minnehaha County (+15,486)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 27 of 66
The 10 fastest growing South Dakota counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln County | 65,159 | 77,145 | +11,986 | +18.4% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 2 | Lawrence County | 25,771 | 29,459 | +3,688 | +14.3% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 3 | Custer County | 8,319 | 9,431 | +1,112 | +13.4% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 4 | Hamlin County | 6,171 | 6,900 | +729 | +11.8% | planning-district WebGIS |
| 5 | Mellette County | 1,918 | 2,137 | +219 | +11.4% | planning-district WebGIS |
| 6 | Brookings County | 34,364 | 37,635 | +3,271 | +9.5% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 7 | Minnehaha County | 197,205 | 212,691 | +15,486 | +7.9% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 8 | Turner County | 8,672 | 9,314 | +642 | +7.4% | planning-district WebGIS |
| 9 | Fall River County | 6,968 | 7,467 | +499 | +7.2% | CAMAvision Maps |
| 10 | Pennington County | 109,231 | 116,792 | +7,561 | +6.9% | county web map |
These 10 added about 45,193 people combined. The median county changed by +1.1%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnehaha County | +15,486 | +7.9% | 212,691 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 2 | Lincoln County | +11,986 | +18.4% | 77,145 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 3 | Pennington County | +7,561 | +6.9% | 116,792 | county web map |
| 4 | Lawrence County | +3,688 | +14.3% | 29,459 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 5 | Brookings County | +3,271 | +9.5% | 37,635 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 6 | Codington County | +1,240 | +4.4% | 29,562 | planning-district WebGIS |
| 7 | Custer County | +1,112 | +13.4% | 9,431 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 8 | Meade County | +864 | +2.9% | 30,711 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 9 | Hamlin County | +729 | +11.8% | 6,900 | planning-district WebGIS |
| 10 | Turner County | +642 | +7.4% | 9,314 | planning-district WebGIS |
The top 10 account for about 90% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | +2,001 | +9,569 | +344 | +11,986 |
| Lawrence County | −413 | +3,777 | +231 | +3,688 |
| Custer County | −146 | +1,198 | +62 | +1,112 |
| Hamlin County | +421 | +13 | +293 | +729 |
| Mellette County | +325 | −101 | 0 | +219 |
In 3 of these 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Mellette County: +4.3% (+88)
- Lincoln County: +2.7% (+2,022)
- Lawrence County: +2.6% (+750)
- Campbell County: +2.5% (+34)
- Hamlin County: +2.5% (+170)
4 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
26 of South Dakota's 66 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Buffalo County: −7.3% (−141, now about 1,802)
- Hyde County: −5.4% (−68, now about 1,191)
- Jackson County: −4.9% (−138, now about 2,666)
- Todd County: −4.9% (−456, now about 8,863)
- Haakon County: −3.9% (−73, now about 1,802)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in South Dakota
- South Dakota county GIS websites by viewer
- South Dakota landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All South Dakota counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 24, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.