Maps of South Dakota are a vital element when it comes to researching your family history, especially if you live far away from where your ancestor lived.
Since South Dakota’s political borders have often changed over the years, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise specific location of your ancestor’s hometown, what land they owned, just who his or her neighbors happen to be, and much more information as well.
Maps of South Dakota are an exceptional tool for starting out with your research since they provide you with useful information and facts instantly and present them in a clearly understandable format. South Dakota Maps can be a major source of considerable amounts of data regarding family history.
South Dakota’s 10 largest major cities are Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Mitchell, Yankton, Pierre, Huron, and Vermillion.
Learn more historical facts about South Dakota counties here.
Interactive Map of South Dakota County Formation History
AniMap Plus 3.0, with the permission of the Goldbug Company
List of Every South Dakota County
Aurora County
Established in 1879, Aurora County has a population of approximately 2,700 residents. It is located in the east-central part of the state.
Beadle County
Beadle County was established in 1879 and has a population of around 18,500 people. It is located in the east-central part of the state.
Bennett County
Located in the southwestern part of South Dakota, Bennett County is home to around 3,400 people. It was founded in 1909.
Bon Homme County
Established in 1862, Bon Homme County is situated in the southeastern part of the state and has around 7,000 residents.
Brookings County
Brookings County was established in 1862 and is home to approximately 35,000 people. It is located in the eastern part of the state.
Brown County
Situated in the northeastern part of the state, Brown County was established in 1879 and has a population of around 38,000 residents.
Brule County
Brule County has approximately 5,200 residents and was founded in 1875. It is located in the central part of the state.
Buffalo County
Located in the north-central part of South Dakota, Buffalo County has a population of around 2,000 residents. It was established in 1873.
Butte County
Established in 1883, Butte County is located in the northwestern part of the state and is home to around 10,000 people.
Campbell County
Located in the north-central part of the state, Campbell County has a population of around 1,500 residents. It was founded in 1873.
Charles Mix County
Charles Mix County was established in 1862 and has approximately 9,300 residents. It is located in the southeastern part of the state.
Clark County
Clark County has a population of around 3,600 people and was established in 1873. It is situated in the northeastern part of the state.
Clay County
Established in 1862, Clay County is located in the southeastern part of the state and is home to approximately 15,500 residents.
Codington County
Codington County was founded in 1877 and has a population of around 28,000 people. It is located in the northeastern part of the state.
Corson County
Situated in the northwestern part of South Dakota, Corson County has around 4,100 residents. It was established in 1909.
Custer County
Custer County has a population of approximately 9,000 people and was founded in 1875. It is located in the southwestern part of the state.
Davison County
Established in 1873, Davison County is situated in the southeastern part of the state and has around 19,000 residents.
Day County
Day County was established in 1879 and has a population of approximately 5,500 people. It is located in the northeastern part of the state.
Deuel County
Located in the northeastern part of South Dakota, Deuel County is home to around 4,300 residents. It was established in 1862.
Dewey County
Dewey County has a population of approximately 5,800 people and was founded in 1883. It is located in the northwestern part of the state.
Douglas County
Established in 1873, Douglas County is located in the central part of the state and has around 3,100 residents.
Edmunds County
Situated in the north-central part of South Dakota, Edmunds County has a population of around 4,000 residents. It was established in 1873.
Fall River County
Fall River County was established in 1883 and is home to approximately 7,000 people. It is located in the southwestern part of the state.
Faulk County
Faulk County has a population of around 2,300 people and was founded in 1873. It is located in the north-central part of the state.
Grant County
Established in 1873, Grant County is located in the northeastern part of the state and has around 7,300 residents.
Gregory County
Located in the southeastern part of South Dakota, Gregory County has a population of around 4,200 residents. It was established in 1862.
Haakon County
Haakon County has a population of approximately 2,100 people and was established in 1914. It is located in the central part of the state.
Hamlin County
Founded in 1873, Hamlin County is located in the eastern part of the state and has a population of around 6,000.
Hand County
Hand County has a population of around 3,300 people and was founded in 1873. It is located in the east-central part of the state.
Hanson County
Situated in the southeastern part of South Dakota, Hanson County has a population of around 3,400 residents. It was established in 1871.
Harding County
Harding County was established in 1909 and has approximately 1,200 residents. It is located in the northwestern part of the state.
Hughes County
Hughes County is home to around 18,000 people and was founded in 1880. It is located in the central part of the state.
Hutchinson County
Established in 1862, Hutchinson County is situated in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of around 7,000 residents.
Hyde County
Located in the east-central part of South Dakota, Hyde County has a population of around 1,300 residents. It was founded in 1873.
Jackson County
Jackson County has approximately 3,200 residents and was established in 1883. It is located in the southwestern part of the state.
Jerauld County
Founded in 1883, Jerauld County is located in the east-central part of the state and has a population of around 2,000 residents.
Jones County
Located in the central part of South Dakota, Jones County has around 1,000 residents. It was established in 1916.
Kingsbury County
Kingsbury County has a population of approximately 5,000 people and was established in 1873. It is located in the eastern part of the state.
Lake County
Established in 1873, Lake County is situated in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of around 12,000 residents.
Lawrence County
Located in the western part of South Dakota, Lawrence County is home to around 25,000 people. It was established in 1877.
Lincoln County
Founded in 1867, Lincoln County is located in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of around 63,000 residents. It is one of the most populous counties in South Dakota.
Lyman County
Lyman County is home to around 3,800 people and was established in 1873. It is located in the central part of the state.
Marshall County
Situated in the northeastern part of South Dakota, Marshall County has around 4,700 residents. It was established in 1885.
McCook County
Established in 1873, McCook County is located in the east-central part of the state and has a population of around 5,700 residents.
McPherson County
McPherson County has a population of around 2,400 people and was founded in 1873. It is located in the north-central part of the state.
Meade County
Meade County is situated in the western part of South Dakota and has around 29,000 residents. It was established in 1889.
Mellette County
Established in 1909, Mellette County is located in the southwestern part of the state and has a population of around 2,000 residents.
Miner County
Situated in the east-central part of South Dakota, Miner County has a population of around 2,300 residents. It was established in 1873.
Minnehaha County
Minnehaha County is located in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of around 200,000. It was founded in 1862 and is the most populous county in South Dakota.
Moody County
Established in 1873, Moody County is located in the eastern part of the state and has a population of around 6,500 residents.
Oglala Lakota County
Oglala Lakota County, formerly known as Shannon County, is situated in the southwestern part of South Dakota and has around 14,000 residents. It was established in 1875.
Pennington County
Pennington County has a population of around 116,000 people and is located in the western part of the state. It was established in 1875 and is home to Rapid City, the second-largest city in South Dakota.
Perkins County
Founded in 1908, Perkins County is located in the northwestern part of the state and has around 2,900 residents.
Potter County
Potter County is home to around 2,000 people and was established in 1875. It is located in the north-central part of the state.
Roberts County
Situated in the northeastern part of South Dakota, Roberts County has around 10,000 residents. It was established in 1883.
Sanborn County
Established in 1883, Sanborn County is located in the east-central part of the state and has a population of around 2,400 residents.
Spink County
Spink County has a population of around 6,500 people and was founded in 1873. It is located in the north-central part of the state.
Stanley County
Situated in the central part of South Dakota, Stanley County has a population of around 3,100. It was established in 1873.
Sully County
Sully County has around 1,400 residents and was established in 1873. It is located in the central part of the state.
Todd County
Todd County is situated in the southern part of South Dakota and has a population of around 10,000 residents. It was established in 1909.
Tripp County
Founded in 1873, Tripp County is located in the southern part of the state and has around 5,400 residents.
Turner County
Located in the southeastern part of South Dakota, Turner County is home to around 8,000 people. It was established in 1871.
Union County
Union County is located in the southeastern part of the state and has a population of around 16,000 residents. It was established in 1862.
Walworth County
Established in 1873, Walworth County is situated in the north-central part of South Dakota and has a population of around 5,000 residents.
Yankton County
Yankton County has a population of around 22,000 and is located in the southeastern part of the state. It was established in 1862 and is home to the city of Yankton, the former territorial capital of Dakota Territory.
Ziebach County
Ziebach County is situated in the northwestern part of South Dakota and has around 2,700 residents. It was founded in 1911 and is the last county to be created in the state.
Old Antique Atlases & Maps of South Dakota
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
South Dakota Map Links
- South Dakota State Park Map (mapofus.org)
- South Dakota Lakes and Rivers Map (mapofus.org)
- South Dakota Map With Cities and Highways (mapofus.org)
- South Dakota Digital Map Library (usgwarchives.net)
- Old Historical Maps of South Dakota (alabamamaps.ua.edu)
- South Dakota Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers (ancestry.com)
- South Dakota Maps – The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection (lib.utexas.edu)
- American Memory Map Collection: 1500-2004 (memory.loc.gov)
- U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 (ancestry.com)
- South Dakota Map Books (amazon.com)
