# Webster, South Dakota

Webster is a city in and the county seat of Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,728 at the 2020 census.

## History

The town was platted in 1880, and was named in honor of J. B. Webster, a pioneer settler.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.49 square miles (3.86 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

Climate data for Webster, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 64 (18) | 81 (27) | 96 (36) | 97 (36) | 105 (41) | 108 (42) | 104 (40) | 104 (40) | 91 (33) | 80 (27) | 63 (17) | 108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 38.0 (3.3) | 52.9 (11.6) | 66.4 (19.1) | 76.0 (24.4) | 80.9 (27.2) | 79.0 (26.1) | 70.7 (21.5) | 55.4 (13.0) | 38.8 (3.8) | 25.4 (−3.7) | 52.4 (11.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 11.4 (−11.4) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 42.4 (5.8) | 55.8 (13.2) | 66.1 (18.9) | 71.0 (21.7) | 69.0 (20.6) | 60.2 (15.7) | 45.5 (7.5) | 30.0 (−1.1) | 17.3 (−8.2) | 42.7 (5.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 2.4 (−16.4) | 6.3 (−14.3) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 45.2 (7.3) | 56.1 (13.4) | 61.1 (16.2) | 59.0 (15.0) | 49.6 (9.8) | 35.7 (2.1) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 9.2 (−12.7) | 33.1 (0.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −36 (−38) | −43 (−42) | −32 (−36) | −6 (−21) | 18 (−8) | 23 (−5) | 36 (2) | 26 (−3) | 17 (−8) | −1 (−18) | −29 (−34) | −34 (−37) | −43 (−42) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.84 (21) | 0.75 (19) | 1.11 (28) | 2.22 (56) | 3.39 (86) | 3.97 (101) | 4.02 (102) | 2.97 (75) | 2.56 (65) | 2.47 (63) | 0.71 (18) | 1.06 (27) | 26.07 (662) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.6 (24) | 7.9 (20) | 5.1 (13) | 5.0 (13) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (3.6) | 6.0 (15) | 7.8 (20) | 42.8 (109) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.8 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 76.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.0 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 21.9 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 1,886 people, 878 households and 481 families living in the city. The population density was 1,265.8 inhabitants per square mile (488.7/km$^2$). There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 675.8 per square mile (260.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 0.2% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
There were 878 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.81.
The median age was 46.3 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 25.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 1,952 people, 866 households and 512 families living in the city. The population density was 1,308.9 inhabitants per square mile (505.4/km$^2$). There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of 685.9 per square mile (264.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.49% White, 1.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.
There were 866 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.86.
23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median household income was $29,457 and the median family income was $40,982. Males had a median income of $30,121 compared with $18,380 for females. The per capita income was $16,398. Approximately 9.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

Webster public schools are part of the Webster School District (South Dakota). The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school, Webster High School (South Dakota).

## Media

Reporter and Farmer is Day County's newspaper.

## Notable people

* Sigurd Anderson – Governor of South Dakota, 1951–1954
* Tom Brokaw – retired television anchorman for NBC, born in Webster
* Jerry Brudos – Oregon serial killer, born in Webster
* Brock Lesnar – WWE professional wrestler
* Creighton Leland Robertson – Episcopalian bishop and lawyer, practiced law in Webster
* Lee Schoenbeck – lawyer and current president pro tempore of the South Dakota State Senate, born in Webster
* William Garner Waddel – South Dakota state senator, former mayor of Webster