SOUTH DAKOTA.
NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OF INHABITANTS.

Population of the state.—According to the Four-
teenth Census, taken as of January 1, 1920, the popula~
tion of South’ Dakota is 636,547, which represents an
increase of 52,659, or 9 per cent, since 1910. During
the same period the population of the United States
increased by 14.9 per cent.

The following summary shows the population of

POPULATION OF SOUTH

South Dakota from 1890 to 1920, inclusive, together
with the number and per cent of increase for each
decade, in comparison with the per cent of increase
for the United States as a whole. The population of
that part of Dakota territory which now constitutes
the state of South Dakota was 98,268 in 1880 and
11,776 in 1870.

DAKOTA: 1890 TO 1920.

woxzasn over rencepxa || Per cont
cENaUS. ot {nerense
CENSUS YEAR. Population. for the
United
Nuniber. Percent. States.
636, 547 52, 659
583, 888 182, 318
401, 570 ‘62,970
348,600 ||... seceeeed .

Counties—South Dakota has 68 counties, 4 of which
areunorganized. Fournew countieshave been organized
from 3 unorganized counties and parts of 2 organized
counties since 1910. Of the 62 counties whose bound-
aries haye remained unchanged, 12 show decreases in
population since 1910. (See Table 1.) Because the
population of certain counties was not returned sepa~
rately in.1910, and’ because of changes in boundaries
resulting from the organization of new counties, it has

been necessary, in preparing the accompanying maps,
showing increase or decrease in total and rural popula-
tion, to combine Bennett, Shannon, Washabaugh, and
Washington Counties; Haakon, Jackson, and Stanley
Counties; and Jones and Lyman Counties.

Density of population~—The total land area of the
state is 76,868 square miles. The average number
of inhabitants to the square mile in 1920 is 8.3 (see
Table 1), as against 7.6 in 1910 and 5.2 in 1900.

Histon1oAt NoTr.—The name Dakota was originally that of an Indian nation
which inhabited tho region now comprising North and South Dakots, Montana,
and Minnesota, The word signifies friends, allies, or confederates. French
explorers and traders entered the present state of South Dakota early in the
eighteenth contury and established a sumber of trading posts, but the first
explorets to make on authentic and trustworthy report regarding the Dakota
country were Lewis and Clark, who, at the head of a United States Government
expedition, ascended the Missouri River in 1804, returning in 1806. 'The Grst
permanent settlement was made at Sioux Falls in 1857.

‘The area now known as ‘South Dakota was originally a part of the Louisiana
region, which was ceded by Franoe to Spain in 1762, retroceded in 1800, and pur-
chased by tho United States in 1803.

‘A small section now in the northoastern part of South Dakota formed a part of
tho original area of the United States and belonged successively to the Territory
Northwest of the Ohio River (1787-1800), the territory of Indiana (1800-1800), the
territory of Illinois (1809-1818), and the territory of Michigan (1818-1836). With
the exception of this small section, the area now known as South Dakota, which
‘was originally a part of the Louisiana region, purchased by the United States from
‘France in 1803, belonged to the district of Louisiana from 1804 to 1805, to the terzi-
tory of Louisiana from 1805 to 1812,.and to the territory of Missouri from 1812 to
1834. The part west of the Missouri and Whito Earth Rivers was included in the
Indian Country” from 1834 to 1854 and in Nebraska territory from 1854 to 1861,

‘Tho part east’ of these rivers belonged successively to the territories of Michigen
(1884-1836), Wisconsin (1836-1888), lowe (1888-1849), and Minnesota: (1840-1858).
‘Upon the admission of the state of Minnesota, in 1858, the region lying between
that state and the Missourl and While Barth Rivers was left without legal name
or existence, and it so remained until the territory of Dakota was created.

In 1861 the region extending from the Keyapaha, Niobrara, and Missouri Rivers
and the forty-third parallel to the Canadian boundary and from Minnesota to the
Rocky Mountains, wes organized as Dakota. torritory, which thus included most
of the present state of Montana and nearly helf of what is now Wyoming. In 1863,
when Idaho territory was formed, the region lying between the Rocky Mountains
and the present western boundaries of North and.South Dakota was included.
‘Most of the present area of Wyoming was transferred from Idaho to Dakota in 1864, -
and continued as a part of the latter territory until 1808, when Wyoming territory
was organized, Tn 1882 a small tract of land lying south of the forty-third parallel
and west of the Missouri River was transferred from Dakota to Nebraska,

At the election of Novemtber, 1887, the question of the division of Dakota Terri-
tory into two states was submitted to the people and was carried at the polls.
‘Tho two Dakotas were admitted to the Union in November, 1889, by the samo
act of Congress, 2s the thirty-ninth and fortisth states, ‘The only subsequent
change in area of South Dakota was that resulting from tho eassion to Nebraska
in 1908 of small tract of land formerly in Union. County, in the southeastern part
of the state,

Ce)