Growth and Rural Flight
Historical populations | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 4,837 |
|
|
1870 | 11,776 | 143.5% | |
1880 | 98,268 | 734.5% | |
1890 | 348,600 | 254.7% | |
1900 | 401,570 | 15.2% | |
1910 | 583,888 | 45.4% | |
1920 | 636,547 | 9.0% | |
1930 | 692,849 | 8.8% | |
1940 | 642,961 | −7.2% | |
1950 | 652,740 | 1.5% | |
1960 | 680,514 | 4.3% | |
1970 | 665,507 | −2.2% | |
1980 | 690,768 | 3.8% | |
1990 | 696,004 | 0.8% | |
2000 | 754,844 | 8.5% | |
Est. 2008 | 804,194 |
South Dakota, in common with five other Midwest states (Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Iowa), is experiencing a trend of falling populations in rural counties, despite an overall increase in population for all of these states except North Dakota. 89% of the total number of cities in these six states have fewer than 3,000 people; hundreds have fewer than 1000. Between 1996 and 2004, almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers.
The effect of rural flight has not been spread evenly through South Dakota, however. Although most rural counties and small towns have lost population, the Sioux Falls area and the Black Hills have gained population. In fact, Lincoln County, near Sioux Falls, is the ninth-fastest growing county (by percentage) in the United States. The growth in these areas has compensated for losses in the rest of the state, and South Dakota's total population continues to increase steadily, albeit at a slower rate than the national average.
Read more about this topic: Demographics Of South Dakota
Famous quotes containing the words growth, rural and/or flight:
“There are enough fagots and waste wood of all kinds in the forests of most of our towns to support many fires, but which at present warm none, and, some think, hinder the growth of the young wood.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,
Exhilarate the spirit, and restore
The tone of languid Nature.”
—William Cowper (17311800)
“No Ravens wing can stretch the flight so far
As the torn bandrols of Napoleons war.
Choose then your climate, fix your best abode,
Hell make you deserts and hell bring you blood.
How could you fear a dearth? have not mankind,
Tho slain by millions, millions left behind?
Has not conscription still the power to weild
Her annual faulchion oer the human field?
A faithful harvester!”
—Joel Barlow (17541812)