SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — In a way, it can be a case of the haves versus have-nots in terms of population growth in South Dakota.
Sioux Falls would be a have. The city has reached a new estimated population of 219,588 with a year to year growth rate of about 2.5%, mayor Paul TenHaken said in a Thursday news conference. The city has grown by about 5,700.
State demographer Weiwei Zhang said while the state has been experiencing growth, much of the population has been in the eastern population areas of Sioux Falls and the western side in the Rapid City area.
TenHaken said the city’s growth has been about 2.5% to 3% per year over the past several years.
The state’s growth has been about 1% over the past 12 years, Zhang said in a KELOLAND News interview. The growth from 2023 to 2024 was about 6,300 people for a .7% growth rate.
“Another big trend, this growth is not evenly distributed…,” Zhang said. “One-half of the state’s counties had population growth and the other half didn’t. Only five had growth greater than 10%.”
Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties had growth of more than 10% from 2012 to 2022. The growth in Pennington County was 5% to 10% while it was more than 10% in Meade County. Potter County and Union County had growth of more than 10%.
The population of Sioux Falls was about 180,000 when he took office about seven years ago, TenHaken said.
The growth in urban areas is not unique to South Dakota, Zhang said. Other states are seeing an increasing move from rural areas or more migration to urban areas from other states or countries, she said.
The state’s estimated population from the U.S. Census Bureau was 924,699 as of July 1. U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2023 population of the Sioux Falls metro area, which includes five counties, to be at 303,827. The metro area includes the counties of Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook and Turner and Rock County in Minnesota.
At 303,000, the Sioux Falls metro is about one-third of the state’s population. Along with population, the city of Sioux Falls alone accounts for about one-third of the state’s sales tax revenue.
TenHaken said in response to a KELOLAND News question that the metro area recognizes it is the largest metro area in the state. In terms of how that can play out in the state legislature, it can be difficult, he said.
“Small communities, say in Bon Homme County, for example, may badly need street repairs and local lawmakers can find it difficult to support a project in Sioux Falls,” he said.
“But, Sioux Falls also appreciates that residents from outside metro area travel to Sioux Falls and the area,” TenHaken said. “As the city adds amenities, those outside of Sioux Falls enjoy those amenities, he said.” Growth in Sioux Falls and its metro area benefits the state economy, he said.
TenHaken said amenities are also drawing new residents from some smaller cities in region including from Iowa, southwestern Minnesota and parts of South Dakota.
“Another “bucket” for growth is people who grew up in the city, moved away for several years and are now returning,” he said.
The others are new to Sioux Falls and like what the city and state have to offer including the tax climate, TenHaken said.
But Zhang also highlighted international migration in an interview about state population.
International migration is increasing in multiple areas of the state, she said.
The foreign-born population in Sioux Falls was 9% of the total population in 2023, according to the Census Bureau. In 2022, an estimated 8.35% of the population was foreign-born. But it was higher in 2021 at 8.71%.
The city of Sioux Falls using building permit data, vacancy rates and other data to determine its population estimate, said Kevin Smith, assistant director planning and development services for Sioux Falls.
“It’s been very accurate,” Smith said. “We’ve used the same process for 15 years.”
