• Square-facebook
  • X-twitter

DOES SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE THE HIGHEST HUTTERITE POPULATION IN THE U.S.?

Time to read
less than
1 minute
Read so far

DOES SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE THE HIGHEST HUTTERITE POPULATION IN THE U.S.?

FACT BRIEF
By
DOES SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE THE HIGHEST HUTTERITE POPULATION IN THE U.S.?

Yes. South Dakota has the largest Hutterite population in the United States, with more than 7,000 spread out across more than 60 colonies in the eastern part of the state.

Hutterites migrated to North America in the 1870s, spreading out across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and into Canada. Their first South Dakota colony was Bon Homme Colony near Springfield, which was established in 1874.

The U.S. Census Bureau does not specifically track the number of Hutterites. But a 2010 estimate showed that they comprise 0.7% of the state's population, with the largest proportional populations in the counties of Faulk, Hanson, McPherson and Clark.

Originally from central and eastern Europe, Hutterites migrated to the United States in search of religious freedom. Colonies typically feature 15 or more families that live communally. Communities largely depend on large-scale farming – with 10% of the state’s farming population – and shops that offer various products.

Sources: South Dakota Department of Revenue, Personalized and Specialty Plates; South Dakota Department of Revenue, License plate application; Lakota Times, South Dakota specialty plates available July 1; South Dakota laws, 32-5-98; Thompson Law Injury lawyers, Which states require front license plates?

South Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.

Send questions or feedback to factbrief@sdnewswatch.org. This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org. Contact Michael Klinski at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.