South Dakota Highway 20
Encyclopedia
South Dakota Highway 20 is a state route that largely runs from border to border across the northern part of the U.S. state
of South Dakota
that consists of two segments. The longer segment begins at the Montana
border west of Camp Crook
, and terminates at the junction of U.S. Highway 212 in Watertown
. This segment is 396 miles (637.3 km) in length. A second segment begins at a junction with the old alignment of U.S. Highway 81 west of Interstate 29
exit 193. It continues eastward to the Minnesota
border east of Revillo
, continuing as Minnesota State Highway 40
. This second segment is 36.6 miles (58.9 km) in length.
The total length of this route is 432 miles (695 kilometers).
northeast of Faulkton
, and terminated in Watertown. Around 1944, the western terminus was moved further west, to U.S. Highway 83.
In the early 1950s, a short extension west was made again, to the town of Akaska. The eastern terminus was moved as well, to U.S. Highway 77 south of Milbank
; the extension to the Minnesota border occurred in 1954.
In the late 1960s, the short stub between Akaska and U.S. 83 was redesignated as South Dakota Highway 20 Spur. SD 20 was extended northward along U.S. 83 to U.S. Highway 12, then through Mobridge
and across north central and northwest South Dakota, absorbing the alignment of what had been South Dakota Highway 8
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
that consists of two segments. The longer segment begins at the Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
border west of Camp Crook
Camp Crook, South Dakota
Camp Crook is an incorporated small town in Harding County, South Dakota, United States, on the Little Missouri River. Originally named Wickhamville, after one of the original founding families, the town was renamed in April 1883 when the Cheyennes assumed a threatening attitude and their agent...
, and terminates at the junction of U.S. Highway 212 in Watertown
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
. This segment is 396 miles (637.3 km) in length. A second segment begins at a junction with the old alignment of U.S. Highway 81 west of Interstate 29
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
exit 193. It continues eastward to the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
border east of Revillo
Revillo, South Dakota
Revillo is a town in Grant County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 119 at the 2010 census. The name of the town was derived from a backwards spelling of the proper name "Olliver".-Geography:Revillo is located at ....
, continuing as Minnesota State Highway 40
Minnesota State Highway 40
Minnesota State Highway 40 is a highway in west-central Minnesota, which runs from South Dakota Highway 20 at the South Dakota state line near Marietta and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
. This second segment is 36.6 miles (58.9 km) in length.
The total length of this route is 432 miles (695 kilometers).
History
South Dakota 20 was implemented in 1929, but it was much shorter. The western terminus was at South Dakota Highway 45South Dakota Highway 45
South Dakota Highway 45 is a state route that runs north to south across much of central South Dakota. The northern terminus is at the North Dakota border as a continuation of North Dakota Highway 3, and runs south to South Dakota Highway 44 at Platte. It is 198 miles in length.-History:South...
northeast of Faulkton
Faulkton, South Dakota
Faulkton is a city in and the county seat of Faulk County, South Dakota, United States. Its nickname is the Carousel City. The population was 736 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Faulkton is located at ....
, and terminated in Watertown. Around 1944, the western terminus was moved further west, to U.S. Highway 83.
In the early 1950s, a short extension west was made again, to the town of Akaska. The eastern terminus was moved as well, to U.S. Highway 77 south of Milbank
Milbank, South Dakota
Milbank is a city in Grant County, South Dakota, along the South Fork of the Whetstone River. The population was 3,353 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Grant County. In 1925 The American Legion Department of South Dakota established a new program for high school aged youth that grew...
; the extension to the Minnesota border occurred in 1954.
In the late 1960s, the short stub between Akaska and U.S. 83 was redesignated as South Dakota Highway 20 Spur. SD 20 was extended northward along U.S. 83 to U.S. Highway 12, then through Mobridge
Mobridge, South Dakota
Mobridge is a city in Walworth County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,465 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mobridge is located at ....
and across north central and northwest South Dakota, absorbing the alignment of what had been South Dakota Highway 8
South Dakota Highway 8
South Dakota Highway 8 is one of only two single digit state highway numbers known to be used in South Dakota. It was a state route across north central and northwest South Dakota, generally following what is now South Dakota Highway 20.-History:...
.
List of counties
South Dakota 20 currently travels through the following counties, from west to east:- HardingHarding County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.5 people per square mile . There were 804 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile...
- PerkinsPerkins County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,363 people, 1,429 households, and 937 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.2 people per square mile . There were 1,854 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile...
- ZiebachZiebach County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,519 people, 741 households, and 594 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile . There were 879 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile...
- DeweyDewey County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,972 people, 1,863 households, and 1,386 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
- CorsonCorson County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 4,181 people, 1,271 households, and 949 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.7 people per square mile . There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile...
- WalworthWalworth County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,506 households, and 1,643 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 3,144 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
- PotterPotter County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,693 people, 1,145 households, and 767 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,760 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
- FaulkFaulk County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,640 people, 1,014 households, and 708 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,235 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
- SpinkSpink County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,454 people, 2,847 households, and 1,933 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 3,352 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
- ClarkClark County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 4,143 people, 1,598 households, and 1,110 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,880 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
- CodingtonCodington County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 25,897 people, 10,357 households, and 6,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 11,324 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
- GrantGrant County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,847 people, 3,116 households, and 2,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...