South Dakota Highway 45 is a state route that runs north to south across much of central 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...

. The northern terminus is at the North Dakota border as a continuation of North Dakota Highway 3

North Dakota Highway 3

North Dakota Highway 3 is a major north–south highway in North Dakota. It runs from Manitoba Highway 10 at the International Peace Garden to South Dakota Highway 45 south of Ashley.-Major Junctions:*I-94 at exit 200 and running concurrent to exit 208...

, and runs south to South Dakota Highway 44 at Platte. It is 198 miles (319 kilometers) in length.

History

South Dakota 45 was established around 1927. The northern end was at the intersection of South Dakota Highway 10 in Leola

Leola, South Dakota

Leola is a city in McPherson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 457 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of McPherson County.-Geography:Leola is located at ....

, and the southern end was at the intersection of present-day South Dakota Highway 50

South Dakota Highway 50

South Dakota Highway 50 is a state route serving south central and southeast South Dakota. The current alignment begins at the junction of South Dakota Highway 34 at "Lee's Corner" east of Fort Thompson, and ends at the Iowa border near Richland, where it continues as Iowa Highway 3...

 and Charles Mix County Road 49.

By 1932, it was extended south along what was part of South Dakota Highway 47

South Dakota Highway 47

South Dakota Highway 47 is a state route that runs north to south across the central portion of South Dakota. It begins at an unnumbered highway at the North Dakota border north of Eureka, and ends at the Nebraska border, where it becomes Nebraska Highway 137...

 to Wheeler. By 1936, SD 45 was truncated at Kimball

Kimball, South Dakota

Kimball is a town in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 703 at the 2010 census.-History:Kimball was first known as Stake 48 on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad line going west out of Mitchell, South Dakota. In 1880, the first homestead claims were made in the...

 (U.S. Highway 16), as U.S. Highway 281 supplanted the SD 45 designation to the south. In the early 1950s, when U.S. 281 was relocated several miles east, SD 45 was extended back south to SD 50.

Around 1970, SD 50 had been realigned to intersect South Dakota Highway 44 west of Platte

Platte, South Dakota

Platte is a city in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,230 at the 2010 census. The community is named after the Platte Creek.- History :Settlement began in the area in the early 1880s....

, and SD 45 was extended south along the old alignment to Platte, where it remains today.

The north end of the route has remained in its current configuration since 1936.

List of counties

South Dakota 45 travels through the following counties, from north to south:

• McPherson
  McPherson County, South Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 2,904 people, 1,227 households, and 822 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,465 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
  
  
• Faulk
  Faulk County, South Dakota
  As 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...
  
  
• Hand
  Hand County, South Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 3,741 people, 1,543 households, and 1,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,840 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
  
  
• Buffalo
• Brule
  Brule County, South Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 5,364 people, 1,998 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 2,272 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
  
  
• Charles Mix