Harrisburg considering special census to get accurate population count

City officials say the 2020 Census result of 6,732 is already outdated, and may ask the Census Bureau for a new count

The City of Harrisburg experienced a population growth of nearly 38% between July 2020 and July 2023. Contributed / City of Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, S.D. — What’s the population of Harrisburg?

If you ask the 2020 census, it’s 6,732. If you come in along Cliff Avenue, it’s 10,297. Check Google Maps’ Street View, and it’s still 5,698.

But city officials say the most accurate estimate is just over 11,000.

The city has grown tenfold since the turn of the century, when Harrisburg consisted mostly of a school, a couple neighborhoods, a bar or two, and a few local businesses.

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