Michael Klinski
Michael Klinski
Reporter
michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org

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. 

This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.

Source

South Dakota State University South Dakota Data Center, Hutterite Data PhD report by Prekchya Singh

SDPB, Landscapes of South Dakota: Hutterite Colonies

KXRB, Who are the Hutterites and how many live in South Dakota?

Association of Religious Data Archives, South Dakota state membership report (2020)


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