Aberdeen, South Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 28, 2019 · Updated October 21, 2024

The current estimated population of Aberdeen is 28,550, with a split of 49% male and 51% female. The population has seen steady growth, driven by economic development in education, healthcare, and agriculture.

City Facts:

Founded: 1881
County: Brown County
Land Area: 15.6 square miles
Population Density: 1,829 people per square mile
Area Code: 605
Zip Code: 57401

Geography and Location Overview: Aberdeen is located in northeastern South Dakota and serves as the seat of Brown County. The city is a regional center for commerce, healthcare, and education, home to Northern State University. Surrounded by vast plains and agricultural fields, Aberdeen is a hub for the farming community, with grain production and livestock farming playing a significant role in the local economy. Its central location in the Great Plains offers a wide, open landscape with flat terrain, dotted by lakes and wetlands that provide recreational opportunities. With its strong community ties and growing economy, Aberdeen continues to attract residents and businesses, making it one of the key cities in South Dakota.

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.5 years
Median household income: $33,276
Median house value: $72,800

Population by Race

Races in Aberdeen:

White Non-Hispanic (94.1%)
American Indian (3.8%)
Two or more races (1.0%)
Hispanic (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (53.6%), Norwegian (14.9%), Irish (8.5%), English (6.8%), Russian (5.9%), Swedish (3.6%).

Elevation: 1304 feet

Land area: 13.0 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Aberdeen

High school or higher: 85.3%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
Unemployed: 3.7%
Mean travel time to work: 10.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Aberdeen city

Never married: 30.1%
Now married: 51.9%
Separated: 0.4%
Widowed: 8.3%
Divorced: 9.3%

0.7% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -627 (-2.5%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Aberdeen:

AVERA ST LUKES (305 S STATE ST)
DAKOTA PLAINS SURGICAL CENTER LLP (701 8TH AVENUE NW SUITE C)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Aberdeen:

COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL – CAH (about 42 miles; REDFIELD, SD)
OAKES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL – CAH (about 50 miles; OAKES, ND)
FAULK COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-CAH (about 53 miles; FAULKTON, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Aberdeen:

ABERDEEN REGIONAL (about 5 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Abbreviation: ABR)
HURON REGIONAL (about 77 miles; HURON, SD; Abbreviation: HON)
WATERTOWN MUNI (about 100 miles; WATERTOWN, SD; Abbreviation: ATY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Aberdeen:

GROTON MUNI (about 28 miles; GROTON, SD; Abbreviation: 2E6)
ELLENDALE MUNI (about 37 miles; ELLENDALE, ND; Abbreviation: 4E7)
REDFIELD MUNI (about 43 miles; REDFIELD, SD; Abbreviation: 1D8)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Aberdeen:

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 2,356; Location: 1200 S JAY ST; Public; Website: www.northern.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
PRESENTATION COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 342; Location: 1500 N MAIN; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.presentation.edu)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Aberdeen:

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 139 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 141 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 146 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)
MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MOORHEAD (about 169 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 6,400)
CONCORDIA COLLEGE AT MOORHEAD (about 169 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,771)
UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 181 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 185 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)

Schools

Public high schools in Aberdeen:

CENTRAL HI SCH (Students: 1,234; Location: 225 3RD AVE SE; Grades: 09 – 12)
SD SB-VI HI SCH (Students: 17; Location: 423 17TH AVE SE; Grades: 09 – 12)
ABERDEEN ALTERNATIVE (Students: 10; Location: 640-9TH AVE SW; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Aberdeen:

RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 313; Location: 1400 NORTH DAKOTA ST; Grades: 7 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Aberdeen:

SIMMONS MIDDLE SCH (Students: 441; Location: 1300 S 3RD ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
C C LEE ELEM (Students: 422; Location: 1900 N STATE ST; Grades: KG – 05)
HOLGATE MIDDLE SCH (Students: 410; Location: 2200 N DAKOTA ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
LINCOLN ELEM (Students: 388; Location: 414 S 10TH ST; Grades: PK – 05)
O M TIFFANY ELEM (Students: 316; Location: 819 8TH AVE NE; Grades: KG – 05)
MAY OVERBY ELEM (Students: 294; Location: 612 SE 14TH AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
SIMMONS ELEM (Students: 285; Location: 1500 S 3RD ST; Grades: KG – 05)
NEW BEGINNINGS (Students: 19; Location: 1620 MILWAUKEE AVE NE; Grades: 06 – 12)
SD SB-VI ELEM (Students: 8; Location: 423 17TH AVE SE; Grades: PK – 08)
HUB AREA MULTI-DISTRICT (Location: 640 9TH AVE SW; Grades: 00 – 00)

Private primary/middle schools in Aberdeen:

RONCALLI MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 222; Location: 505 THIRD AVENUE SE; Grades: 3 – 6)
RONCALLI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 164; Location: 424 SECOND AVENUE NE; Grades: PK – 2)
FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 118; Location: 1500 EAST MELGAARD ROAD; Grades: PK – 8)
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 43; Location: 923 S DAKOTA ST; Grades: PK – 8)
DAKOTA SCHOOL HOUSE (Students: 26; Location: 723 3RD AVE SE; Grades: 3 – 10)
CHILDERN HOUSE OF MONTESSORI (Students: 19; Location: 316 S ARCH; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Library in Aberdeen:

ALEXANDER MITCHELL LIBRARY (Operating income: $822,765; Location: 519 SOUTH KLINE STREET; 99,954 books; 2,567 audio materials; 2,411 video materials; 361 serial subscriptions)