Moving to Hayti, South Dakota
Hayti, South Dakota is a small rural town with a population of approximately 1,000 residents. Located in the north-central part of the state, Hayti is situated at the intersection of two major highways and is surrounded by rolling hills and grasslands. The climate in Hayti is typical for this region of the country with hot summers and cold winters.
Hayti’s history dates back to the early 1800s when it was first settled by Native American tribes. This area was later developed as part of a homesteading program that brought many settlers to the area. As these settlers built homes, businesses, and churches, Hayti began to grow into a vibrant small town with a strong sense of community.
Politically, Hayti has consistently voted Democratic in presidential elections since its founding. The town also elects its own local officials every four years who are responsible for governing the city and providing services to its citizens.
The economy in Hayti is primarily agricultural-based but there are also several small businesses located in the city that provide goods and services to locals. The schools in Hayti are run by the local school district which serves students from kindergarten through high school graduation.
There are a few historic landmarks located around town including an old stone church from 1885 that still stands today as well as several old homesteads that were built over 100 years ago. Additionally, there is an annual rodeo event held each year that draws visitors from all across South Dakota to celebrate this long-standing tradition with their friends and family members.
Population: 367. Estimated population in July 2024: 362 (-1.4% change)
Males: 189 (51.5%), Females: 178 (48.5%)
Hamlin County
Zip code: 57241
Demographics
Median resident age: 34.8 years
Median household income: $39,688
Median house value: $48,100
Population by Race
Races in Hayti:
- White Non-Hispanic (98.6%)
- American Indian (1.1%)
- Two or more races (0.5%)
Ancestries: Norwegian (42.5%), German (32.4%), Dutch (9.0%), Swedish (6.3%), Irish (5.4%), Danish (3.3%).
Elevation: 1680 feet
Land area: 0.3 square miles
Population by Education
Hayti, South Dakota is a small city of about 1,000 people located in the southeastern corner of the state. It is a predominantly rural area, with agriculture and tourism being the main sources of income for its residents. The majority of the population is white (92.9%), followed by Native American (3.6%) and African American (1.5%). There are also small numbers of Hispanic/Latino (0.7%), Asian (0.3%) and other races (1%). The median age in Hayti is 40 years old, with 25% of the population being under 18 years old and 14% being over 65 years old. The median household income in Hayti is $44,868, which is slightly lower than the national average of $55,322. The poverty rate in Hayti is 17%, which is higher than the national average of 13%. The unemployment rate in Hayti stands at 5%, which is lower than the national average of 6%. Education wise, Hayti has an above-average high school graduation rate at 93%, while college enrollment stands at 24%. In terms of religion, Christianity accounts for 74% of all religious affiliations in Hayti while Islam accounts for 2%. Finally, there are several local attractions such as Lake Poinsett State Park, Historic Downtown Hayti and other outdoor activities that attract tourists to this region throughout the year.
For population 25 years and over in Hayti
- High school or higher: 81.0%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7%
- Unemployed: 2.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 23.7 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Hayti town
- Never married: 20.1%
- Now married: 64.5%
- Separated: 1.4%
- Widowed: 9.6%
- Divorced: 4.4%
1.4% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: -4 (-1.1%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Hayti:
- MEMORIAL CARE UNIT (about 19 miles; WATERTOWN, SD)
- PRAIRIE LAKES HOSP & CARE CTR (about 19 miles; WATERTOWN, SD)
- DESMET MEMORIAL HOSP (about 33 miles; DE SMET, SD)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hayti:
- WATERTOWN MUNI (about 18 miles; WATERTOWN, SD; Abbreviation: ATY)
- BROOKINGS MUNI (about 37 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Abbreviation: BKX)
- HURON REGIONAL (about 73 miles; HURON, SD; Abbreviation: HON)
Other public-use airports nearest to Hayti:
- ARLINGTON MUNI (about 20 miles; ARLINGTON, SD; Abbreviation: 3A9)
- LAKE PRESTON MUNI (about 25 miles; LAKE PRESTON, SD; Abbreviation: Y34)
- WILDER (about 30 miles; DESMET, SD; Abbreviation: 6E5)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hayti:
- SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 35 miles; BROOKINGS, SD; Full-time enrollment: 7,353)
- SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY (about 101 miles; MARSHALL, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,405)
- NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 106 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
- NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 119 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA (about 129 miles; VERMILLION, SD; Full-time enrollment: 6,014)
- RIDGEWATER COLLEGE (about 153 miles; WILLMAR, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,711)
- NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 158 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)
Schools
Public high school in Hayti:
- HAMLIN HI SCH (Students: 186; Location: 44577 188TH ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Hayti:
- HAMLIN ELEM (Students: 319; Location: 44577 188TH ST; Grades: PK – 06)
- HAMLIN MIDDLE SCH (Students: 104; Location: 44577 188TH ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
- NE ED SERVICES CO-OP (Location: 302 2ND ST; Grades: 00 – 00)