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Friday, Jan. 2, 2026

Does SD have the highest Hutterite population in the U.S.?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
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 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. 

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