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1977

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 1977

Deaths 208Fatal crashes 179Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,878

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1977.

In 1977, 208 people died in 179 fatal crashes in South Dakota.

The death toll fell 5% from 219 in 1976 to 208 in 1977.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 47,878 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

44.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Sunday was the most common day.

← 197619771978 →All years

Compared with 1976 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 1977South Dakota 1976United States 1977
Deaths20821947,878
Fatal crashes17918542,211
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver44%41%34%

Counties in 1977

Every county with a fatal crash in 1977, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 55 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County131916.4141
Minnehaha County14167.7149
Lawrence County131345.180
Brule County77133.16
Spink County5698.28
Ziebach County56248.12
Day County46110.96
Charles Mix County5553.527
Corson County55133.414
Fall River County5567.925
Brown County4513.326
Grant County4565.618
Roberts County4548.630
Butte County3545.918
Hanson County35143.820
Lake County3545.410
Brookings County4411.024
Edmunds County4499.312
Todd County4443.64
Kingsbury County3476.09
Lincoln County345.356
Meade County3412.943
Oglala Lakota County3429.975
Beadle County3315.422
Bennett County3391.210
Custer County3332.231
Union County3317.218
Yankton County3312.838
Mellette County1–23163.64
Potter County1–23124.94
Buffalo County1–21–2—14
Campbell County1–21–2—4
Clark County1–21–2—5
Clay County1–21–2—12
Deuel County1–21–2—8
Dewey County1–21–2—9
Hughes County1–21–2—11
Jackson County1–21–2—30
Moody County1–21–2—14
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Tripp County1–21–2—13
Turner County1–21–2—19
Walworth County1–21–2—11
Hutchinson County1–21–2—25
Bon Homme County1–21–2—16
Davison County1–21–2—13
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Hamlin County1–21–2—8
Hyde County1–21–2—5
Jones County1–21–2—13
Lyman County1–21–2—21
McCook County1–21–2—16
Stanley County1–21–2—5

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am3.4%
1am6.8%
2am5.6%
3am5.1%
4am1.1%
5am1.1%
6am3.4%
7am1.7%
8am2.3%
9am4%
10am1.7%
11am3.4%
12pm1.7%
1pm4%
2pm5.6%
3pm7.9%
4pm5.1%
5pm4.5%
6pm5.6%
7pm4%
8pm5.6%
9pm4.5%
10pm5.1%
11pm6.8%

Weekday

Sunday20%
Monday10%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday11%
Thursday17%
Friday10%
Saturday19%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 1977?

208 people in 179 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1977 file.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 1977?

Pennington County with 19 deaths in 13 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1977 compare with 1976 in South Dakota?

208 deaths against 219 in 1976 (+-5%). Nationally the 1977 total was 47,878.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1977 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.