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1980

South Dakota · year

South Dakota in 1980

Deaths 228Fatal crashes 188Per 100,000 —US deaths 51,091

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 1980.

In 1980, 228 people died in 188 fatal crashes in South Dakota.

The death toll rose 8% from 211 in 1979 to 228 in 1980.

South Dakota accounted for 0.4% of the 51,091 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

51.1% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

41% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

← 197919801981 →All years

Compared with 1979 and the nation

MeasureSouth Dakota 1980South Dakota 1979United States 1980
Deaths22821151,091
Fatal crashes18816945,284
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver51%50%40%

Counties in 1980

Every county with a fatal crash in 1980, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 57 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Pennington County202219.0141
Minnehaha County15167.7149
Todd County713141.74
Roberts County7987.530
Oglala Lakota County4967.475
Yankton County7729.838
Brown County5718.726
Corson County57186.814
Fall River County5681.525
Hutchinson County4680.925
Union County4634.518
Spink County3698.28
Brookings County5513.824
Dewey County4593.99
Lawrence County4517.480
Custer County4442.931
Lake County4436.310
Meade County4412.943
Tripp County4470.013
Codington County3413.731
Edmunds County3499.312
Hamlin County3460.68
Hyde County1–24329.25
Marshall County1–2491.08
Beadle County3315.422
Bon Homme County3342.416
Charles Mix County3332.127
Clay County3319.712
Hughes County3317.111
Kingsbury County3357.09
Lincoln County334.056
Day County1–2355.56
Sully County1–23204.44
Aurora County1–21–2—15
Brule County1–21–2—6
Butte County1–21–2—18
Davison County1–21–2—13
Grant County1–21–2—18
Hanson County1–21–2—20
Lyman County1–21–2—21
Perkins County1–21–2—2
Potter County1–21–2—4
Clark County1–21–2—5
Bennett County1–21–2—10
Campbell County1–21–2—4
Deuel County1–21–2—8
Douglas County1–21–2—4
Gregory County1–21–2—8
Haakon County1–21–2—7
Harding County1–21–2—10
Jackson County1–21–2—30
Jerauld County1–21–2—4
Jones County1–21–2—13
McCook County1–21–2—16
Miner County1–21–2—6
Sanborn County1–21–2—8
Walworth County1–21–2—11

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

12am6%
1am7.6%
2am6%
3am4.3%
4am0.5%
5am1.1%
6am0.5%
7am1.1%
8am1.6%
9am1.6%
10am1.6%
11am3.8%
12pm3.3%
1pm3.3%
2pm3.3%
3pm5.4%
4pm4.9%
5pm3.3%
6pm10.3%
7pm4.3%
8pm6%
9pm7.1%
10pm7.1%
11pm6%

Weekday

Sunday11%
Monday11%
Tuesday7%
Wednesday14%
Thursday11%
Friday18%
Saturday29%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Dakota in 1980?

228 people in 188 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1980 file.

Which county in South Dakota had the most crash deaths in 1980?

Pennington County with 22 deaths in 20 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1980 compare with 1979 in South Dakota?

228 deaths against 211 in 1979 (+8%). Nationally the 1980 total was 51,091.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1980 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.