Sturgis is a city located in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 7,020. It serves as the main city in Meade County and is named after Samuel D. Sturgis, a Union general who fought during the Civil War.

Sturgis is well-known for hosting one of the largest annual motorcycle events in the world: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This event takes place over 10 days, starting on the first Friday in August, and draws many motorcycle enthusiasts from around the globe. Additionally, Sturgis was the location for WCW's Hog Wild/Road Wild events from 1996 to 1999.

History

Sturgis was founded in 1878. A nickname for the town was "Scooptown." Scooptown was a settlement near Bear Butte that provided supplies and services to soldiers at Camp Sturgis. When it became clear that Sturgis would become the city supporting the newly built Fort Meade, the people from Scooptown moved to Sturgis and opened their businesses there. The town was named after Samuel D. Sturgis, a Union general during the Civil War. In 1889, Sturgis became the official seat of Meade County.

The area north of Sturgis, which is part of the Ellsworth Air Force Base, had 50 Minuteman missile silos. One of these silos, called L-5, is located 3.5 miles from the center of the town.

In late summer 2015, the Full Throttle Saloon, known as the world's largest biker bar and the focus of a reality television show, caught fire. After the fire, the saloon was rebuilt on 600 acres in Vale, a town near Bear Butte.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.99 square miles (10.33 km²), all of which is land.

Sturgis has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa). The hardiness zone for the area is 5a.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Sturgis had a population of 7,020 people. The median age was 42.5 years. Twenty-one point seven percent of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 92.8 males aged 18 and over.

Ninety-eight point five percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,092 households in Sturgis. Twenty-five point four percent of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.4% were married-couple households, 21.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,412 housing units, of which 9.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%, and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,627 people, 2,916 households, and 1,687 families living in the city. The population density was 1,660.9 inhabitants per square mile (641.3 per square kilometer). There were 3,154 housing units at an average density of 790.5 per square mile (305.2 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 0.2% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 2,916 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Forty-one point three percent were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. Thirty-seven point zero percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. Twenty-three point nine percent of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

As of the 2000 census, there were 6,442 people, 2,738 households, and 1,708 families living in the city. The population density was 1,723.6 inhabitants per square mile (665.5 per square kilometer). There were 2,989 housing units at an average density of 799.7 per square mile (308.8 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 0.20% African American, 2.48% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

There were 2,738 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Forty-eight point zero percent were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. Thirty-three point three percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $30,253, and the median income for a family was $38,698. Males had a median income of $25,856, and females had a median income of $18,582. The per capita income for the city was $16,763. About 11.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

• Fort Meade Recreation Area
• Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
• South Dakota Centennial Trail
• Loud American Roadhouse
• Poker Alice House, formerly the brothel associated with Alice Ivers Tubbs, who was known as Poker Alice

• Kinship at the Sturgis Community Center
• Statue of General Samuel D. Sturgis at the Hills and Plains Park at the east entrance to town
• Statue of Jesus in the Garden at the First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
• Statue of St. Francis of Assisi at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
• The word "STURGIS" spelled out in large letters

Notable people

• Robert Willard "Bobby" Buntrock, child actor in popular TV shows
• Raymond W. Carpenter, U.S. Army Major General (born in Sturgis, graduated from Sturgis Brown High School)
• Francis H. Case, former resident, journalist, and politician
• Scott DesJarlais, former resident, physician, and politician
• Carroll Hardy, born in Sturgis, former Major League Baseball player
• J.C. "Pappy" Hoel, credited with starting the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
• Alice Ivers Duffield Tubbs Huckert, better known as Poker Alice, a frontier gambler who lived her later years in Sturgis
• Marty Jackley, South Dakota Attorney General, born in Sturgis
• Herbert A. Littleton, former resident, posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Megan Mahoney, former resident, basketball player
• Paige McPherson, Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo
• Larry Rhoden, born in Sturgis, 34th Governor of South Dakota
• Rex Terry, born in Sturgis, banker and South Dakota politician