Webster

History

The city of Webster was platted in 1881 and was incorporated on February 23, 1895, and named in honor of James Perry Webster, a pioneer settler.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.769 square miles (4.58 km2), all land.

Demographics

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of August 31, 2026, in Webster was $234,465.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there were 891 estimated households in Webster with an average of 2.05 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $55,179. Approximately 15.1% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Webster has an estimated 59.9% employment rate, with 20.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 96.0% holding a high school diploma. There were 987 housing units at an average density of 557.94 per square mile (215.42/km2).

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (93.5%), Spanish (4.6%), Indo-European (1.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.1%), and Other (0.5%).

The median age in the city was 40.5 years.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,728 people, 814 households, and 413 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,065.35 inhabitants per square mile (411.33/km2). There were 961 housing units at an average density of 592.48 per square mile (228.76/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.05% White, 0.17% African American, 2.26% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from some other races and 6.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.17% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,886 people, 878 households and 481 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,262.38 inhabitants per square mile (487.41/km2). There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 674.03 per square mile (260.24/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.12% White, 0.16% African American, 2.33% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from some other races and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 878 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age was 46.3 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 25.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,952 people, 866 households and 512 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,308.86 inhabitants per square mile (505.35/km2). There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of 685.94 per square mile (264.84/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.49% White, 0.00% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from some other races and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.26% of the population.

There were 866 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.86.

23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median household income was $29,457 and the median family income was $40,982. Males had a median income of $30,121 compared with $18,380 for females. The per capita income was $16,398. Approximately 9.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Webster Area School District 18-5

Webster Area High School - 01 (9-12)

Webster Area Middle School - 02 (6-8)

Webster Area Elementary School - 03 (PK-5)

The area is served by the Webster Area School District 18-5. It operates the Webster School. In the 2025-26 academic year, the district reported a total of 551 students.

Media

Reporter and Farmer is Day County's newspaper.

Notable people

Sigurd Anderson – Governor of South Dakota, 1951–1954

Tom Brokaw – retired television anchorman for NBC, born in Webster

Jerry Brudos – Oregon serial killer, born in Webster

Brock Lesnar – WWE professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, amateur wrestler and professional American football player, born in Webster

Creighton Leland Robertson – Episcopalian bishop and lawyer, practiced law in Webster

Lee Schoenbeck – lawyer and current president pro tempore of the South Dakota State Senate, born in Webster

William Garner Waddel – South Dakota state senator, former mayor of Webster