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History · Centerville Township

Centerville Township dates to 1883, and 62% of its homes were built before 1940

Its Register listings are the South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-210-282 and the Centerville Township Bridge Number S-18. Below: maps from 1897 on and the census since 1890.

1883founded
2on the National Register
62%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Centerville Township began, and where its name came from

When was Centerville Township founded?

1883

Centerville Township dates its founding to 1883 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 723 in 18902020 census: 163143 years

How did Centerville Township get its name?

Centerville Township was named due to its location between Parker and Vermillion.

Founding year: Wikipedia. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Centerville Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Centerville Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18973 editions of the USGS map, 1897 to 1968. Watch Centerville Township change.Old housesHalf of Centerville Township’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Centerville Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Centerville Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Centerville Township on the map, 1897 to 1968

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Centerville Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Centerville Township on the 1897 USGS mapCenterville Township on the 1900 USGS mapCenterville Township on the 1968 USGS map1897Canton sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Centerville Township.

The story

How Centerville Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Centerville Township.

Read it all →

Centerville was platted in 1883. It was named due to its location between Parker and Vermillion.

One of the most powerful tornadoes in the 2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak was located around Centerville and was rated an F-2 on the Fujita scale. It had maximum winds of 135 miles per hour and caused damage in the town of Centerville and surrounding areas. No fatalities were reported with this tornado. Along with the F-2 tornado that was reported, 19 other tornadoes touched down within a 50-mile radius of Centerville.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Centerville Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Colfax Corner, South Dakota2012Colfax Corner, South DakotaSDMap-doton-Centerville2004SDMap-doton-Centerville
On the National Register

2 historic places in Centerville Township

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
2
each building in a district counts
first listed
1999
South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridg…
South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-210-282Centerville Township Bridge Number S-18
Structures

Architectural styles listings

Pratt through truss1
Stone Arch1
South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-210-282Pratt through truss
All 2 listings
Centerville Township Bridge Number S-18Structure · listed 2000

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Centerville Township, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 1,169

Between 723 and 1,169 people in every census since 1890.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Centerville Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Old burying grounds

4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Centerville Township
EvangelicalGrace LutheranHollandRiverview

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Turner Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBrooklyn Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townRiverside Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townDaneville Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Centerville Township’s history

What year was Centerville Township founded?

In 1883, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1890 counted 723 people here.

What is on the National Register in Centerville Township?

Two places: the South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 63-210-282 (listed 1999) and the Centerville Township Bridge Number S-18 (2000).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.