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History · Hurley Township

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

Below: maps from 1898 on and the census since 1890.

1883founded
0on the National Register
62%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Hurley Township began, and where its name came from

When was Hurley Township founded?

1883

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

First census: 344 in 18902020 census: 152143 years

How did Hurley Township get its name?

Hurley Township was named for R. E. Hurley, a railroad engineer.

Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Hurley 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 Hurley Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18983 editions of the USGS map, 1898 to 1985. Watch Hurley Township change.Old housesHalf of Hurley Township’s homes were built before 1938.Boom and bustPeaked at 586 in 1920; 379 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Hurley Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hurley 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

Hurley Township on the map, 1898 to 1985

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

Hurley Township on the 1898 USGS mapHurley Township on the 1968 USGS mapHurley Township on the 1985 USGS map1898Parker 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 Hurley Township.

The story

How Hurley Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Hurley Township.

Read it all →

Hurley was platted in 1883. It was named for R. E. Hurley, a railroad engineer. A post office has been in operation in Hurley since 1883.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Hurley Township, 1883 to 1920

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1883
    FoundingHurley Township is established
  3. 1898On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  4. 20th century
  5. 1920CensusPopulation peaks at 586
By decade

Hurley Township, decade by decade

Today4 recent
HurleySD FarrarHouse2017HurleySD FarrarHouseHurleySD DrHarrySGravesHouse2017HurleySD DrHarrySGravesHouseHurleySD BroughMartinsonHouse2017HurleySD BroughMartinsonHouseHurleySD AmericanLegionHall2017HurleySD AmericanLegionHall
People over time

Hurley Township, census by census

01002003004005006001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 586

Peaked at 586 in 1920; 379 people lived here in 2020.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

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

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Middleton Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townSwan Lake TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townParker Township1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townNorway Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townTurner Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Hurley Township’s history

What year was Hurley Township founded?

In 1883, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1890 counted 344 people here.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
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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 (4), Wikidata (3), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.