Skip to content Tabor is a town in Bon Homme County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 407 at the 2020 census. The town is named after the town of Tábor in the Czech Republic, the native land of a large share of the early settlers.
The first Czech immigrants started arriving in Dakota Territory in 1868 and settled west of Yankton. Frank Bem advertised for Czechs who wanted to take up new land, and a large contingent came in 1869. By April 14, 1872, at a meeting, it was decided to buy the homestead of Johanna Kocer, and the town was platted by Frank Bem.
Tabor can well be called “The Mother City of Dakota Czechs”. The town has remained a solid community over the years, with a population just short of 400 people.
According to the data available from the United States Census Bureau, the population of Tabor has fluctuated over time. Here is a summary of the population changes in Tabor based on the U.S. Decennial Census:
- 1910: 273
- 1920: 428
- 1930: 397
- 1940: 391
- 1950: 373
- 1960: 378
- 1970: 388
- 1980: 460
- 1990: 403
- 2000: 417
- 2010: 423
- 2020: 407
Tabor, South Dakota has a rich Czech heritage. The town was named after the town of Tábor in the Czech Republic, the native land of a large share of the early settlers. Frank Bem advertised for Czechs who wanted to take up new land, and a large contingent came in 1869.
Tabor celebrates its heritage every year with a festival called Czech Days. During Czech Days, Tabor is filled with the sound of polka music and the wonderful smell of freshly baked kolaches. The celebration has kept alive the heritage of the early founders of the little South Dakota community who came to Tabor from Czechoslovakia as early as 1869.
The Czech Heritage Preservation Society, Inc. (CHPS) exists to preserve, protect, interpret, and educate the public about the heritage and development of the Czech and Slovak immigrants around the Tabor, South Dakota area.
The economy of Tabor employs 274 people and has an unemployment rate of 0%. Some of the largest industries in Tabor are Professional Services, Pumpkin Patches, and Food Crops Grown Under Cover. The average household income in Tabor is $72,835 with a poverty rate of 6.03%.
One notable landmark in Tabor is the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. The town also boasts of having three public parks: Leonard Cimpl Park, Takota Park, and Vancura Memorial Park. Vancura Memorial Park is a Czech Heritage pioneer mini-village. Another point of interest is the Blachnik Museum.
One of the most notable events that takes place in Tabor is the annual Czech Days festival. During Czech Days, Tabor is filled with the sound of polka music and the wonderful smell of freshly baked kolaches. The celebration has kept alive the heritage of the early founders of the little South Dakota community who came to Tabor from Czechoslovakia as early as 1869.
Czech Days is an annual festival that takes place in Tabor, South Dakota to celebrate the town’s Czech heritage. The celebration has kept alive the heritage of the early founders of the little South Dakota community who came to Tabor from Czechoslovakia as early as 1869. During Czech Days, Tabor is filled with the sound of polka music and the wonderful smell of freshly baked kolaches.
What started out to be a small community celebration has grown into an attraction that draws literally thousands of people each year. The little town of 400 people and the surrounding rural community has attracted as many as 10,000 people to Czech Days, its ethnic celebration.
(1) Tabor Czech Days – https://www.taborczechdays.com/
(2) Tabor Czech Days – America’s Library – https://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/sd/es_sd_tabor_1.html
(3) Travel South Dakota – https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/photo-essay/czech-out
(4) St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Parish House – https://sfcatholic.org/parishes/tag/lesterville
(5) Discover Bon Homme County – http://www.discoverbonhomme.com/communities/tabor/
(6) Tabor, South Dakota – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabor,_South_Dakota
(7) Tabor, SD 2023 – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g54820-Tabor_South_Dakota-Vacations.html
(8) Chamber of Commerce Tabor, SD – https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/south-dakota/tabor/
(9) Tabor, South Dakota Population 2023 – https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/tabor-sd-population
(10) Best Places to Live – https://www.bestplaces.net/city/south_dakota/tabor
(11) Czech Heritage Preservation Society, Inc – https://www.facebook.com/TaborCzechHeritage/
(12) Czech Heritage Preservation Society Inc – https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-0355208
(13) Tabor Historical Marker – https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=180970
(14) Tabor, SD Map & Directions – MapQuest – https://www.mapquest.com/us/south-dakota/tabor-sd-282028946