Main street in Sturgis, South Dakota. Founded in 1878, it is located just south of the vast Ellsworth Air Force Base and the land north of the town was dotted with 50 Minuteman missile silos. About 6,700 people live in the town, but during the motorcycle rally week the population swells to more than 500,000. UPDATE: In 2015, more than 1 million people attended the 75th Anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally!!!