By 1929, when U.S. Highway 83 was first designated, it replaced the segment of SD 53 from Pierre to the North Dakota border.

The southern segment was further east than the present route, running from Presho south to the Nebraska border via Winner.

In the early 1930s, U.S. 83 was extended south into Nebraska, and was placed as dual signage along SD 53.

(The original route was on what is now U.S. Highway 183; 83 and 183 were reversed from current alignments when first designated.)

By 1935, SD 53 was removed from this alignment and placed on a new route extending south from Vivian, on a previously unnumbered road.