Hanson County, South Dakota
Hanson County, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
Saint Peter's Grotto is on the National Register of Historic Places | |
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota | |
| Coordinates: 43°40′50.203″N 97°47′48.642″W / 43.68061194°N 97.79684500°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| Founded | January 13, 1871 (created) 1873 (organized) |
| Named after | Joseph R. Hanson |
| Seat | Alexandria |
| Largest city | Alexandria |
| Area | |
• Total | 435.355 sq mi (1,127.56 km2) |
| • Land | 434.582 sq mi (1,125.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.773 sq mi (2.00 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,461 |
• Estimate (2024) | 3,477 |
| • Density | 7.988/sq mi (3.084/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | hansoncountysd.gov |
Hanson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,461.[1] Its county seat is Alexandria.[2] The county was founded in 1871 and organized in 1873.[3] It was named for Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first legislature.[4] Hanson County is part of the Mitchell, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is somewhat unique among those in the United States in that there are no officially registered airports within the county borders.
Geography
The terrain of Hanson County consists of low rolling hills; its area is mostly devoted to agriculture. The James River flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county.[5] The terrain slopes toward the river basin on both sides, and generally gently slopes to the south.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435.355 square miles (1,127.56 km2), of which 434.582 square miles (1,125.56 km2) is land and 0.773 square miles (2.00 km2) (0.2%) is water.[7] It is the 64th largest county in South Dakota by total area.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Miner County - north
- McCook County - east
- Hutchinson County - south
- Davison County - west
- Sanborn County - northwest
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,301 | — | |
| 1890 | 4,267 | 228.0% | |
| 1900 | 4,947 | 15.9% | |
| 1910 | 6,237 | 26.1% | |
| 1920 | 6,202 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,131 | −1.1% | |
| 1940 | 5,400 | −11.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,896 | −9.3% | |
| 1960 | 4,584 | −6.4% | |
| 1970 | 3,781 | −17.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,415 | −9.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,994 | −12.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,139 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,331 | 6.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,461 | 3.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 3,477 | [8] | 0.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[13] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,461 people, 1,146 households, and 855 families residing in the county. The population density was 8.0 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km2).[14][15]
Of the residents, 29.3% were under the age of 18 and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.5% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.0% of the population.[15]
There were 1,146 households in the county, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 12.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 1,279 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.1% were owner-occupied and 16.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.4%.[14]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 3,331 people, 1,045 households, and 793 families in the county. The population density was 7.7 inhabitants per square mile (3.0/km2). There were 1,177 housing units at an average density of 2.7 units per square mile (1.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 63.7% were German, 10.8% were Irish, 6.2% were English, 5.2% were Norwegian, and 4.0% were American.
Of the 1,045 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.1% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 35.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,556 and the median income for a family was $52,425. Males had a median income of $38,088 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,391. About 13.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
Hanson County was mentioned as an "Extreme Whitopia" in Rich Benjamin's book, Searching for Whitopia.[16]
Communities
Cities
- Alexandria (county seat)
- Emery
Towns
Religious communities
Unincorporated community
Government
Townships
- Beulah
- Edgerton
- Emery
- Fairview
- Hanson
- Jasper
- Plano
- Rosedale
- Springlake
- Taylor
- Wayne
- Worthen
Politics
Hanson County voters tend to vote Republican. Since 1936, they have selected the Republican Party candidate in 65% of national elections.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 378 | 36.21% | 196 | 18.77% | 470 | 45.02% |
| 1896 | 420 | 38.75% | 658 | 60.70% | 6 | 0.55% |
| 1900 | 607 | 49.07% | 607 | 49.07% | 23 | 1.86% |
| 1904 | 745 | 55.76% | 523 | 39.15% | 68 | 5.09% |
| 1908 | 668 | 48.69% | 630 | 45.92% | 74 | 5.39% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 632 | 45.05% | 771 | 54.95% |
| 1916 | 767 | 51.10% | 712 | 47.44% | 22 | 1.47% |
| 1920 | 1,001 | 51.87% | 418 | 21.66% | 511 | 26.48% |
| 1924 | 811 | 40.47% | 299 | 14.92% | 894 | 44.61% |
| 1928 | 1,576 | 58.13% | 1,129 | 41.65% | 6 | 0.22% |
| 1932 | 845 | 31.89% | 1,783 | 67.28% | 22 | 0.83% |
| 1936 | 1,090 | 40.25% | 1,530 | 56.50% | 88 | 3.25% |
| 1940 | 1,408 | 53.66% | 1,216 | 46.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 1,070 | 55.33% | 864 | 44.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 860 | 47.05% | 953 | 52.13% | 15 | 0.82% |
| 1952 | 1,320 | 63.07% | 773 | 36.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,050 | 46.94% | 1,187 | 53.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,087 | 48.53% | 1,153 | 51.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 802 | 39.43% | 1,232 | 60.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 901 | 50.08% | 826 | 45.91% | 72 | 4.00% |
| 1972 | 876 | 45.96% | 1,022 | 53.62% | 8 | 0.42% |
| 1976 | 693 | 40.60% | 1,005 | 58.88% | 9 | 0.53% |
| 1980 | 1,015 | 58.84% | 598 | 34.67% | 112 | 6.49% |
| 1984 | 898 | 58.69% | 625 | 40.85% | 7 | 0.46% |
| 1988 | 786 | 50.00% | 776 | 49.36% | 10 | 0.64% |
| 1992 | 522 | 36.38% | 566 | 39.44% | 347 | 24.18% |
| 1996 | 801 | 52.22% | 541 | 35.27% | 192 | 12.52% |
| 2000 | 944 | 66.43% | 457 | 32.16% | 20 | 1.41% |
| 2004 | 1,379 | 64.14% | 745 | 34.65% | 26 | 1.21% |
| 2008 | 1,426 | 58.66% | 961 | 39.53% | 44 | 1.81% |
| 2012 | 1,627 | 67.34% | 760 | 31.46% | 29 | 1.20% |
| 2016 | 1,497 | 74.63% | 424 | 21.14% | 85 | 4.24% |
| 2020 | 1,793 | 75.08% | 557 | 23.32% | 38 | 1.59% |
| 2024 | 1,611 | 78.74% | 399 | 19.50% | 36 | 1.76% |
See also
References
- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 149.
- ^ a b "Hanson County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – South Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ "Searching for Whitopia". Richbenjamin.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.