Fort Towson

Jerauld County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,663.[1] Its county seat is Wessington Springs.[2]

History

In 1873, the area occupied by the present Jerauld County was organized into Wetmore County. In 1881, Wetmore and its neighbor county to the south, Cragin County, were combined to form Aurora County. In 1883, the area of the former Wetmore County was reincorporated as present-day Jerauld County.

It was named for H. J. Jerauld, a legislator.[3]

Geography

The terrain of Jerauld County consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[4] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with the county's highest point on the west boundary line near its NW corner, at 1,932 ft (589 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 533 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 526 square miles (1,360 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[4]

  • Crow Lake State Game Production Area
  • Horseshoe Lake State Game Production Area

Lakes[4]

  • Bakers Lake
  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Long Lake
  • Rempter Lake
  • Twin Lakes (partial)

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18903,605
19002,798−22.4%
19105,12083.0%
19206,33823.8%
19305,816−8.2%
19404,752−18.3%
19504,476−5.8%
19604,048−9.6%
19703,310−18.2%
19802,929−11.5%
19902,425−17.2%
20002,295−5.4%
20102,071−9.8%
20201,663−19.7%
2023 (est.)1,660[7]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,663 people, 747 households, and 463 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 3.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 952 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,071 people, 870 households, and 564 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km2). There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 2.0 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.6% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 50.6% were German, 17.7% were Norwegian, 11.6% were English, 6.8% were Irish, 5.3% were Swedish, and 2.2% were American.

Of the 870 households, 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 48.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,607 and the median income for a family was $44,717. Males had a median income of $32,017 versus $20,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,942. About 10.2% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the 2008 US presidential election, Republican John McCain won Jerauld County over Democrat Barack Obama by four votes.[13] It was the closest county result in the country in the 2008 election.[citation needed] Jerauld County voters have tended to vote Republican; since 1960 the county has chosen the Republican Party candidate in 71% of national elections.

United States presidential election results for Jerauld County, South Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 721 71.67% 270 26.84% 15 1.49%
2016 648 67.01% 264 27.30% 55 5.69%
2012 538 53.48% 452 44.93% 16 1.59%
2008 546 49.41% 542 49.05% 17 1.54%
2004 736 59.55% 482 39.00% 18 1.46%
2000 624 55.61% 468 41.71% 30 2.67%
1996 530 38.86% 656 48.09% 178 13.05%
1992 518 35.31% 600 40.90% 349 23.79%
1988 777 50.65% 751 48.96% 6 0.39%
1984 1,012 64.79% 542 34.70% 8 0.51%
1980 1,018 58.88% 595 34.41% 116 6.71%
1976 821 49.19% 845 50.63% 3 0.18%
1972 988 54.29% 829 45.55% 3 0.16%
1968 1,002 55.57% 745 41.32% 56 3.11%
1964 857 46.17% 999 53.83% 0 0.00%
1960 1,165 57.45% 863 42.55% 0 0.00%
1956 1,175 53.90% 1,005 46.10% 0 0.00%
1952 1,520 69.19% 677 30.81% 0 0.00%
1948 1,085 54.60% 876 44.09% 26 1.31%
1944 1,217 62.47% 731 37.53% 0 0.00%
1940 1,576 63.17% 919 36.83% 0 0.00%
1936 1,075 42.93% 1,343 53.63% 86 3.43%
1932 836 31.28% 1,773 66.33% 64 2.39%
1928 1,517 62.69% 875 36.16% 28 1.16%
1924 1,054 52.89% 228 11.44% 711 35.67%
1920 1,038 57.03% 357 19.62% 425 23.35%
1916 612 48.42% 589 46.60% 63 4.98%
1912 0 0.00% 436 38.01% 711 61.99%
1908 582 53.30% 403 36.90% 107 9.80%
1904 586 68.86% 139 16.33% 126 14.81%
1900 374 48.57% 357 46.36% 39 5.06%
1896 274 44.48% 336 54.55% 6 0.97%
1892 327 47.05% 45 6.47% 323 46.47%

Media

The county is served by the True Dakotan weekly newspaper.[15]

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities[4]

Townships

  • Alpena
  • Anina
  • Blaine
  • Chery
  • Crow
  • Crow Lake
  • Franklin
  • Harmony
  • Logan
  • Marlar
  • Media
  • Pleasant
  • Viola
  • Wessington Springs

Unorganized territory

  • Dale

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 169.
  4. ^ a b c d Jerauld County SD Google Maps (accessed February 4, 2019)
  5. ^ ""Find at Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 4, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  12. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "2008 Presidential General Election Results - Jerauld County, SD". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "True Dakotan". South Dakota Press Association. Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.

External links

44°04′N 98°37′W / 44.06°N 98.62°W / 44.06; -98.62