List of counties in South Dakota

List of counties in South Dakota. The state of South Dakota is divided into 66 counties, with each county serving as the primary political subdivision of the state, as established by the South Dakota Constitution and the South Dakota Legislature. The counties are governed by county commissions, which are composed of county commissioners elected by the residents of each county, such as Minnehaha County, Pennington County, and Meade County. The United States Census Bureau also recognizes each county as a census county division, which is used for statistical purposes, including the collection of data for the United States Census.

Introduction

The state of South Dakota was admitted to the United States of America on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state, with its boundaries established by the Omnibus Bill signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison. The state's 66 counties were established over time, with the first counties being created in 1862, when the Dakota Territory was organized, including Union County, Clay County, and Yankton County. The counties were named after various Native American tribes, such as the Lakota people and the Dakota people, as well as after notable figures, including George Armstrong Custer and George S. Mickelson. The South Dakota Historical Society and the State Historical Society of North Dakota provide valuable resources for researching the history of the counties.

List of Counties

The 66 counties of South Dakota are: Aurora County, Beadle County, Bennett County, Bon Homme County, Brookings County, Brown County, Brule County, Buffalo County, Butte County, Campbell County, Charles Mix County, Clark County, Clay County, Codington County, Corson County, Custer County, Davison County, Day County, Deuel County, Dewey County, Douglas County, Edmunds County, Fall River County, Faulk County, Grant County, Gregory County, Haakon County, Hamlin County, Hand County, Hanson County, Harding County, Hughes County, Hutchinson County, Hyde County, Jackson County, Jerauld County, Jones County, Kingsbury County, Lake County, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, Lyman County, Marshall County, McCook County, McPherson County, Meade County, Mellette County, Miner County, Minnehaha County, Moody County, Oglala Lakota County, Pennington County, Perkins County, Potter County, Roberts County, Sanborn County, Spink County, Stanley County, Sully County, Todd County, Tripp County, Turner County, Union County, Walworth County, Yankton County, and Ziebach County. Each county has its own county seat, such as Pierre, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, which serve as the administrative centers for the counties.

County Equivalents

In addition to the 66 counties, South Dakota also has several Indian reservations, which are recognized as county equivalents by the United States Census Bureau, including the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the Rosebud Indian Reservation, and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. These reservations are governed by tribal governments, such as the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, which have their own tribal councils and tribal chairmen. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service provide services to the reservations, including health care and education.

Former Counties

Over time, some counties in South Dakota have been abolished or merged with other counties, including Nowlin County, which was established in 1883 but abolished in 1889, and Boreman County, which was established in 1873 but merged with Faulk County in 1883. The South Dakota State Archives and the National Archives and Records Administration provide records of the former counties, including census records and land records.

Demographics

The demographics of the counties in South Dakota vary widely, with some counties having large Native American populations, such as Shannon County and Todd County, while others have predominantly European American populations, such as Minnehaha County and Pennington County. The United States Census Bureau provides demographic data for each county, including population estimates and economic data. The South Dakota Department of Education and the South Dakota Department of Health also provide data on education and health outcomes for each county.

Geography

The geography of the counties in South Dakota is diverse, ranging from the Black Hills in the western part of the state to the Great Plains in the eastern part of the state. The Missouri River forms the border between South Dakota and Nebraska and Iowa, while the Cheyenne River and the White River flow through the state. The Badlands National Park and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial are located in Pennington County and Custer County, respectively. The United States Geological Survey and the National Park Service provide information on the geography and geology of the state, including topographic maps and geologic maps. Category:Counties of the United States