Aurora County, South Dakota

Not to be confused with Aurora, South Dakota.

Aurora County
County
Aurora County courthouse in Plankinton
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°43′N98°34′W / 43.72°N 98.57°W / 43.72; -98.57
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	1879 (created) 1881 (organized)
Named for	Aurora, a Roman goddess
Seat	Plankinton
Largest city	Plankinton
Area
• Total	713 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Land	708 sq mi (1,830 km2)
• Water	4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  0.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,747
• Estimate  (2023)	2,782
• Density	3.9/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large

Aurora County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,747. ^[1] The county was created in 1879, and was organized in 1881. ^[2]

History

Aurora County, named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territory on October 1, 1879. ^[3] It was organized on August 29, 1881, when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of former counties Cragin and Wetmore, which had both been formed in 1873. The three county commissioners met on August 29, 1881, and named Plankinton the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. The northern portion of Aurora County was partitioned off on April 17, 1883, and established as Jerauld County. ^[4]

Geography

The terrain of Aurora County consists of low rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with small lakes and ponds. ^[5] The highest point is the upper west boundary line, and the terrain slopes east-northeastward; the lowest point is the county's northeast corner at 1,325 ft (404 m) ASL. ^[6]

The county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,850 km²), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km²) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km²) (0.6%) is water. ^[7]

Major highways

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 281
• South Dakota Highway 42

Adjacent counties

• Jerauld County - north
• Sanborn County - northeast
• Davison County - east
• Douglas County - south
• Charles Mix County - southwest
• Brule County - west

Protected areas

• Crystal Lake Public Shooting Area ^[8]
• Hanson Lake State Public Shooting Area ^[9]
• Kimball State Public Shooting Area ^[10]
• Koch Waterfowl Production Area ^[11]
• Kramer Slaugh Public Shooting Area ^[12]
• Krell Waterfowl Production Area ^[13]
• Lutz Waterfowl Production Area ^[14]
• Maine Waterfowl Production Area ^[15]
• National Waterfowl Production Area ^[16]
• Pleasant Lake State Public Shooting Area ^[17]
• Schute Waterfowl Production Area ^[18]
• Sorenson Waterfowl Production Area ^[19]
• Wilmarth Lake Game Production Area ^[20]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	69		—
1890	5,045		7,211.6%
1900	4,011		−20.5%
1910	6,143		53.2%
1920	7,246		18.0%
1930	7,139		−1.5%
1940	5,387		−24.5%
1950	5,020		−6.8%
1960	4,749		−5.4%
1970	4,183		−11.9%
1980	3,628		−13.3%
1990	3,136		−13.6%
2000	3,058		−2.5%
2010	2,710		−11.4%
2020	2,747		1.4%
2023 (est.)	2,782	[21]	1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [22] 1790-1960 [23] 1900-1990 [24] 1990-2000 [25] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,747 people, 1,096 households, and 746 families residing in the county. ^[26] The population density was 3.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 1,260 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,710 people, 1,102 households, and 736 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.8 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of 1.9 per square mile (0.73/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 1.8% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.3% were German, 13.7% were Dutch, 11.8% were Norwegian, 8.7% were Irish, 7.2% were English, and 4.9% were American.

Of the 1,102 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,230 and the median income for a family was $55,588. Males had a median income of $30,185 versus $27,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,291. About 4.5% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Plankinton (county seat)
• White Lake

Town

• Stickney

Census-designated places

• Aurora Center
• Storla

Townships

• Aurora Township
• Belford Township
• Bristol Township
• Center Township
• Cooper Township
• Crystal Lake Township
• Dudley Township
• Eureka Township
• Firesteel Township
• Gales Township
• Hopper Township
• Lake Township
• Palatine Township
• Patten Township
• Plankinton Township
• Pleasant Lake Township
• Pleasant Valley Township
• Truro Township
• Washington Township
• White Lake Township

Politics

Aurora County at one time favored the Democratic Party and was one of just 130 counties nationwide to be won by South Dakota favorite son George McGovern, who grew up in adjacent Davison County. However, with the “Reagan Revolution” of the 1980s it has gradually turned into a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to win a majority in Aurora County was Michael Dukakis in the 1988 election.

United States presidential election results for Aurora County, South Dakota ^[27]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,056	75.81%	302	21.68%	35	2.51%
2020	1,052	74.88%	317	22.56%	36	2.56%
2016	974	69.23%	340	24.16%	93	6.61%
2012	804	57.43%	556	39.71%	40	2.86%
2008	794	53.11%	655	43.81%	46	3.08%
2004	1,009	61.19%	620	37.60%	20	1.21%
2000	847	59.94%	513	36.31%	53	3.75%
1996	709	44.68%	664	41.84%	214	13.48%
1992	594	34.70%	680	39.72%	438	25.58%
1988	856	46.17%	987	53.24%	11	0.59%
1984	1,029	54.65%	840	44.61%	14	0.74%
1980	1,251	58.93%	709	33.40%	163	7.68%
1976	831	39.40%	1,269	60.17%	9	0.43%
1972	1,075	45.96%	1,257	53.74%	7	0.30%
1968	1,043	46.71%	1,060	47.47%	130	5.82%
1964	871	35.90%	1,555	64.10%	0	0.00%
1960	1,267	49.94%	1,270	50.06%	0	0.00%
1956	1,055	43.43%	1,374	56.57%	0	0.00%
1952	1,458	59.39%	997	40.61%	0	0.00%
1948	1,056	44.99%	1,275	54.32%	16	0.68%
1944	1,163	53.50%	1,011	46.50%	0	0.00%
1940	1,408	50.41%	1,385	49.59%	0	0.00%
1936	1,082	36.52%	1,801	60.78%	80	2.70%
1932	860	26.72%	2,304	71.58%	55	1.71%
1928	1,552	51.72%	1,426	47.52%	23	0.77%
1924	967	36.31%	665	24.97%	1,031	38.72%
1920	1,004	49.19%	445	21.80%	592	29.01%
1916	735	46.05%	793	49.69%	68	4.26%
1912	0	0.00%	801	51.21%	763	48.79%
1908	686	47.91%	694	48.46%	52	3.63%
1904	652	58.79%	407	36.70%	50	4.51%
1900	503	49.75%	486	48.07%	22	2.18%
1896	387	44.08%	479	54.56%	12	1.37%
1892	461	46.95%	207	21.08%	314	31.98%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South Dakota

43°43′N98°34′W / 43.72°N 98.57°W / 43.72; -98.57

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
2. "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 28, 2015.
3. Soil Survey of Aurora County, South Dakota. US Dept. of Agriculture. 1980. p. 2.
4. Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
5. Aurora County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
6. ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
8. Crystal Lake Public Shooting Area, Stickney SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
9. Hanson Lake State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
10. Kimball State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
11. Koch Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
12. Kramer Slaugh Public Shooting Area, White Lake SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
13. Krell Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
14. Lutz Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
15. Maine Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
16. National Waterfowl Production Area, White Lake, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
17. Pleasant Lake State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
18. Schulte Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
19. Sorenson Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
20. Wilmarth Lake Game Production Area, Wessington Springs, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
21. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023" . Retrieved March 17, 2024.
22. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
23. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
24. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
25. "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 22, 2015.
26. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
27. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.