Jackson County, South Dakota

Jackson County
County
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°42′N101°38′W / 43.7°N 101.64°W / 43.7; -101.64
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	1883 (created) 1915 (organized)
Seat	Kadoka
Largest community	Kadoka
Area
• Total	1,871 sq mi (4,850 km2)
• Land	1,864 sq mi (4,830 km2)
• Water	7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,806
• Estimate  (2023)	2,776
• Density	1.5/sq mi (0.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Washabaugh County was merged into Jackson County in 1983

An unusual specimen of calcite, densely intergrown with grains of sand. Collected from Rattlesnake Butte in Jackson County. Size: 6.9 x 5.4 x 3.9 cm.

Jackson County sign on Interstate 90

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,806. ^[1] Its county seat is Kadoka. ^[2] The county was created in 1883, and was organized in 1915. ^[3] Washabaugh County was merged into Jackson County in 1983. ^[4]

Geography

The terrain of Jackson County consists of mountains rising from rolling hills. The ground is arid and carved with drainages. The White River flows eastward, cutting a meandering channel through the central part. ^[5] The terrain generally slopes to the NE; its highest point is a ridge near the SW corner, at 3,274 ft (998 m) ASL. ^[6]

Jackson County has a total area of 1,871 square miles (4,850 km²), of which 1,864 square miles (4,830 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (0.4%) is water. ^[7] About 57 percent of its land, the portion south of White River, is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The county includes the easternmost portion of Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park near Interior

South Dakota's eastern counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Jackson County is the easternmost of the state's counties to observe Mountain Time. ^[8]

Major highways

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 14
• South Dakota Highway 44
• South Dakota Highway 63
• South Dakota Highway 73
• South Dakota Highway 377

Adjacent counties

• Haakon County - north
• Jones County - northeast (observes Central Time)
• Mellette County - east (observes Central Time)
• Todd County ^[5] - southeast (observes Central Time)
• Bennett County - south
• Oglala Lakota County - southwest
• Pennington County - northwest

Lakes

Source: ^[5]

• Kadoka Lake
• Wanblee Lake

National protected areas

• Badlands National Park (part)
• Buffalo Gap National Grassland (part)
• Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	2,472		—
1930	2,636		6.6%
1940	1,955		−25.8%
1950	1,768		−9.6%
1960	1,985		12.3%
1970	1,531		−22.9%
1980	3,437		124.5%
1990	2,811		−18.2%
2000	2,930		4.2%
2010	3,031		3.4%
2020	2,806		−7.4%
2023 (est.)	2,776	[9]	−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,806 people, 887 households, and 637 families residing in the county. ^[14] The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km²). There were 1,064 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,031 people, 996 households, and 703 families living in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.0% American Indian, 42.7% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.7% were German, 12.3% were Irish, 10.1% were Norwegian, 5.7% were English, and 0.2% were American.

Of the 996 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.65. The median age was 31.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,354 and the median income for a family was $41,838. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,568. About 20.6% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Kadoka (county seat) (Pop:543)

Towns

• Belvidere (Population:46)
• Cottonwood (Population:12)
• Interior (Population:65)

Census-designated place

• Wanblee (Population:674)

Unincorporated communities

Source: ^[5]

• Cactus Flat
• Hisle
• Long Valley
• Potato Creek
• Stamford
• Weta

Townships

• Grandview II
• Interior
• Jewett
• Wall
• Weta

Unorganized territories

• East Jackson
• Northwest Jackson
• Southeast Jackson
• Southwest Jackson

Politics

Jackson County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.^{[ citation needed ]}

United States presidential election results for Jackson County, South Dakota ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	738	66.19%	359	32.20%	18	1.61%
2016	722	65.94%	323	29.50%	50	4.57%
2012	661	59.76%	426	38.52%	19	1.72%
2008	668	58.96%	435	38.39%	30	2.65%
2004	726	57.12%	508	39.97%	37	2.91%
2000	687	66.06%	319	30.67%	34	3.27%
1996	646	55.26%	423	36.18%	100	8.55%
1992	627	53.68%	351	30.05%	190	16.27%
1988	671	58.81%	450	39.44%	20	1.75%
1984	903	70.82%	365	28.63%	7	0.55%
1980	929	68.71%	354	26.18%	69	5.10%
1976	532	61.50%	313	36.18%	20	2.31%
1972	581	68.68%	261	30.85%	4	0.47%
1968	480	56.80%	267	31.60%	98	11.60%
1964	448	48.28%	480	51.72%	0	0.00%
1960	581	61.35%	366	38.65%	0	0.00%
1956	490	54.57%	408	45.43%	0	0.00%
1952	607	70.50%	254	29.50%	0	0.00%
1948	432	56.40%	321	41.91%	13	1.70%
1944	340	61.48%	213	38.52%	0	0.00%
1940	620	58.77%	435	41.23%	0	0.00%
1936	481	43.57%	593	53.71%	30	2.72%
1932	499	37.13%	812	60.42%	33	2.46%
1928	704	62.63%	417	37.10%	3	0.27%
1924	583	56.93%	194	18.95%	247	24.12%
1920	595	70.58%	206	24.44%	42	4.98%
1916	283	49.39%	279	48.69%	11	1.92%

See also

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

References

1. "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 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "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 30, 2015.
4. John H. Long, ed. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
5. Jackson County SD Google Maps (accessed February 4, 2019)
6. ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 4, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
8. Map of Time Zone Line through South Dakota (accessed January 30, 2019)
9. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023" . Retrieved March 17, 2024.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
13. "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.
14. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

43°42′N101°38′W / 43.70°N 101.64°W / 43.70; -101.64