Jerauld County, South Dakota

Last updated

Jerauld County
County
Jerauld County courthouse, SD, from E 1.jpg
Jerauld County Courthouse in Wessington Springs
Map of South Dakota highlighting Jerauld County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota in United States.svg
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°03′48.276″N98°37′23.412″W / 44.06341000°N 98.62317000°W / 44.06341000; -98.62317000
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of South Dakota.svg  South Dakota
Founded1883
Named after H. J. Jerauld
Seat Wessington Springs
Largest cityWessington Springs
Area
 • Total
533 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Land526 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Water6.4 sq mi (17 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,663
 • Estimate 
(2024)
1,689 Increase2.svg
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district At-large
Website https://jerauldcountysd.com/

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]

Contents

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

Source: [4]

Lakes

Source: [4]

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

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 3,605—
1900 2,798−22.4%
1910 5,12083.0%
1920 6,33823.8%
1930 5,816−8.2%
1940 4,752−18.3%
1950 4,476−5.8%
1960 4,048−9.6%
1970 3,310−18.2%
1980 2,929−11.5%
1990 2,425−17.2%
2000 2,295−5.4%
2010 2,071−9.8%
2020 1,663−19.7%
2024 (est.)1,689 [7] 1.6%
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(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 70870.87%27627.63%151.50%
2020 72171.67%27026.84%151.49%
2016 64867.01%26427.30%555.69%
2012 53853.48%45244.93%161.59%
2008 54649.41%54249.05%171.54%
2004 73659.55%48239.00%181.46%
2000 62455.61%46841.71%302.67%
1996 53038.86%65648.09%17813.05%
1992 51835.31%60040.90%34923.79%
1988 77750.65%75148.96%60.39%
1984 1,01264.79%54234.70%80.51%
1980 1,01858.88%59534.41%1166.71%
1976 82149.19%84550.63%30.18%
1972 98854.29%82945.55%30.16%
1968 1,00255.57%74541.32%563.11%
1964 85746.17%99953.83%00.00%
1960 1,16557.45%86342.55%00.00%
1956 1,17553.90%1,00546.10%00.00%
1952 1,52069.19%67730.81%00.00%
1948 1,08554.60%87644.09%261.31%
1944 1,21762.47%73137.53%00.00%
1940 1,57663.17%91936.83%00.00%
1936 1,07542.93%1,34353.63%863.43%
1932 83631.28%1,77366.33%642.39%
1928 1,51762.69%87536.16%281.16%
1924 1,05452.89%22811.44%71135.67%
1920 1,03857.03%35719.62%42523.35%
1916 61248.42%58946.60%634.98%
1912 00.00%43638.01%71161.99%
1908 58253.30%40336.90%1079.80%
1904 58668.86%13916.33%12614.81%
1900 37448.57%35746.36%395.06%
1896 27444.48%33654.55%60.97%
1892 32747.05%456.47%32346.47%

Media

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

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Source: [4]

Townships

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

Unorganized territory

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties . Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p.  169.
  4. 1 2 3 4 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: 2020-2024" . Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  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.
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