Lawrence County, South Dakota

Last updated

Lawrence County
County
Lawrence county south dakota courthouse.jpg
Lawrence County Courthouse in Deadwood
Map of South Dakota highlighting Lawrence 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°22′N103°47′W / 44.36°N 103.79°W / 44.36; -103.79
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of South Dakota.svg  South Dakota
FoundedJanuary 11, 1875 (created)
1877 (organized)
Named for John Lawrence
Seat Deadwood
Largest city Spearfish
Area
 • Total
800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
25,768
 • Estimate 
(2023)
28,053 Increase2.svg
 • Density32/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district At-large
Website www.lawrence.sd.us
US Highway 14a w Sd lawrence1 sr14a.jpg
US Highway 14a w

Lawrence County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,768, making it the 8th most populous county in South Dakota. [1] Its county seat is Deadwood. [2]

Contents

Lawrence County is coextensive with the Spearfish, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rapid City-Spearfish, SD Combined Statistical Area.

History

Lawrence County was created January 11, 1875, and was organized in 1877. [3] The county was named for "Colonel" John Lawrence, [4] who came to the county as first treasurer in 1877. Lawrence had previously served in the Dakota Territorial Legislature, as a Sergeant at Arms for the United States House of Representatives, and a US Marshal for the Dakota territory. After retirement, he continued to act as county road supervisor and as an election judge. The title "Colonel" was honorary, bestowed by the governor of the Dakota Territory.

Geography

Lawrence County lies on the west side of South Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The terrain of Lawrence County consists of mountains in the south and west, falling off to the hilly northeast portion. A tributary of the Redwater River flows east-northeasterly along a portion of the county's north boundary line, delineating that portion of the line. [5] The terrain generally slopes to the county's northeast corner; its highest point is Crooks Tower, at 7,137'. The county has a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water. [6]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas [5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 13,218—
1890 11,673−11.7%
1900 17,89753.3%
1910 19,69410.0%
1920 13,029−33.8%
1930 13,9206.8%
1940 19,09337.2%
1950 16,648−12.8%
1960 17,0752.6%
1970 17,4532.2%
1980 18,3395.1%
1990 20,65512.6%
2000 21,8025.6%
2010 24,09710.5%
2020 25,7686.9%
2023 (est.)28,053 [7] 8.9%
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 25,768 people, 11,444 households, and 6,689 families residing in the county. [12] The population density was 32.2 inhabitants per square mile (12.4/km2). There were 14,163 housing units.

The county population contained 23.10% under the age of 18, 13.70% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,755, and the median income for a family was $40,501. Males had a median income of $30,098 versus $19,679 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,195. About 9.50% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 24,097 people, 10,536 households, and 6,181 families in the county. The population density was 30.1 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km2). There were 12,756 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% white, 2.0% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.5% were German, 13.7% were Irish, 13.4% were English, 11.4% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American.

Of the 10,536 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.3% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 41.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,356 and the median income for a family was $60,209. Males had a median income of $38,933 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,465. About 8.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Hay fields and scenery, North of Deadwood North of Deadwood South Dakota.jpg
Hay fields and scenery, North of Deadwood

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities [5]

Ghost towns

Townships and unorganized territories

Politics

Owing to its Yankee influence, Lawrence County has been reliably Republican for a full century. It was the only South Dakota county to remain loyal to Herbert Hoover in his landslide 1932 loss. [13] In fact, Lawrence County was the second-westernmost county, behind only Utah's Kane County, to never vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt. The only Democratic presidential candidates to carry Lawrence County have been Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916, and William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Lawrence County has also been one of the most consistent strongholds for the Libertarian Party, giving their 2016 nominee, Gary Johnson, one of the largest vote share out of any county outside his home state of New Mexico, with 7.9%. In 2020, Libertarian Party nominee Jo Jorgensen received 3.9% of the popular vote, her second best performance in any county during the election cycle.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, South Dakota [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 9,90464.27%5,07432.93%4312.80%
2020 8,75363.30%4,53732.81%5383.89%
2016 7,41162.58%3,35628.34%1,0759.08%
2012 7,02561.85%3,97334.98%3613.18%
2008 6,78756.30%4,93240.91%3362.79%
2004 7,48964.45%3,85733.20%2732.35%
2000 6,32767.27%2,79729.74%2823.00%
1996 4,43046.92%3,56837.79%1,44415.29%
1992 3,77039.03%3,15732.68%2,73228.28%
1988 5,57059.39%3,70539.50%1041.11%
1984 5,94969.42%2,56529.93%550.64%
1980 5,30663.14%2,25926.88%8389.97%
1976 4,20656.46%3,10241.64%1411.89%
1972 4,79565.22%2,53334.45%240.33%
1968 4,18560.23%2,42534.90%3384.86%
1964 3,74351.91%3,46848.09%00.00%
1960 5,08366.06%2,61233.94%00.00%
1956 4,65471.33%1,87128.67%00.00%
1952 5,55976.57%1,70123.43%00.00%
1948 3,77862.50%2,20936.54%580.96%
1944 3,52865.41%1,86634.59%00.00%
1940 5,28860.07%3,51539.93%00.00%
1936 4,97456.19%3,80943.03%690.78%
1932 3,70853.99%3,10645.22%540.79%
1928 4,14169.63%1,78530.02%210.35%
1924 3,25571.07%64914.17%67614.76%
1920 2,98668.50%1,20127.55%1723.95%
1916 2,07447.51%2,15749.42%1343.07%
1912 00.00%2,41253.95%2,05946.05%
1908 2,73550.86%1,56429.09%1,07820.05%
1904 4,24765.53%1,34720.78%88713.69%
1900 3,43555.96%2,61942.67%841.37%
1896 2,21042.91%2,90556.41%350.68%
1892 2,14051.18%54613.06%1,49535.76%

Education

School districts include: [15]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  183.
  5. 1 2 3 "Lawrence County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 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 28, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 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 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 442 ISBN   1400852293
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lawrence County, SD" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list

Further reading

44°22′N103°47′W / 44.36°N 103.79°W / 44.36; -103.79

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