Potter County, South Dakota

Last updated

Potter County
County
POTTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GETTYSBURG, SD.jpg
Potter County Courthouse (July 2013)
Map of South Dakota highlighting Potter 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: 45°04′N99°57′W / 45.06°N 99.95°W / 45.06; -99.95
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of South Dakota.svg  South Dakota
Founded1873 (created)
1883 (organized)
Named after Joel A. Potter
Seat Gettysburg
Largest cityGettysburg
Area
 • Total
899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land861 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (100 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,472
 • Estimate 
(2023)
2,413 Decrease2.svg
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district At-large

Potter County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,472. [1] Its county seat is Gettysburg. [2] The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1883. [3]

Contents

Geography

The Missouri River flows southward along the west boundary line of Potter County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture. [4] The county generally slopes to the south, although the western portion slopes into the river valley. [5] The county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 861 square miles (2,230 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (4.2%) is water. [6]

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Potter County is the westernmost of the SD counties to observe Central Time. [7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas [4]

Lakes [4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 2,910—
1900 2,9882.7%
1910 4,46649.5%
1920 4,382−1.9%
1930 5,76231.5%
1940 4,614−19.9%
1950 4,6881.6%
1960 4,9265.1%
1970 4,449−9.7%
1980 3,674−17.4%
1990 3,190−13.2%
2000 2,693−15.6%
2010 2,329−13.5%
2020 2,4726.1%
2024 (est.)2,402 [8] −2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,472 people, 1,127 households, and 753 families residing in the county. [13] The population density was 2.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 1,569 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,329 people, 1,062 households, and 648 families in the county. The population density was 2.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.0/km2). There were 1,500 housing units at an average density of 1.7 units per square mile (0.66 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 65.3% were German, 11.1% were Irish, 8.2% were Norwegian, 8.0% were English, and 3.9% were American.

Of the 1,062 households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.0% were non-families, and 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 50.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,422 and the median income for a family was $53,214. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $29,792 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,986. About 5.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated area [4]

Townships

The county has no organized townships. It is divided into three areas of unorganized territory: West Potter, Central Potter, and East Potter.

Politics

Like most of South Dakota outside of Native American counties, Potter County has been predominantly Republican throughout most of the state's history. Only three Democrats – William Jennings Bryan, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson – have carried the county as of 2024, and since Jimmy Carter in 1976 no Democrat has passed forty percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Potter County, South Dakota [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 1,05981.59%21416.49%251.93%
2020 1,13982.54%22716.45%141.01%
2016 1,07180.10%21516.08%513.81%
2012 1,02974.51%33924.55%130.94%
2008 93765.07%48233.47%211.46%
2004 1,14370.64%46328.62%120.74%
2000 1,11274.43%35623.83%261.74%
1996 97957.52%53431.37%18911.10%
1992 90150.67%49327.73%38421.60%
1988 1,17562.07%70137.03%170.90%
1984 1,55176.22%48223.69%20.10%
1980 1,63375.29%43620.10%1004.61%
1976 1,13655.36%90844.25%80.39%
1972 1,38961.65%85838.08%60.27%
1968 1,27357.81%78035.42%1496.77%
1964 95443.09%1,26056.91%00.00%
1960 1,32656.91%1,00443.09%00.00%
1956 1,44563.16%84336.84%00.00%
1952 1,62573.73%57926.27%00.00%
1948 1,04449.69%1,03949.45%180.86%
1944 1,00158.27%71741.73%00.00%
1940 1,27854.80%1,05445.20%00.00%
1936 91439.64%1,33858.02%542.34%
1932 66028.09%1,66870.98%220.94%
1928 1,24052.77%1,10046.81%100.43%
1924 1,07559.82%28315.75%43924.43%
1920 1,07372.30%25517.18%15610.51%
1916 51254.58%40843.50%181.92%
1912 00.00%42346.95%47853.05%
1908 61458.09%40037.84%434.07%
1904 52562.80%27532.89%364.31%
1900 37547.95%38148.72%263.32%
1896 33345.74%39053.57%50.69%
1892 32051.12%579.11%24939.78%

See also

45°04′N99°57′W / 45.06°N 99.95°W / 45.06; -99.95

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 31, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Potter County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  5. ↑ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ Map of Time Zone Line through South Dakota (accessed January 30, 2019)
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024" . Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
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