Oacoma, South Dakota

Oacoma, South Dakota
Town
Downtown Oacoma
Motto:  "One Day Just Isn't Enough"
Location in Lyman County and the state of South Dakota
Coordinates: 43°48′13″N99°22′20″W / 43.80361°N 99.37222°W / 43.80361; -99.37222
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Lyman
Founded	1890 [1]
Area [2]
• Total	4.19 sq mi (10.86 km2)
• Land	2.60 sq mi (6.75 km2)
• Water	1.59 sq mi (4.11 km2)
Elevation [3]	1,401 ft (427 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	386
• Density	148.23/sq mi (57.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	57365
Area code	605
FIPS code	46-46180 [5]
GNIS feature ID	1267519 [3]
Website	oacomasd.com

Oacoma is a town in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 386 at the 2020 census. ^[6] Oacoma is located on the west bank of the Missouri River, across from Chamberlain.

History

Al's Oasis, a stopping-off place in Oacoma along Interstate 90

On September 17, 1804, Lewis and Clark camped on the west bank of the Missouri River near American Island where Oacoma is now located. During the remainder of the 19th century the area was a stopping off place for explorers, fur traders and steamboat men. The township of Oacoma was laid out in 1891 as the county seat for the newly formed Lyman County; the seat was transferred to Kennebec in 1922. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad arrived to Oacoma in 1905 ^[7] and Oacoma was known as a "banking post-village". ^[8] In the 21st century, it is a rest stop for travelers on Interstate 90.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.18 square miles (10.83 km²), of which 2.59 square miles (6.71 km²) is land and 1.59 square miles (4.12 km²) is water. ^[9]

American Crow Creek, a tributary to the Missouri River, enters the river in Oacoma.

The town is located approximately halfway between Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	235		—
1920	224		−4.7%
1930	167		−25.4%
1940	197		18.0%
1950	231		17.3%
1960	312		35.1%
1970	215		−31.1%
1980	289		34.4%
1990	367		27.0%
2000	390		6.3%
2010	451		15.6%
2020	386		−14.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] [4]

2010 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2010, there were 451 people, 205 households, and 135 families residing in the town. The population density was 174.1 inhabitants per square mile (67.2/km²). There were 236 housing units at an average density of 91.1 per square mile (35.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.9% White, 0.2% African American, 6.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 205 households, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.64.

The median age in the town was 44.3 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 33.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 52.5% male and 47.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2000, there were 390 people, 169 households, and 111 families residing in the town. The population density was 192.8 inhabitants per square mile (74.4/km²). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 92.9 per square mile (35.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.36% White, 3.33% Native American, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.

There were 169 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,719, and the median income for a family was $44,250. Males had a median income of $26,500 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,206. About 8.4% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "SD Towns" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society . Retrieved February 14, 2010.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Oacoma, South Dakota
4. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "U.S. Census Bureau: Oacoma town, South Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
7. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 994. ISBN   978-1135948597 . Retrieved November 30, 2013.
8. Angelo Heilprin, ed. (1906). Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe. Louis Heilprin. J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 1341. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 21, 2012.

External links

• Official website
• Chamberlain-Oacoma Area Chamber of Commerce