Day County, South Dakota

Day County
First National Bank (Webster, South Dakota)
Map of South Dakota highlighting Day County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°22′N 97°37′W / 45.37°N 97.61°W / 45.37; -97.61
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1880
Named forMerritt H. Day
SeatWebster
Largest cityWebster
Area
 • Total1,091 sq mi (2,830 km2)
 • Land1,028 sq mi (2,660 km2)
 • Water63 sq mi (160 km2)  5.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,449
 • Estimate 
(2023)
5,451 Increase
 • Density5.0/sq mi (1.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteday.sdcounties.org

Day County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,449.[1] Its county seat is Webster.[2] The county is named for Merritt H. Day, pioneer and 1879 Dakota Territory legislator.[3][4]

Geography[edit]

Native Vegetation based on NRCS soils information

The terrain of Day County consists of rolling hills, partly devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with numerous lakes and ponds, especially its eastern portion.[5] The terrain slopes to the west; its highest point is the northeast corner, at 2,014 ft (614 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,091 square miles (2,830 km2), of which 1,028 square miles (2,660 km2) is land and 63 square miles (160 km2) (5.8%) is water.[7]

Lakes[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

  • Buchner Slough State Public Shooting Area[8]
  • Holmquist Slough State Public Shooting Area[9]
  • Lily State Public Shooting Area[10]
  • Myland Pass State Public Shooting Area[11]
  • Nelson Slough State Public Shooting Area[12]
  • Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area[13]
  • Pierpont Lake Recreation Area[14]
  • Waubay National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
188097
18909,1689,351.5%
190012,25433.7%
191014,37217.3%
192015,1945.7%
193014,606−3.9%
194013,565−7.1%
195012,294−9.4%
196010,516−14.5%
19708,713−17.1%
19808,133−6.7%
19906,978−14.2%
20006,267−10.2%
20105,710−8.9%
20205,449−4.6%
2023 (est.)5,451[15]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 5,449 people, 2,370 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 5.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km2). There were 3,395 housing units.

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,710 people, 2,504 households, and 1,561 families in the county. The population density was 5.6 inhabitants per square mile (2.2/km2). There were 3,630 housing units at an average density of 3.5 units per square mile (1.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% white, 9.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 43.8% were German, 25.1% were Norwegian, 12.8% were Polish, 8.8% were Irish, and 6.1% were American.

Of the 2,504 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 47.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,818 and the median income for a family was $47,949. Males had a median income of $36,549 versus $25,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,542. About 10.7% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

  • Andover
  • Bristol
  • Butler
  • Central Point
  • Egeland
  • Farmington
  • Grenville
  • Highland
  • Homer
  • Independence
  • Kidder
  • Kosciusko
  • Liberty
  • Lynn
  • Morton
  • Nutley
  • Oak Gulch
  • Racine
  • Raritan
  • Rusk
  • Scotland
  • Troy
  • Union
  • Valley
  • Waubay
  • Webster
  • Wheatland
  • York

Politics[edit]

Day County voters have tended to vote Democratic for the past several decades. Since 1948 the county has selected the Democratic Party candidate in 71% of national elections. However, the county swung hard to Donald Trump in 2016, and in 2020 Trump posted the best percentage in the county by a Republican presidential candidate since Theodore Roosevelt in 1904.

United States presidential election results for Day County, South Dakota[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,869 63.06% 1,052 35.49% 43 1.45%
2016 1,627 59.23% 974 35.46% 146 5.31%
2012 1,320 45.95% 1,497 52.11% 56 1.95%
2008 1,372 42.81% 1,785 55.69% 48 1.50%
2004 1,671 47.20% 1,817 51.33% 52 1.47%
2000 1,623 50.77% 1,492 46.67% 82 2.56%
1996 1,282 36.29% 1,840 52.08% 411 11.63%
1992 1,161 31.17% 1,578 42.36% 986 26.47%
1988 1,616 42.82% 2,137 56.62% 21 0.56%
1984 2,150 52.43% 1,932 47.11% 19 0.46%
1980 2,507 55.18% 1,720 37.86% 316 6.96%
1976 1,617 37.98% 2,610 61.31% 30 0.70%
1972 1,971 41.95% 2,719 57.86% 9 0.19%
1968 2,062 43.81% 2,463 52.33% 182 3.87%
1964 1,914 37.17% 3,235 62.83% 0 0.00%
1960 2,626 48.09% 2,835 51.91% 0 0.00%
1956 2,652 47.16% 2,971 52.84% 0 0.00%
1952 3,648 60.81% 2,351 39.19% 0 0.00%
1948 2,438 42.91% 3,146 55.38% 97 1.71%
1944 2,593 51.04% 2,487 48.96% 0 0.00%
1940 3,277 49.85% 3,297 50.15% 0 0.00%
1936 2,113 36.88% 3,335 58.21% 281 4.90%
1932 1,983 32.03% 3,910 63.16% 298 4.81%
1928 3,180 54.22% 2,642 45.05% 43 0.73%
1924 2,193 55.17% 308 7.75% 1,474 37.08%
1920 2,739 59.82% 436 9.52% 1,404 30.66%
1916 1,758 61.21% 907 31.58% 207 7.21%
1912 0 0.00% 787 33.76% 1,544 66.24%
1908 1,616 59.22% 813 29.79% 300 10.99%
1904 2,077 73.50% 383 13.55% 366 12.95%
1900 1,558 56.37% 1,092 39.51% 114 4.12%
1896 1,171 48.07% 1,230 50.49% 35 1.44%
1892 752 38.92% 362 18.74% 818 42.34%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ <Legislative Manual 2005, p. 596
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 101.
  5. ^ Day County SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  8. ^ Buchner Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  9. ^ Holmquist Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  10. ^ Lily State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  11. ^ Myland Pass State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  12. ^ Nelson Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  13. ^ Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  14. ^ Pierpont Lake Recreation Area, Pierpont SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  15. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  18. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  19. ^ "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 24, 2015.
  20. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Amsden, Groton SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

External links[edit]

45°22′N 97°37′W / 45.37°N 97.61°W / 45.37; -97.61