Clark County, South Dakota

Clark County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,837.^[1] Its county seat is Clark.^[2] The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1881.^[3] It was named for Newton Clark, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1873.^[4][5]

Clark County terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds especially in the east central portion. The area is mostly devoted to agriculture.^[6] The county has a total area of 967 square miles (2,500 km²), of which 958 square miles (2,480 km²) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km²) (1.0%) is water.^[7]

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,837 people, 1,361 households, and 853 families residing in the county.^[26] Of the residents, 27.6% were under the age of 18 and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.4 males.^[26]

The population density was 4.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 1,603 housing units, of which 15.1% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.1% and a rental vacancy rate of 5.1%.^[26]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 1.7% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.^[27]

Of the 1,361 households, 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[26]

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,691 people, 1,445 households, and 929 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 1,710 housing units at an average density of 1.8 per square mile (0.69/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 52.0% were German, 29.4% were Norwegian, 9.7% were Irish, 7.8% were English, 5.4% were Swedish, and 3.5% were American.

Of the 1,445 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.7% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 45.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,894 and the median income for a family was $55,575. Males had a median income of $33,606 versus $24,952 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,909. About 7.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

• Clark (county seat)
• Willow Lake

• Collins Colony
• Crocker
• Fordham Colony
• Hillcrest Colony
• Mayfield Colony
• Silver Lake Colony

• Carpenter
• Elrod

Clark County is a strongly Republican county. The last time it voted Democratic was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clark County, South Dakota

44°52′N 97°44′W / 44.86°N 97.73°W / 44.86; -97.73