Sanborn County, South Dakota

Sanborn County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,330.^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Woonsocket.^[2] The county was created by the Dakota Territorial legislature on May 1, 1883, with land partitioned from Miner County. It was fully organized by July 18, 1883.^[3]

The terrain of Sanborn County consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. The James River flows southward through the east-central part of the county, and the SW part of the country is drained by Dry Run Creek.^[4] The terrain slopes to the south and to the southeast; its highest point is in its SW corner, at 1,358 ft (414 m) ASL.^[5] The county has a total area of 570 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[6]

• South Dakota Highway 34
• South Dakota Highway 37
• South Dakota Highway 224

• McCoy Lake State Public Shooting Area^[4]

Source:^[4]

• Long Lake
• Twin Lakes (partial)

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,330 people, 936 households, and 630 families residing in the county.^[12] The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). Of the residents, 24.2% were under the age of 18 and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 107.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.6 males.^[12]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.^[13]

There were 936 households in the county, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 16.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 1,134 housing units, of which 17.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.2% were owner-occupied and 21.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.^[12]

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,355 people, 975 households, and 630 families in the county. The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). There were 1,172 housing units at an average density of 2.1 units per square mile (0.81 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry.

Of the 975 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 47.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,732 and the median income for a family was $56,304. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $23,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,055. About 7.7% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

• Woonsocket (county seat)

• Artesian
• Letcher

• Forestburg
• Upland Colony

• Cuthbert

Sanborn County has been a swing county in the past, but in recent decades has tended to vote Republican. In 64% of the national elections since 1960, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020).

School districts include:^[15]

• Huron School District 02-2
• Mount Vernon School District 17-3
• Sanborn Central School District 55-5
• Wessington Springs School District 36-2
• Woonsocket School District 55-4

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

44°02′N 98°05′W / 44.03°N 98.09°W / 44.03; -98.09