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Hanson County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 43°40′N 97°47′W / 43.66°N 97.79°W / 43.66; -97.79
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hanson County
County
Saint Peter's Grotto is on the National Register of Historic Places
Saint Peter's Grotto is on the National Register of Historic Places
Map of South Dakota highlighting Hanson 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: 43°40′N 97°47′W / 43.66°N 97.79°W / 43.66; -97.79
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1871 (created)
1873 (organized)
Named forJoseph R. Hanson
SeatAlexandria
Largest cityAlexandria
Area
 • Total
434.5 sq mi (1,125 km2)
 • Land435.4 sq mi (1,128 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,461
 • Estimate 
(2023)
3,471 Increase
 • Density8.0/sq mi (3.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.hansoncounty.net

Hanson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,461.[1] Its county seat is Alexandria.[2] The county was founded in 1871 and organized in 1873.[3] It was named for Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first legislature.[4] Hanson County is part of the Mitchell, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is somewhat unique among those in the United States in that there are no officially registered airports within the county borders.

Geography

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The terrain of Hanson County consists of low rolling hills; its area is mostly devoted to agriculture. The James River flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county.[5] The terrain slopes toward the river basin on both sides, and generally gently slopes to the south.[6]

Hanson county has a total area of 435.3 square miles (1,127 km2), of which 434.5 square miles (1,125 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.[7] It is the third-smallest county in South Dakota by area.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,301—
18904,267228.0%
19004,94715.9%
19106,23726.1%
19206,202−0.6%
19306,131−1.1%
19405,400−11.9%
19504,896−9.3%
19604,584−6.4%
19703,781−17.5%
19803,415−9.7%
19902,994−12.3%
20003,1394.8%
20103,3316.1%
20203,4613.9%
2023 (est.)3,471[8]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 3,461 people, 1,146 households, and 855 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 8.0 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km2). There were 1,279 housing units.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 3,331 people, 1,045 households, and 793 families in the county. The population density was 7.7 inhabitants per square mile (3.0/km2). There were 1,177 housing units at an average density of 2.7 units per square mile (1.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 63.7% were German, 10.8% were Irish, 6.2% were English, 5.2% were Norwegian, and 4.0% were American.

Of the 1,045 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.1% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 35.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,556 and the median income for a family was $52,425. Males had a median income of $38,088 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,391. About 13.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Hanson County was mentioned as an "Extreme Whitopia" in Rich Benjamin's book, Searching for Whitopia.[14]

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Religious communities

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Unincorporated community

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Government

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Townships

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  • Beulah
  • Edgerton
  • Emery
  • Fairview
  • Hanson
  • Jasper
  • Plano
  • Rosedale
  • Springlake
  • Taylor
  • Wayne
  • Worthen

Politics

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Hanson County voters tend to vote Republican. Since 1936, they have selected the Republican Party candidate in 65% of national elections.

United States presidential election results for Hanson County, South Dakota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,611 78.74% 399 19.50% 36 1.76%
2020 1,793 75.08% 557 23.32% 38 1.59%
2016 1,497 74.63% 424 21.14% 85 4.24%
2012 1,627 67.34% 760 31.46% 29 1.20%
2008 1,426 58.66% 961 39.53% 44 1.81%
2004 1,379 64.14% 745 34.65% 26 1.21%
2000 944 66.43% 457 32.16% 20 1.41%
1996 801 52.22% 541 35.27% 192 12.52%
1992 522 36.38% 566 39.44% 347 24.18%
1988 786 50.00% 776 49.36% 10 0.64%
1984 898 58.69% 625 40.85% 7 0.46%
1980 1,015 58.84% 598 34.67% 112 6.49%
1976 693 40.60% 1,005 58.88% 9 0.53%
1972 876 45.96% 1,022 53.62% 8 0.42%
1968 901 50.08% 826 45.91% 72 4.00%
1964 802 39.43% 1,232 60.57% 0 0.00%
1960 1,087 48.53% 1,153 51.47% 0 0.00%
1956 1,050 46.94% 1,187 53.06% 0 0.00%
1952 1,320 63.07% 773 36.93% 0 0.00%
1948 860 47.05% 953 52.13% 15 0.82%
1944 1,070 55.33% 864 44.67% 0 0.00%
1940 1,408 53.66% 1,216 46.34% 0 0.00%
1936 1,090 40.25% 1,530 56.50% 88 3.25%
1932 845 31.89% 1,783 67.28% 22 0.83%
1928 1,576 58.13% 1,129 41.65% 6 0.22%
1924 811 40.47% 299 14.92% 894 44.61%
1920 1,001 51.87% 418 21.66% 511 26.48%
1916 767 51.10% 712 47.44% 22 1.47%
1912 0 0.00% 632 45.05% 771 54.95%
1908 668 48.69% 630 45.92% 74 5.39%
1904 745 55.76% 523 39.15% 68 5.09%
1900 607 49.07% 607 49.07% 23 1.86%
1896 420 38.75% 658 60.70% 6 0.55%
1892 378 36.21% 196 18.77% 470 45.02%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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 29, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 149.
  5. ^ a b "Hanson County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 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 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ "Searching for Whitopia". Richbenjamin.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
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