Fall River County, South Dakota

Fall River County
U.S. county
Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs.
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	April 3, 1883
Named for	Fall River
Seat	Hot Springs
Largest city	Hot Springs
Area
• Total	1,749 sq mi (4,530 km2)
• Land	1,740 sq mi (4,500 km2)
• Water	9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,973
• Estimate  (2021)	7,202
• Density	4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	fallriver.sdcounties.org

Fall River County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 6,973.^[1] Its county seat is Hot Springs.^[2] The county was founded in 1883. It is named for Fall River which runs through it.^[3]

Fall River County lies at South Dakota's SW corner. Its south borderline abuts the north borderline of the state of Nebraska, and its west borderline abuts the east borderline of the state of Wyoming. The Fall River County terrain contains a mountainous area in the north-central portion, with rolling hills in the rest of the county. Outside the mountainous area, the county's highest point is its SW corner, at 3,970' (1210m) ASL. Of the several peaks in the mountainous area, one in the NE portion of that zone rises to 4,646' (1416m) ASL. The terrain slopes to the north and east. Discharging from the Angostura Reservoir, the Cheyenne River flows northeasterly through the upper part of the county, departing the county through its north boundary line into Custer County.

Fall River County has a total area of 1,749 square miles (4,530 km²), of which 1,740 square miles (4,500 km²) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[4]

• Angostura Reservoir
• Coldbrook Lake
• Cottonwood Springs Lake

As of the 2000 census,^[10] there were 7,453 people, 3,127 households, and 1,976 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 3,812 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.51% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 6.05% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 12.1% English, 9.5% Norwegian and 7.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,127 households, out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 32.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

The county population contained 22.80% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 28.30% from 45 to 64, and 22.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 109.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,631, and the median income for a family was $37,827. Males had a median income of $30,646 versus $20,017 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,048. About 7.80% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,094 people, 3,272 households, and 1,899 families in the county.^[11] The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 2.4 per square mile (0.93/km²).^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 7.1% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population.^[11] In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 11.2% were English, 8.4% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Dutch, and 2.3% were American.^[13]

Of the 3,272 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.0% were non-families, and 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 50.5 years.^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $35,833 and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $36,495 versus $32,058 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,574. About 11.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.^[14]

• Edgemont
• Hot Springs

• Oelrichs

• Argentine
• Provo
• Robins

• Northeast Fall River
• Southwest Fall River

Fall River voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fall River County, South Dakota.

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

• Fall River County Courthouse Official Website
• Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Hot Springs City Hall
• Edgemont City Hall

Coordinates: 43°15′N 103°31′W / 43.25°N 103.52°W / 43.25; -103.52