Clark County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

U.S. county in South Dakota

Clark County

U.S. county

Clark County Courthouse

Clark County Courthouse

Error creating thumbnail:

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| 1873 (created)
1881 (organized)
Named for| Newton Clark
Seat| Clark
Largest city| Clark
Area

• Total| 967 sq mi (2,500 km2)
• Land| 958 sq mi (2,480 km2)
• Water| 9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  1.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 3,837
• Estimate

(2021)

| 3,855
• Density| 4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| http://clark.sdcounties.org/

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]

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Major highways
* 1.2 Adjacent counties
* 1.3 Protected areas
* 1.4 Lakes and reservoirs
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2000 census
* 2.2 2010 census
* 3 Communities
* 3.1 Cities
* 3.2 Towns
* 3.3 Census-designated place
* 3.4 Unincorporated communities
* 3.5 Townships
* 4 Politics
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## Geography

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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]

### Major highways

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* File:US 212.svg U.S. Highway 212
* File:SD 20.svg South Dakota Highway 20
* South Dakota Highway 25
* South Dakota Highway 28

### Adjacent counties

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* Day County \- north
* Codington County \- east
* Hamlin County \- southeast
* Kingsbury County \- south
* Beadle County \- southwest
* Spink County \- west

### Protected areas

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* Christopherson State Public Shooting Area[8]
* Dry Lake Number Two State Public Shooting Area[9]
* Fordham State Public Shooting Area[10]
* McPeek State Public Shooting Area[11]
* Stairs Slough State Public Shooting Area[12]
* Willow Lake State Public Shooting Area[13]

### Lakes and reservoirs

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* Baileys Lake[14]
* Dry Lake Number One[15]
* Dry Lake Number Two[16]
* Mud Lake[17]
* Reid Lake[18]
* Swan Lake[19]
* Willow Lake[20]

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 114| | —
1890| 6,728| | 5,801.8%
1900| 6,942| | 3.2%
1910| 10,901| | 57.0%
1920| 11,136| | 2.2%
1930| 11,022| | −1.0%
1940| 8,955| | −18.8%
1950| 8,369| | −6.5%
1960| 7,134| | −14.8%
1970| 5,515| | −22.7%
1980| 4,894| | −11.3%
1990| 4,403| | −10.0%
2000| 4,143| | −5.9%
2010| 3,691| | −10.9%
2020| 3,837| | 4.0%
2021 (est.)| 3,855| [21]| 0.5%
US Decennial Census[22]
1790-1960[23] 1900-1990[24]
1990-2000[25] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census,[26] there were 4,143 people, 1,598 households, and 1,110 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 1,880 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.65% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.2% were of German, 24.9% Norwegian and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 1,598 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 27.00% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 22.00% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,208, and the median income for a family was $35,559. Males had a median income of $24,421 versus $19,543 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,597. About 10.90% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 16.00% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,691 people, 1,445 households, and 929 families residing in the county.[27] 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).[28] 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.[27] 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.[29]

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.[27]

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.[30]

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Clark (county seat)
* Willow Lake

### Towns

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* Bradley
* Garden City
* Naples
* Raymond
* Vienna

### Census-designated place

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* Crocker

### Unincorporated communities

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* Carpenter
* Elrod

### Townships

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* Ash
* Blaine
* Collins
* Cottonwood
* Darlington
* Day
* Eden
* Fordham
* Foxton
* Garfield
* Hague
* Lake
* Lincoln
* Logan
* Maydell
* Merton
* Mount Pleasant
* Pleasant
* Raymond
* Richland
* Rosedale
* Spring Valley
* Thorp
* Warren
* Washington
* Woodland

## Politics

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Clark county is reliably Republican.

United States presidential election results for Clark County, South Dakota[31] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2016 | 1,139  | 68.74% | 398  | 24.02%  | 120  | 7.24%
2012 | 1,067  | 58.59% | 713  | 39.15%  | 41  | 2.25%
2008 | 1,065  | 54.90% | 830  | 42.78%  | 45  | 2.32%
2004 | 1,435  | 61.67% | 875  | 37.60%  | 17  | 0.73%
2000 | 1,272  | 60.34% | 791  | 37.52%  | 45  | 2.13%
1996 | 998  | 44.51% | 956  | 42.64%  | 288  | 12.85%
1992 | 803  | 33.81% | 799  | 33.64%  | 773  | 32.55%
1988 | 1,247  | 51.44% | 1,164  | 48.02%  | 13  | 0.54%
1984 | 1,748  | 64.31% | 960  | 35.32%  | 10  | 0.37%
1980 | 1,963  | 67.43% | 774  | 26.59%  | 174  | 5.98%
1976 | 1,449  | 51.06% | 1,376  | 48.48%  | 13  | 0.46%
1972 | 1,617  | 54.59% | 1,336  | 45.10%  | 9  | 0.30%
1968 | 1,596  | 52.50% | 1,325  | 43.59%  | 119  | 3.91%
1964 | 1,511  | 46.04%  | 1,771  | 53.96% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,204  | 61.05% | 1,406  | 38.95%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,173  | 58.83% | 1,521  | 41.17%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 2,692  | 71.44% | 1,076  | 28.56%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 1,625  | 50.59% | 1,559  | 48.54%  | 28  | 0.87%
1944 | 1,936  | 61.56% | 1,209  | 38.44%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,622  | 61.75% | 1,624  | 38.25%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,883  | 46.07%  | 2,036  | 49.82% | 168  | 4.11%
1932 | 1,572  | 36.56%  | 2,649  | 61.60% | 79  | 1.84%
1928 | 2,665  | 65.46% | 1,370  | 33.65%  | 36  | 0.88%
1924 | 1,684  | 56.85% | 325  | 10.97%  | 953  | 32.17%
1920 | 1,753  | 60.24% | 437  | 15.02%  | 720  | 24.74%
1916 | 1,226  | 52.71% | 1,016  | 43.68%  | 84  | 3.61%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 668  | 38.48%  | 1,068  | 61.52%
1908 | 1,234  | 64.37% | 557  | 29.06%  | 126  | 6.57%
1904 | 1,409  | 73.85% | 276  | 14.47%  | 223  | 11.69%
1900 | 996  | 54.16% | 752  | 40.89%  | 91  | 4.95%
1896 | 695  | 45.01%  | 816  | 52.85% | 33  | 2.14%
1892 | 731  | 47.19% | 197  | 12.72%  | 621  | 40.09%

## See also

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

## References

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1. ^ a b "2020 Census Results". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. 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. 82.
5. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 57.
6. ^ Clark County SD Google Maps (accessed 31 January 2019)
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
8. ^ Christopherson State Public Shooting Area, Vienna SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
9. ^ Dry Lake Number 2 State Public Shooting Area, Willow Lake SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
10. ^ Fordham State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
11. ^ McPeek State Public Shooting Area, Willow Lake SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
12. ^ Stairs Slough State Public Shooting Area, Clark SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
13. ^ Willow Lake State Public Shooting Area, Willow Lake SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
14. ^ Baileys Lake Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
15. ^ Dry Lake Number One Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
16. ^ Dry Lake Number Two Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
17. ^ Mud Lake Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
18. ^ Reid Lake Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
19. ^ Swan Lake Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
20. ^ Willow Lake SD Google Maps (accessedJanuary 31, 2019)
21. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 25, 2022.
22. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
23. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
24. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". USCensus Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
25. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
26. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
27. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
28. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
29. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
30. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
31. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

Places adjacent to Clark County, South Dakota

|  | Day County |

|
|

|  |
Spink County |

Clark County, South Dakota

| Codington County
|  |
Beadle County | Kingsbury County | Hamlin County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Clark County, South Dakota, United States

County seat: Clark

Cities|

* Clark
* Willow Lake

Error creating thumbnail:

Towns|

* Bradley
* Garden City
* Naples
* Raymond
* Vienna

CDPs|

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

Other
communities|

* Carpenter
* Elrod
* Melham

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of South Dakota

Pierre (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Cities
* Famous South Dakotans
* Geography
* Government
* Delegations
* Elections
* History
* Bibliography
* Timeline
* State Parks
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions
* Towns and villages
* Townships
* Transportation

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Colleges and universities
* Politics

Regions|

* Badlands
* Black Hills
* Coteau des Prairies
* Missouri Coteau
* Dissected Till Plains
* Drift Prairie
* East River
* Pine Ridge
* Siouxland
* West River

Larger incorporated places
pop. over 5,000|

* Aberdeen
* Belle Fourche
* Box Elder
* Brandon
* Brookings
* Harrisburg
* Huron
* Madison
* Mitchell
* Pierre
* Rapid City
* Sioux Falls
* Spearfish
* Sturgis
* Tea
* Vermillion
* Watertown
* Yankton

Smaller incorporated places
pop. 1,000 - 5,000|

* Aurora
* Baltic
* Beresford
* Britton
* Canton
* Chamberlain
* Clark
* Clear Lake
* Crooks
* Custer
* De Smet
* Deadwood
* Dell Rapids
* Eagle Butte
* Elk Point
* Flandreau
* Fort Pierre
* Freeman
* Garretson
* Gettysburg
* Gregory
* Groton
* Hartford
* Hot Springs
* Lead
* Lemmon
* Lennox
* Milbank
* Miller
* Mission
* Mobridge
* North Sioux City
* Parker
* Parkston
* Platte
* Redfield
* Salem
* Sisseton
* Springfield
* Summerset
* Tyndall
* Volga
* Wagner
* Webster
* Winner

Largest CDPs
pop. over 1,000|

* Blackhawk
* Colonial Pine Hills
* Dakota Dunes
* Fort Thompson
* Green Valley
* North Eagle Butte
* North Spearfish
* Oglala
* Pine Ridge
* Rapid Valley
* Rosebud

Counties|

* Aurora
* Beadle
* Bennett
* Bon Homme
* Brookings
* Brown
* Brule
* Buffalo
* Butte
* Campbell
* Charles Mix
* Clark
* Clay
* Codington
* Corson
* Custer
* Davison
* Day
* Deuel
* Dewey
* Douglas
* Edmunds
* Fall River
* Faulk
* Grant
* Gregory
* Haakon
* Hamlin
* Hand
* Hanson
* Harding
* Hughes
* Hutchinson
* Hyde
* Jackson
* Jerauld
* Jones
* Kingsbury
* Lake
* Lawrence
* Lincoln
* Lyman
* Marshall
* McCook
* McPherson
* Meade
* Mellette
* Miner
* Minnehaha
* Moody
* Oglala Lakota
* Pennington
* Perkins
* Potter
* Roberts
* Sanborn
* Spink
* Stanley
* Sully
* Todd
* Tripp
* Turner
* Union
* Walworth
* Yankton
* Ziebach

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