Butte County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

County in South Dakota

Butte County

County

Butte County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°55′N 103°29′W﻿ / ﻿44.91°N 103.49°W﻿ / 44.91; -103.49
Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| March 2, 1883
May 6, 1883
Named after| Hills in the county
Seat| Belle Fourche
Largest city| Belle Fourche
Area

• Total

| 2,266 sq mi (5,870 km2)
• Land| 2,250 sq mi (5,800 km2)
• Water| 16 sq mi (40 km2)  0.7%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 10,243

• Estimate

(2024)

| 10,891
• Density| 4.5/sq mi (1.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| butte.sdcounties.org

Butte County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,243.[1] Its county seat is Belle Fourche.[2] The county was established in the Dakota Territory on March 2, 1883, and given the descriptive name based on the French word for a hill.[3]

## History

[edit]

### Prehistory

[edit]

In 1975, plesiosaur fossils dating to the Cretaceous Period (ca. 110 million years ago) were discovered in Butte County. In the 1980s, a 90-million-year-old fossil of a clawless lobster was discovered. A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton was found in 1981.

The early human history of the Belle Fourche River Valley has been traced to about 3000 BC. The first people of the area were Native Americans who resided on the northwestern plains of North America. The earliest known evidence of human activity in the area dates to the Middle Plains Archaic Period of the Plains Indians (ca. 3000–1500 BC). Traces of tipi rings dating from this period have been found. In 1979 and 1980, archeologists excavated a fortified and previously inhabited site west of Belle Fourche that dated to AD 1000. This site was called the Smiley-Evans Site and had been recorded in 1959. Until 1984, only 47 archaeological sites had been recorded, but after the excavation of the Smiley-Evans Site, several investigations were undertaken. As of 1989[update], 199 archaeological sites had been discovered in the county.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

Butte County lies on the west edge of South Dakota. Its northwestern boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of Montana, and its southwestern boundary line abuts the eastern boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The Butte County terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills cut by drainages oriented NW-SE. A relatively small portion of the area is dedicated to agriculture, including the employment of center pivot irrigation.[5] The terrain slopes to the southeast, and its highest point is on the western boundary line near the SW corner: 3,865 ft (1,178 m) ASL.[6]

The county has a total area of 2,266 square miles (5,870 km2), of which 2,250 square miles (5,800 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (0.7%) is water.[7]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 85
* U.S. Highway 212
* South Dakota Highway 34
* South Dakota Highway 79
* South Dakota Highway 168

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Harding County \- north
* Perkins County \- northeast
* Meade County \- southeast
* Lawrence County \- southwest
* Crook County, Wyoming \- west
* Carter County, Montana \- northwest

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Belle Fourche Dam State Game Production Area
* Belle Fourche National Wildlife Refuge [8]
* Newell Lake State Game Production Area
* Newell Lake State Lakeside Use Area
* Rocky Point State Recreation Area

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 1,037| | —
1900| 2,907| | 180.3%
1910| 4,993| | 71.8%
1920| 6,819| | 36.6%
1930| 8,589| | 26.0%
1940| 8,004| | −6.8%
1950| 8,161| | 2.0%
1960| 8,592| | 5.3%
1970| 7,825| | −8.9%
1980| 8,372| | 7.0%
1990| 7,914| | −5.5%
2000| 9,094| | 14.9%
2010| 10,110| | 11.2%
2020| 10,243| | 1.3%
2024 (est.)| 10,891| [9]| 6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,243 people, 4,196 households, and 2,760 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 4.6 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km2). There were 4,673 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 10,110 people, 4,160 households, and 2,786 families in the county. The population density was 4.5 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km2). There were 4,621 housing units at an average density of 2.1 units per square mile (0.81 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 1.9% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.9% were German, 16.6% were Irish, 15.7% were Norwegian, 10.4% were English, and 5.2% were American.

Of the 4,160 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 41.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,041 and the median income for a family was $52,829. Males had a median income of $37,429 versus $25,273 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,418. About 11.5% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Belle Fourche (county seat)
* Newell

### Towns

[edit]

* Fruitdale
* Nisland

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Vale

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Arpan[15]
* Castle Rock[16]
* East Butte[17]
* Hoover[18]
* Minnesela
* West Butte[19]

### Townships

[edit]

* Union
* Vale

## Politics

[edit]

Like most of South Dakota, Butte County is a Republican stronghold. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Butte County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Although Roosevelt in the following election and Lyndon Johnson in 1964, respectively, came within six and fourteen votes of claiming the county during landslide Democratic victories, apart from these instances, no Democratic presidential candidate since 1920 has reached forty percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Butte County, South Dakota[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 4,024  | 79.18% | 942  | 18.54%  | 116  | 2.28%
2020 | 3,731  | 77.70% | 939  | 19.55%  | 132  | 2.75%
2016 | 3,357  | 77.15% | 696  | 16.00%  | 298  | 6.85%
2012 | 3,073  | 73.03% | 1,002  | 23.81%  | 133  | 3.16%
2008 | 2,821  | 66.28% | 1,306  | 30.69%  | 129  | 3.03%
2004 | 3,166  | 74.13% | 1,009  | 23.62%  | 96  | 2.25%
2000 | 2,760  | 74.82% | 840  | 22.77%  | 89  | 2.41%
1996 | 1,947  | 53.24% | 1,132  | 30.95%  | 578  | 15.81%
1992 | 1,674  | 45.24% | 973  | 26.30%  | 1,053  | 28.46%
1988 | 2,291  | 63.96% | 1,256  | 35.06%  | 35  | 0.98%
1984 | 2,865  | 78.13% | 784  | 21.38%  | 18  | 0.49%
1980 | 2,850  | 73.11% | 843  | 21.63%  | 205  | 5.26%
1976 | 2,055  | 59.19% | 1,366  | 39.34%  | 51  | 1.47%
1972 | 2,452  | 68.82% | 1,085  | 30.45%  | 26  | 0.73%
1968 | 2,090  | 63.28% | 1,017  | 30.79%  | 196  | 5.93%
1964 | 1,877  | 50.19% | 1,863  | 49.81%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,496  | 65.44% | 1,318  | 34.56%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,231  | 68.46% | 1,028  | 31.54%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 2,689  | 76.26% | 837  | 23.74%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 1,726  | 60.73% | 1,065  | 37.47%  | 51  | 1.79%
1944 | 1,824  | 66.28% | 928  | 33.72%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,164  | 60.99% | 1,384  | 39.01%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,525  | 48.49% | 1,519  | 48.30%  | 101  | 3.21%
1932 | 1,594  | 47.77%  | 1,684  | 50.46% | 59  | 1.77%
1928 | 1,988  | 69.36% | 840  | 29.31%  | 38  | 1.33%
1924 | 1,199  | 55.59% | 277  | 12.84%  | 681  | 31.57%
1920 | 1,722  | 54.51% | 672  | 21.27%  | 765  | 24.22%
1916 | 537  | 33.31%  | 930  | 57.69% | 145  | 9.00%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 601  | 41.08%  | 862  | 58.92%
1908 | 1,636  | 60.21% | 915  | 33.68%  | 166  | 6.11%
1904 | 793  | 67.32% | 330  | 28.01%  | 55  | 4.67%
1900 | 492  | 53.19% | 420  | 45.41%  | 13  | 1.41%
1896 | 222  | 43.53%  | 286  | 56.08% | 2  | 0.39%
1892 | 154  | 40.10%  | 28  | 7.29%  | 202  | 52.60%

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Butte County, South Dakota.

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Joseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), pp. 68, 479
4. ^ Engebretson, Pat; Heck, Kay; Herrett, Helen (1989). A History of Butte County, South Dakota. Dallas TX: Curtis Media. ISBN 0-88107-139-0.
5. ^ Butte County SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
6. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
8. ^ Belle Fourche National Wildlife Refuge, Belle Fourche SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
9. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 15, 2025.
10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
14. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
15. ^ Arpan SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
16. ^ Castle Rock SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
17. ^ East Butte SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
18. ^ Hoover SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
19. ^ West Butte Unorganized Territory SD Google Maps (accessed January 31, 2019)
20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

Places adjacent to Butte County, South Dakota

| Carter County, Montana | Harding County | Perkins County

|
|

|  |
Crook County, Wyoming |

Butte County, South Dakota

|  |
Lawrence County |
| Meade County

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Belle Fourche

Cities|

* Belle Fourche
* Newell

Towns|

* Fruitdale
* Nisland

Townships|

* Union
* Vale

Unorganized
territories|

* East Butte
* West Butte

CDP|

* Vale

Other
communities|

* Arpan
* Castle Rock
* Hoover

Ghost towns|

* Mason
* Minnesela

* South Dakota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of South Dakota

Pierre (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Cities
* Climate change
* Famous South Dakotans
* Geography
* Government
* Delegations
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Society|

* Abortion
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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
* Piedmont
* 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

South Dakota portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

44°55′N 103°29′W﻿ / ﻿44.91°N 103.49°W﻿ / 44.91; -103.49
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