Edmunds County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

County in South Dakota

Edmunds County

County

Historic Bank of Bowdle

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 45°25′N 99°13′W﻿ / ﻿45.41°N 99.21°W﻿ / 45.41; -99.21
Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| 1873 (founded)
1883 (organized)
Named after| Newton Edmunds
Seat| Ipswich
Largest city| Ipswich
Area

• Total

| 1,151 sq mi (2,980 km2)
• Land| 1,126 sq mi (2,920 km2)
• Water| 25 sq mi (60 km2)  2.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 3,986

• Estimate

(2024)

| 4,027
• Density| 3.5/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| edmunds.sdcounties.org

Edmunds County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,986.[1] Its county seat is Ipswich.[2] The county was established in 1873 and organized in 1883.[3] It is named for Newton Edmunds, the second Governor of Dakota Territory.[4]

Edmunds County is part of the Aberdeen, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## Geography

[edit]

The terrain of Edmunds County consists of rolling hills, mostly dedicated to agriculture. The terrain's highest point is on the west portion of the north boundary line, at 1,978 ft (603 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 1,151 square miles (2,980 km2), of which 1,126 square miles (2,920 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (2.2%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 12
* South Dakota Highway 45
* South Dakota Highway 47
* South Dakota Highway 247
* South Dakota Highway 253

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* McPherson County \- north
* Brown County \- east
* Faulk County \- south
* Potter County \- southwest
* Walworth County \- west

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Bowdle-Hosmer State Game Production Area[7]
* Heilman State Game Production Area[8]
* Hosmer State Game Production Area[9]
* Light State Game Production Area
* Losee State Game Production Area
* Mina Lake State Recreation Area[10]
* Mina State Game Production Area
* North Scatterwood State Game Production Area
* Rosette State Game Production Area
* Schaber State Game Production Area
* Shaner State Game Production Area
* Steigelmier State Game Production Area[11]

### Lakes

[edit]

* Alkali Lake
* Bowdle-Hosmer Lake
* Grass Lake
* Lake Parmley
* North Scatterwood Lake (partial)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 4,399| | —
1900| 4,916| | 11.8%
1910| 7,654| | 55.7%
1920| 8,336| | 8.9%
1930| 8,712| | 4.5%
1940| 7,814| | −10.3%
1950| 7,275| | −6.9%
1960| 6,079| | −16.4%
1970| 5,548| | −8.7%
1980| 5,159| | −7.0%
1990| 4,356| | −15.6%
2000| 4,367| | 0.3%
2010| 4,071| | −6.8%
2020| 3,986| | −2.1%
2024 (est.)| 4,027| [12]| 1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16] 2010–2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,986 people, 1,546 households, and 1,052 families residing in the county.[17] The population density was 3.5 inhabitants per square mile (1.4/km2). There were 1,940 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,071 people, 1,607 households and 1,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.6 per square mile (1.4/km2). There were 1,966 housing units at an average density of 1.7 per square mile (0.66/km2). The racial make-up of the county was 97.8% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 70.8% were German, 11.4% were Norwegian, 10.1% were Russian, 5.9% were English and 2.4% were American.

Of the 1,607 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families, and 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 45.7 years.

The median household income was $47,026 and the median family income was $56,599. Males had a median income of $37,713 and females $26,287. The per capita income was $24,268. About 6.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable events

[edit]

Main article: 1999 South Dakota Learjet crash

Edmunds County is where the Learjet of the PGA golfer Payne Stewart crashed, killing him and five others on board. The plane crashed just south of the community of Mina at the approximate coordinates of 45°25' N 98°45' W.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Bowdle
* Hosmer
* Ipswich (county seat)
* Roscoe

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Deerfield Colony
* Mina
* Pembrook Colony
* Plainview Colony

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Beebe
* Craven[18]
* Gretna[19]
* Loyalton
* Powell

### Townships

[edit]

* Adrian
* Belle
* Bowdle
* Bryant
* Clear Lake
* Cleveland
* Cloyd
* Cordlandt
* Cottonwood Lake
* Fountain
* Glen
* Glover
* Harmony
* Hillside
* Hosmer
* Hudson
* Huntley
* Ipswich
* Kent
* Liberty
* Madison
* Modena
* Montpelier
* North Bryant
* Odessa
* Pembrook
* Powell
* Richland
* Rosette
* Sangamon
* Union
* Vermont

## Politics

[edit]

Edmunds County voters have long been reliably Republican. Since 1936, in only three elections has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Although it was one of only 129 counties nationwide to back George McGovern in his landslide 1972 defeat, it has voted for fewer Democratic presidential nominees (six) than any other county McGovern carried, with Jimmy Carter in 1976 the last Democrat to carry the county and Kamala Harris not passing twenty percent in 2024.

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

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,618  | 79.67% | 384  | 18.91%  | 29  | 1.43%
2020 | 1,538  | 77.48% | 417  | 21.01%  | 30  | 1.51%
2016 | 1,433  | 74.71% | 380  | 19.81%  | 105  | 5.47%
2012 | 1,264  | 65.29% | 622  | 32.13%  | 50  | 2.58%
2008 | 1,213  | 58.43% | 819  | 39.45%  | 44  | 2.12%
2004 | 1,434  | 64.19% | 765  | 34.24%  | 35  | 1.57%
2000 | 1,257  | 63.29% | 676  | 34.04%  | 53  | 2.67%
1996 | 1,055  | 45.67% | 973  | 42.12%  | 282  | 12.21%
1992 | 944  | 41.77% | 894  | 39.56%  | 422  | 18.67%
1988 | 1,327  | 51.06% | 1,259  | 48.44%  | 13  | 0.50%
1984 | 1,553  | 60.43% | 1,007  | 39.18%  | 10  | 0.39%
1980 | 1,881  | 64.55% | 883  | 30.30%  | 150  | 5.15%
1976 | 1,294  | 44.13%  | 1,629  | 55.56% | 9  | 0.31%
1972 | 1,567  | 48.73%  | 1,646  | 51.18% | 3  | 0.09%
1968 | 1,534  | 52.18% | 1,225  | 41.67%  | 181  | 6.16%
1964 | 1,442  | 45.78%  | 1,708  | 54.22% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 1,728  | 51.78% | 1,609  | 48.22%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,685  | 51.61% | 1,580  | 48.39%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 2,178  | 68.25% | 1,013  | 31.75%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 1,493  | 54.00% | 1,253  | 45.32%  | 19  | 0.69%
1944 | 1,762  | 64.71% | 961  | 35.29%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,341  | 61.87% | 1,443  | 38.13%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,818  | 46.76%  | 2,030  | 52.21% | 40  | 1.03%
1932 | 1,183  | 30.84%  | 2,588  | 67.47% | 65  | 1.69%
1928 | 1,743  | 51.95% | 1,597  | 47.60%  | 15  | 0.45%
1924 | 1,043  | 42.38%  | 277  | 11.26%  | 1,141  | 46.36%
1920 | 1,486  | 60.36% | 283  | 11.49%  | 693  | 28.15%
1916 | 894  | 55.46% | 634  | 39.33%  | 84  | 5.21%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 729  | 49.12% | 755  | 50.88%
1908 | 726  | 50.14% | 658  | 45.44%  | 64  | 4.42%
1904 | 786  | 65.88% | 353  | 29.59%  | 54  | 4.53%
1900 | 621  | 51.97% | 553  | 46.28%  | 21  | 1.76%
1896 | 371  | 41.78%  | 510  | 57.43% | 7  | 0.79%
1892 | 386  | 44.22% | 156  | 17.87%  | 331  | 37.92%

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[21]

* Bowdle School District 22-1
* Faulkton School District 24-4
* Edmunds Central School District 22-5
* Hoven School District 53-2
* Ipswich School District 22-6
* Northwestern Area School District 56-7
* Warner School District 06-5

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Edmunds 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 July 4, 2012. 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. 115.
5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
7. ^ Bowdle-Hosmer Public Shooting Area, Bowdle SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
8. ^ Heilman State Public Shooting Area, Bowdle SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
9. ^ Hosmer State Public Shooting Area, Hosmer SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
10. ^ Mina Lake State Recreation Area, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
11. ^ Steigelmier State Public Shooting Area, Onaka SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
12. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 15, 2025.
13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
15. ^ 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.
16. ^ "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.
17. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
18. ^ Craven SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
19. ^ Gretna SD, Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
21. ^ Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Edmunds County, SD (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 1, 2025. \- Text list

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Edmunds County, South Dakota

|  | McPherson County |

|
|

|  |
Walworth County |

Edmunds County, South Dakota

| Brown County
|  |
Potter County | Faulk County |

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Ipswich

Cities|

* Bowdle
* Hosmer
* Ipswich
* Roscoe

Townships|

* Adrian
* Belle
* Bowdle
* Bryant
* Clear Lake
* Cleveland
* Cloyd
* Cordlandt
* Cottonwood Lake
* Fountain
* Glen
* Glover
* Harmony
* Hillside
* Hosmer
* Hudson
* Huntley
* Ipswich
* Kent
* Liberty
* Madison
* Modena
* Montpelier
* North Bryant
* Odessa
* Pembrook
* Powell
* Richland
* Rosette
* Sangamon
* Union
* Vermont

CDPs|

* Deerfield Colony
* Mina
* Pembrook Colony
* Plainview Colony

Other
communities|

* Beebe
* Loyalton
* Powell

* 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
* Elections
* History
* Bibliography
* Timeline
* State Parks
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions
* Towns and villages
* Townships
* Transportation

Society|

* Abortion
* Cannabis
* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* African Americans
* Economy
* Education
* Colleges and universities
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* 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
* 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

45°25′N 99°13′W﻿ / ﻿45.41°N 99.21°W﻿ / 45.41; -99.21

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template