Hamlin County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

County in South Dakota

Hamlin County

County

Hamlin County Courthouse in Hayti in 1974

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°41′N 97°12′W﻿ / ﻿44.68°N 97.2°W﻿ / 44.68; -97.2
Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| 1873 (created)
1878 (organized)
Named after| Hannibal Hamlin
Seat| Hayti
Largest city| Estelline
Area

• Total

| 538 sq mi (1,390 km2)
• Land| 507 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Water| 31 sq mi (80 km2)  5.7%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 6,164

• Estimate

(2024)

| 6,596
• Density| 11/sq mi (4.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| hamlinco.us

Hamlin County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,164.[1] Its county seat is Hayti.[2] The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1878.[3] It was named for Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice-president.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

Soils of Hamlin County

The terrain of Hamlin County consists of low rolling hills, dotted with small lakes and ponds. The land is largely dedicated to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south-southeast, and its highest point is on the eastern boundary line, near its NE corner, at 1,949 ft (594 m) ASL.[6]

Hamlin County has a total area of 538 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 507 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (5.7%) is water.[7]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 29
* U.S. Highway 81
* South Dakota Highway 21
* South Dakota Highway 22
* South Dakota Highway 28

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Codington County \- north
* Deuel County \- east
* Brookings County \- southeast
* Kingsbury County \- southwest
* Clark County \- west

### Protected areas

[edit]

Source:[5]

* Baxter Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Bochek State Public Shooting Area
* Eidsness State Public Shooting Area
* Hamlin State Public Shooting Area
* Harju State Public Shooting Area
* Hayes Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Johnsons Slough State Public Shooting Area
* McShane State Public Shooting Area
* Opdahl Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Rasmussen State Public Shooting Area

### Lakes

[edit]

Source:[5]

* Clear Lake
* Dry Lake
* Lake Albert (partial)
* Lake Marsh
* Lake Mary
* Lake Norden
* Lake Poinsett
* Lake Saint John

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 693| | —
1890| 4,623| | 567.1%
1900| 5,945| | 28.6%
1910| 7,475| | 25.7%
1920| 8,054| | 7.7%
1930| 8,299| | 3.0%
1940| 7,562| | −8.9%
1950| 7,058| | −6.7%
1960| 6,303| | −10.7%
1970| 5,172| | −17.9%
1980| 5,261| | 1.7%
1990| 4,974| | −5.5%
2000| 5,540| | 11.4%
2010| 5,903| | 6.6%
2020| 6,164| | 4.4%
2024 (est.)| 6,596| [8]| 7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,164 people, 2,155 households, and 1,513 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 12.2 inhabitants per square mile (4.7/km2). There were 2,759 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,903 people, 2,108 households, and 1,483 families in the county. The population density was 11.6 inhabitants per square mile (4.5/km2). There were 2,760 housing units at an average density of 5.4 units per square mile (2.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 24.0% were Norwegian, 7.0% were English, 6.1% were Irish, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.3% were American.

Of the 2,108 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 36.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,439 and the median income for a family was $54,483. Males had a median income of $36,921 versus $24,645 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,558. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Bryant
* Castlewood
* Estelline
* Lake Norden

### Towns

[edit]

* Hayti (county seat)
* Hazel

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Claremont Colony
* Lake Poinsett (part)
* Poinsett Colony

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Source:[5]

* Baxter Slough
* Dempster
* Thomas

### Townships

[edit]

* Brantford
* Castlewood
* Cleveland
* Dempster
* Dixon
* Estelline
* Florence
* Garfield
* Hamlin
* Hayti
* Norden
* Opdahl
* Oxford

## Politics

[edit]

Hamlin County voters have usually voted Republican. In only one national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Hamlin County, South Dakota[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 2,560  | 79.36% | 610  | 18.91%  | 56  | 1.74%
2020 | 2,372  | 76.94% | 647  | 20.99%  | 64  | 2.08%
2016 | 2,051  | 74.26% | 555  | 20.09%  | 156  | 5.65%
2012 | 1,803  | 64.55% | 921  | 32.98%  | 69  | 2.47%
2008 | 1,661  | 59.60% | 1,043  | 37.42%  | 83  | 2.98%
2004 | 1,946  | 64.63% | 1,015  | 33.71%  | 50  | 1.66%
2000 | 1,731  | 63.57% | 923  | 33.90%  | 69  | 2.53%
1996 | 1,352  | 49.02% | 1,101  | 39.92%  | 305  | 11.06%
1992 | 1,133  | 41.35% | 826  | 30.15%  | 781  | 28.50%
1988 | 1,380  | 52.06% | 1,258  | 47.45%  | 13  | 0.49%
1984 | 1,782  | 64.54% | 963  | 34.88%  | 16  | 0.58%
1980 | 1,885  | 62.69% | 903  | 30.03%  | 219  | 7.28%
1976 | 1,452  | 50.66% | 1,402  | 48.92%  | 12  | 0.42%
1972 | 1,693  | 56.85% | 1,276  | 42.85%  | 9  | 0.30%
1968 | 1,649  | 56.36% | 1,149  | 39.27%  | 128  | 4.37%
1964 | 1,525  | 49.42%  | 1,561  | 50.58% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,139  | 63.49% | 1,230  | 36.51%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,083  | 61.68% | 1,294  | 38.32%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 2,391  | 71.48% | 954  | 28.52%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 1,608  | 53.98% | 1,326  | 44.51%  | 45  | 1.51%
1944 | 1,811  | 63.97% | 1,020  | 36.03%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,279  | 64.00% | 1,282  | 36.00%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 1,857  | 52.25% | 1,622  | 45.64%  | 75  | 2.11%
1932 | 1,267  | 39.23%  | 1,920  | 59.44% | 43  | 1.33%
1928 | 1,959  | 63.19% | 1,088  | 35.10%  | 53  | 1.71%
1924 | 1,144  | 52.38% | 207  | 9.48%  | 833  | 38.14%
1920 | 1,322  | 63.68% | 337  | 16.23%  | 417  | 20.09%
1916 | 1,039  | 57.82% | 692  | 38.51%  | 66  | 3.67%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 474  | 29.92%  | 1,110  | 70.08%
1908 | 1,095  | 68.57% | 434  | 27.18%  | 68  | 4.26%
1904 | 1,197  | 75.76% | 307  | 19.43%  | 76  | 4.81%
1900 | 928  | 62.79% | 509  | 34.44%  | 41  | 2.77%
1896 | 702  | 55.10% | 559  | 43.88%  | 13  | 1.02%
1892 | 537  | 50.80% | 161  | 15.23%  | 359  | 33.96%

## Notable people

[edit]

* Nicholas Egbert Knight (1866–1946), politician
* Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamlin 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. 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. 148.
5. ^ a b c d "Hamlin 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 3, 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: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 15, 2025.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

Places adjacent to Hamlin County, South Dakota

|  | Codington County |

|
|

|  |
Clark County |

Hamlin County, South Dakota

| Deuel County
|  |
Kingsbury County |
| Brookings County

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Hayti

Cities|

* Bryant
* Castlewood
* Estelline
* Lake Norden

Towns|

* Hayti
* Hazel

CDP|

* Claremont Colony
* Lake Poinsett‡
* Poinsett Colony

Other communities|

* Dempster
* Thomas

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* South Dakota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of South Dakota

Pierre (capital)

Topics|

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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

44°41′N 97°12′W﻿ / ﻿44.68°N 97.20°W﻿ / 44.68; -97.20

Authority control databases

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Other|

* Yale LUX

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