Meade County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

County in South Dakota

Meade County

County

Black Hills National Cemetery

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°34′N 102°43′W﻿ / ﻿44.57°N 102.71°W﻿ / 44.57; -102.71
Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| February 7, 1889
Named after| George Meade
Seat| Sturgis
Largest city| Sturgis
Area

• Total

| 3,483 sq mi (9,020 km2)
• Land| 3,471 sq mi (8,990 km2)
• Water| 12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.3%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 29,852

• Estimate

(2024)

| 30,918
• Density| 8.6/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| www.meadecounty.org

Meade County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,852, making it the 6th most populous county in South Dakota.[1] Its county seat is Sturgis.[2] The county was created in 1889 and named for Fort Meade, which was garrisoned as a United States military post in the area in 1878 and itself named for General George Meade.[3]

Meade County is part of the Rapid City metropolitan area.

## Geography

[edit]

The upper part of Meade County is drained by Cherry Creek. The Cheyenne River flows northeastward along the southeast boundary of the county. The county terrain has mountain ridges in the west and southwest areas, with the remainder consisting of semi-arid rolling hills, partly dedicated to agriculture.[4] The county terrain slopes to the east and northeast; its highest point Flagstaff Mountain is near the southwest corner, at 5,421 ft (1,652 m) ASL.[5]

The county has an area of 3,483 square miles (9,020 km2), of which 3,471 square miles (8,990 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6] It is South Dakota's largest county by area.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 90
* U.S. Highway 14
* U.S. Highway 14A
* U.S. Highway 212
* South Dakota Highway 34
* South Dakota Highway 73
* South Dakota Highway 79

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Perkins County \- north
* Ziebach County \- east
* Haakon County -southeast
* Pennington County \- south
* Lawrence County \- southwest
* Butte County \- northwest

### Protected areas

[edit]

Source:[4]

* Bear Butte Lake State Lakeside Use Area
* Bear Butte National Wildlife Refuge
* Bear Butte State Park
* Black Hills National Cemetery
* Black Hills National Forest (partial)
* Curlew Lake State Game Production Area
* Marcotte State Game Production Area
* Tisdale Lake State Game Production Area
* Opal Lake State Game Production Area

### Lakes

[edit]

Source:[4]

* Bear Butte Lake
* Curlew Lake
* Durkee Lake
* Opal Lake
* Tisdale Dam

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 4,640| | —
1900| 4,907| | 5.8%
1910| 12,640| | 157.6%
1920| 9,367| | −25.9%
1930| 11,482| | 22.6%
1940| 9,735| | −15.2%
1950| 11,516| | 18.3%
1960| 12,044| | 4.6%
1970| 16,618| | 38.0%
1980| 20,717| | 24.7%
1990| 21,878| | 5.6%
2000| 24,253| | 10.9%
2010| 25,434| | 4.9%
2020| 29,852| | 17.4%
2024 (est.)| 30,918| [7]| 3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 29,852 people, 11,365 households, and 7,863 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 8.6 inhabitants per square mile (3.3/km2). There were 12,357 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 25,434 people, 9,903 households, and 7,067 families in the county. The population density was 7.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.8/km2). There were 11,000 housing units at an average density of 3.2 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% white, 2.3% American Indian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.5% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 13.2% were Norwegian, 11.3% were English, and 6.9% were American.

Of the 9,903 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 35.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,180 and the median income for a family was $54,200. Males had a median income of $34,113 versus $27,548 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,045. About 6.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Box Elder (part)
* Faith
* Piedmont
* Sturgis (county seat)
* Summerset

### Town

[edit]

* Buffalo Chip

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Blackhawk
* Blucksberg Mountain
* Ellsworth AFB (former)
* Wonderland Homes

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Source:[4]

* Bend
* Boneita Springs
* Cedar Canyon
* Dalzell
* Elm Springs
* Enning
* Fairpoint
* Fox Ridge
* Haydraw
* Hereford
* Howes
* Marcus
* Maurine
* Mud Butte
* Opal
* Plainview
* Redowl
* Stoneville
* Tilford
* Union Center
* Viewfield
* White Owl
* Postville

### Townships

[edit]

* Dakota
* Eagle
* Elm Springs
* Howard
* Lakeside
* Smithville
* Upper Red Owl

### Unorganized territories

[edit]

* Belle Fourche-Cheyenne Valleys
* North Meade
* Southwest Meade

## Politics

[edit]

Like most of the Black Hills, Meade County is heavily Republican. It last supported a Democrat for president in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Meade County, South Dakota[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 10,887  | 74.20% | 3,421  | 23.32%  | 364  | 2.48%
2020 | 9,875  | 72.24% | 3,285  | 24.03%  | 510  | 3.73%
2016 | 8,441  | 72.64% | 2,223  | 19.13%  | 957  | 8.24%
2012 | 7,566  | 69.95% | 2,928  | 27.07%  | 323  | 2.99%
2008 | 7,515  | 64.75% | 3,751  | 32.32%  | 340  | 2.93%
2004 | 8,347  | 72.56% | 2,941  | 25.57%  | 216  | 1.88%
2000 | 6,870  | 73.35% | 2,267  | 24.20%  | 229  | 2.45%
1996 | 4,984  | 54.32% | 2,960  | 32.26%  | 1,232  | 13.43%
1992 | 4,724  | 46.89% | 2,694  | 26.74%  | 2,657  | 26.37%
1988 | 5,189  | 61.24% | 3,212  | 37.91%  | 72  | 0.85%
1984 | 5,908  | 73.47% | 2,093  | 26.03%  | 40  | 0.50%
1980 | 5,349  | 70.93% | 1,721  | 22.82%  | 471  | 6.25%
1976 | 3,096  | 54.41% | 2,478  | 43.55%  | 116  | 2.04%
1972 | 3,416  | 67.24% | 1,633  | 32.15%  | 31  | 0.61%
1968 | 2,392  | 56.19% | 1,522  | 35.75%  | 343  | 8.06%
1964 | 2,140  | 47.95%  | 2,323  | 52.05% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,644  | 57.89% | 1,923  | 42.11%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,467  | 59.81% | 1,658  | 40.19%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 3,109  | 69.98% | 1,334  | 30.02%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 2,053  | 54.47% | 1,681  | 44.60%  | 35  | 0.93%
1944 | 1,912  | 62.16% | 1,164  | 37.84%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,560  | 57.00% | 1,931  | 43.00%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 2,064  | 44.71%  | 2,304  | 49.91% | 248  | 5.37%
1932 | 1,735  | 37.65%  | 2,687  | 58.31% | 186  | 4.04%
1928 | 2,845  | 66.04% | 1,441  | 33.45%  | 22  | 0.51%
1924 | 2,006  | 57.43% | 786  | 22.50%  | 701  | 20.07%
1920 | 1,894  | 58.37% | 894  | 27.55%  | 457  | 14.08%
1916 | 858  | 38.25%  | 1,224  | 54.57% | 161  | 7.18%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 975  | 43.72%  | 1,255  | 56.28%
1908 | 953  | 51.24% | 792  | 42.58%  | 115  | 6.18%
1904 | 754  | 65.79% | 268  | 23.39%  | 124  | 10.82%
1900 | 550  | 48.89%  | 565  | 50.22% | 10  | 0.89%
1896 | 550  | 40.56%  | 802  | 59.14% | 4  | 0.29%
1892 | 427  | 36.56%  | 128  | 10.96%  | 613  | 52.48%

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[14]

* Douglas School District 51-1
* Faith School District 46-2
* New Underwood School District 51-3
* Newell School District 09-2
* Rapid City School District 51-4
* Meade School District 46-1
* Wall School District 51-5

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Meade 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. ^ Andrews, John (June 14, 2016). "Cattle and Hogs". South Dakota Magazine.
4. ^ a b c d "Meade County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 6, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
7. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved March 15, 2025.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ "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.
12. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
14. ^ Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Meade County, SD (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

* Meade County government website
* Meade County Times-Tribune - local newspaper

Places adjacent to Meade County, South Dakota

| Butte County | Perkins County |

|
|

|  |

Meade County, South Dakota

| Ziebach County
|  |
Lawrence County | Pennington County | Haakon County

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Sturgis

Cities|

* Box Elder‡
* Faith
* Piedmont
* Sturgis
* Summerset

Meade County map

Towns|

* Buffalo Chip

CDPs|

* Blackhawk
* Blucksberg Mountain
* Wonderland Homes

Former CDP|

* Ellsworth AFB‡

Other
communities|

* Bend
* Boneita Springs
* Cedar Canyon
* Dalzell
* Elm Springs
* Enning
* Fairpoint
* Haydraw
* Hereford
* Howes
* Marcus
* Maurine
* Mud Butte
* Opal
* Plainview
* Stoneville
* Tilford
* Union Center
* Viewfield
* White Owl

Indian reservations|

* Cheyenne River Indian Reservation‡
* Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation‡

Ghost towns|

* Avance
* Big Bottom
* Clough
* Edson
* Fox Ridge
* Sulphur

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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Society|

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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

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National|

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Other|

* Yale LUX

44°34′N 102°43′W﻿ / ﻿44.57°N 102.71°W﻿ / 44.57; -102.71
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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