Spink County, South Dakota

County in South Dakota, United States

County in South Dakota

Spink County

County

Spink County Courthouse (2013)

Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota

South Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°56′N 98°21′W﻿ / ﻿44.94°N 98.35°W﻿ / 44.94; -98.35
Country|  United States
State|  South Dakota
Founded| 1873 (created)
1879 (organized)
Named after| S.L. Spink
Seat| Redfield
Largest city| Redfield
Area

• Total

| 1,510 sq mi (3,900 km2)
• Land| 1,504 sq mi (3,900 km2)
• Water| 5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  0.4%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 6,361

• Estimate

(2023)

| 6,108
• Density| 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| www.spinkcounty-sd.org

Spink County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,361.[1] Its county seat is Redfield.[2] The county was created in 1873, and was organized in 1879 within Dakota Territory.[3]

## History

[edit]

Spink county was formed in 1879 as part of Dakota Territory. It Folded to South Dakota in 1889. Spink County's population peaked before the Great Depression. In the years following, Spink County became one of the counties with the greatest percentage loss in population as part of the depopulation of the Great Plains.

## Geography

[edit]

The terrain of Spink County consists of rolling hills, dedicated to agriculture. The James River flows southerly through the central portion of the county.[4] The terrain slopes to the south; its highest point is in its northeast corner, at 1,424 ft (434 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 1,510 square miles (3,900 km2), of which 1,504 square miles (3,900 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 212
* U.S. Highway 281
* South Dakota Highway 20
* South Dakota Highway 26
* South Dakota Highway 28
* South Dakota Highway 37

### Protected area

[edit]

* Fisher Grove State Park

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Brown County – north
* Day County – northeast
* Clark County – east
* Beadle County – south
* Hand County – southwest
* Faulk County – west

### Lakes[4]

[edit]

* Alkali Lake
* Cottonwood Lake
* Twin Lakes

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 477| | —
1890| 10,581| | 2,118.2%
1900| 9,487| | −10.3%
1910| 15,981| | 68.5%
1920| 15,768| | −1.3%
1930| 15,304| | −2.9%
1940| 12,527| | −18.1%
1950| 12,204| | −2.6%
1960| 11,706| | −4.1%
1970| 10,595| | −9.5%
1980| 9,201| | −13.2%
1990| 7,981| | −13.3%
2000| 7,454| | −6.6%
2010| 6,415| | −13.9%
2020| 6,361| | −0.8%
2024 (est.)| 6,108| [7]| −4.0%
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 6,361 people, 2,520 households, and 1,560 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 4.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km2). There were 2,983 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,415 people, 2,608 households, and 1,677 families in the county. The population density was 4.3 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km2). There were 3,139 housing units at an average density of 2.1 units per square mile (0.81 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 52.6% were German, 11.6% were Norwegian, 10.0% were Irish, 9.2% were English, and 5.5% were American.

Of the 2,608 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.7% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 44.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,000 and the median income for a family was $60,639. Males had a median income of $40,273 versus $26,139 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,295. About 8.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Several Hutterite communities are in Spink County, including near Ashton and Stratford.[13]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Ashton
* Conde
* Doland
* Frankfort
* Mellette
* Redfield (county seat)

### Towns

[edit]

* Brentford
* Northville
* Tulare
* Turton

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Camrose Colony
* Clark Colony
* Glendale Colony
* Hillside Colony
* Mansfield (partial)
* Spink Colony

### Other unincorporated communities[4]

[edit]

* Athol
* Crandon

### Townships

[edit]

* Antelope
* Athol
* Belle Plaine
* Belmont
* Benton
* Beotia
* Buffalo
* Capitola
* Clifton
* Conde
* Cornwall
* Crandon
* Exline
* Frankfort
* Garfield
* Great Bend
* Groveland
* Harmony
* Harrison
* Jefferson
* Lake
* La Prairie
* Lincoln
* Lodi
* Mellette
* Northville
* Olean
* Prairie Center
* Redfield
* Richfield
* Spring
* Sumner
* Tetonka
* Three Rivers
* Tulare
* Turton
* Union

## Politics

[edit]

Spink County was historically a swing county, but in the past few decades has become fairly Republican. In no national election since 1992 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

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

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,145  | 68.33% | 921  | 29.34%  | 73  | 2.33%
2020 | 2,104  | 66.52% | 998  | 31.55%  | 61  | 1.93%
2016 | 1,854  | 62.83% | 919  | 31.14%  | 178  | 6.03%
2012 | 1,670  | 54.92% | 1,300  | 42.75%  | 71  | 2.33%
2008 | 1,660  | 50.78% | 1,550  | 47.42%  | 59  | 1.80%
2004 | 2,259  | 59.86% | 1,478  | 39.16%  | 37  | 0.98%
2000 | 1,957  | 59.59% | 1,274  | 38.79%  | 53  | 1.61%
1996 | 1,651  | 45.00% | 1,636  | 44.59%  | 382  | 10.41%
1992 | 1,527  | 37.14%  | 1,732  | 42.12% | 853  | 20.74%
1988 | 1,969  | 48.47%  | 2,071  | 50.98% | 22  | 0.54%
1984 | 2,627  | 60.75% | 1,680  | 38.85%  | 17  | 0.39%
1980 | 2,915  | 60.30% | 1,572  | 32.52%  | 347  | 7.18%
1976 | 2,003  | 42.81%  | 2,650  | 56.64% | 26  | 0.56%
1972 | 2,547  | 52.19% | 2,321  | 47.56%  | 12  | 0.25%
1968 | 2,068  | 42.08%  | 2,669  | 54.30% | 178  | 3.62%
1964 | 1,953  | 38.50%  | 3,120  | 61.50% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 2,738  | 51.65% | 2,563  | 48.35%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,683  | 48.29%  | 2,873  | 51.71% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 3,693  | 65.06% | 1,983  | 34.94%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 2,310  | 45.59%  | 2,702  | 53.33% | 55  | 1.09%
1944 | 2,365  | 50.86% | 2,285  | 49.14%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 2,975  | 48.70%  | 3,134  | 51.30% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 2,078  | 35.39%  | 3,569  | 60.79% | 224  | 3.82%
1932 | 2,433  | 36.67%  | 4,046  | 60.98% | 156  | 2.35%
1928 | 3,868  | 60.89% | 2,451  | 38.59%  | 33  | 0.52%
1924 | 2,613  | 57.81% | 595  | 13.16%  | 1,312  | 29.03%
1920 | 2,923  | 65.09% | 785  | 17.48%  | 783  | 17.43%
1916 | 1,660  | 48.61% | 1,622  | 47.50%  | 133  | 3.89%
1912 | 0  | 0.00%  | 1,347  | 44.53%  | 1,678  | 55.47%
1908 | 1,847  | 59.01% | 1,121  | 35.81%  | 162  | 5.18%
1904 | 2,127  | 74.53% | 492  | 17.24%  | 235  | 8.23%
1900 | 1,496  | 56.41% | 1,087  | 40.99%  | 69  | 2.60%
1896 | 1,132  | 51.31% | 1,061  | 48.10%  | 13  | 0.59%
1892 | 1,133  | 53.04% | 171  | 8.01%  | 832  | 38.95%

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 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 31, 2015.
4. ^ a b c "Spink County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 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 20, 2024.
13. ^ "New Hutterite Community being Planned in Spink County". Rapid City Journal. Associated Press. July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

Places adjacent to Spink County, South Dakota

|  | Brown County | Day County

|
|

|  |
Faulk County |

Spink County, South Dakota

| Clark County
|  |
Hand County | Beadle County |

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Redfield

Cities|

* Ashton
* Conde
* Doland
* Frankfort
* Mellette
* Redfield

Towns|

* Brentford
* Northville
* Tulare
* Turton

Townships|

* Antelope
* Athol
* Belle Plaine
* Belmont
* Benton
* Beotia
* Buffalo
* Capitola
* Clifton
* Conde
* Cornwall
* Crandon
* Exline
* Frankfort
* Garfield
* Great Bend
* Groveland
* Harmony
* Harrison
* Jefferson
* Lake
* La Prairie
* Lincoln
* Lodi
* Mellette
* Northville
* Olean
* Prairie Center
* Redfield
* Richfield
* Spring
* Summer
* Tetonka
* Three Rivers
* Tulare
* Turton
* Union

CDPs|

* Camrose Colony
* Clark Colony
* Glendale Colony
* Hillside Colony
* Mansfield‡
* Spink Colony

Other
communities|

* Athol
* Crandon

Footnotes|

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

* South Dakota portal
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State of South Dakota

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Larger incorporated places
pop. over 5,000|

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

* Aurora
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* Britton
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* Tyndall
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* Wagner
* Webster
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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
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* Butte
* Campbell
* Charles Mix
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* Codington
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* Hughes
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* Jackson
* Jerauld
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* 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

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44°56′N 98°21′W﻿ / ﻿44.94°N 98.35°W﻿ / 44.94; -98.35
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