Lake County, South Dakota

Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,059.^[1] Its county seat is Madison.^[2] The county was formed in 1873.^[3]

Lake County
County
Lake County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°01′N 97°07′W
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	1873
Seat	Madison
Largest city	Madison
Area
• Total	575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,059
• Estimate  (2023)	11,031
• Density	19/sq mi (7.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.lake.sd.gov

Geography

The terrain of Lake County consists of rolling hills, with the area devoted to agriculture. A tributary of the East Fork Vermillion River flows south-southeastward through the lower western part of the county, and Buffalo Creek flows southeastward from the central part of the county, leaving the county near its southeast corner.^[4] The terrain generally slopes to the south, although high points (ca. 1,814' ASL) are found on the north and south boundary lines and points between.^[5]

Lake County has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (2.1%) is water.^[6]

Lakes

Source:^[4]

• Buffalo Slough
• Brant Lake
• Davis Slough
• Gilman Lake
• Green Lake
• Lake Badus
• Lake Herman
• Lake Madison
• Long Lake
• Mud Lake
• Pelican Lake
• Round Lake
• Spring Lake

Protected areas

Source:^[4]

• Lake Herman State Park
• Walker's Point State Recreation Area

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 81
• South Dakota Highway 19
• South Dakota Highway 34

Adjacent counties

• Brookings County - northeast
• Moody County - east
• Minnehaha County - southeast
• McCook County - southwest
• Miner County - west
• Kingsbury County - northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	2,657		—
1890	7,508		182.6%
1900	9,137		21.7%
1910	10,711		17.2%
1920	12,257		14.4%
1930	12,379		1.0%
1940	12,412		0.3%
1950	11,792		−5.0%
1960	11,764		−0.2%
1970	11,456		−2.6%
1980	10,724		−6.4%
1990	10,550		−1.6%
2000	11,276		6.9%
2010	11,200		−0.7%
2020	11,059		−1.3%
2023 (est.)	11,031	[7]	−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,059 people, 4,576 households, and 2,804 families residing in the county.^[12] The population density was 19.6 inhabitants per square mile (7.6/km²). There were 5,658 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,200 people, 4,483 households, and 2,814 families in the county. The population density was 19.9 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 5,559 housing units at an average density of 9.9 units per square mile (3.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 50.7% were German, 20.6% were Norwegian, 12.4% were Irish, 6.6% were English, 6.2% were Dutch, 5.0% were Danish, and 5.0% were American.

Of the 4,483 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.2% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,606 and the median income for a family was $57,753. Males had a median income of $36,370 versus $25,898 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,447. About 6.5% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Madison (county seat)

Towns

• Brant Lake
• Nunda
• Ramona

Village

• Wentworth

Census-designated places

• Brant Lake South
• Chester
• Graceville Colony
• Lake Madison
• Rustic Acres Colony
• Winfred

Other unincorporated communities^[4]

• Franklin
• Junius
• Rutland

Townships

• Badus
• Chester
• Clarno
• Concord
• Farmington
• Franklin
• Herman
• Lake View
• Le Roy
• Nunda
• Orland
• Rutland
• Summit
• Wayne
• Wentworth
• Winfred

Historical townsite

• Saranac^[13]

Politics

Lake County voters have voted for Republican Party candidates in 62 percent of national elections since 1964.

United States presidential election results for Lake County, South Dakota^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,819	64.66%	1,978	33.49%	109	1.85%
2020	3,681	62.68%	2,068	35.21%	124	2.11%
2016	4,038	59.50%	2,314	34.10%	434	6.40%
2012	3,419	54.40%	2,724	43.34%	142	2.26%
2008	2,993	48.61%	3,033	49.26%	131	2.13%
2004	3,359	55.92%	2,509	41.77%	139	2.31%
2000	2,724	52.85%	2,331	45.23%	99	1.92%
1996	1,966	38.41%	2,526	49.36%	626	12.23%
1992	1,890	33.81%	2,388	42.72%	1,312	23.47%
1988	2,439	47.62%	2,663	51.99%	20	0.39%
1984	3,027	55.92%	2,367	43.73%	19	0.35%
1980	3,093	52.85%	2,207	37.71%	552	9.43%
1976	2,530	46.20%	2,930	53.51%	16	0.29%
1972	2,919	50.14%	2,886	49.57%	17	0.29%
1968	2,876	53.68%	2,294	42.81%	188	3.51%
1964	2,417	44.72%	2,988	55.28%	0	0.00%
1960	3,520	61.28%	2,224	38.72%	0	0.00%
1956	3,404	62.32%	2,058	37.68%	0	0.00%
1952	4,020	73.28%	1,466	26.72%	0	0.00%
1948	2,837	56.95%	2,093	42.01%	52	1.04%
1944	2,956	65.70%	1,543	34.30%	0	0.00%
1940	4,179	68.87%	1,889	31.13%	0	0.00%
1936	3,182	52.95%	2,520	41.94%	307	5.11%
1932	2,222	41.09%	3,090	57.15%	95	1.76%
1928	3,048	63.41%	1,744	36.28%	15	0.31%
1924	1,888	45.35%	297	7.13%	1,978	47.51%
1920	2,333	69.98%	398	11.94%	603	18.09%
1916	1,398	55.04%	1,027	40.43%	115	4.53%
1912	0	0.00%	657	33.50%	1,304	66.50%
1908	1,415	65.60%	636	29.49%	106	4.91%
1904	1,728	78.90%	260	11.87%	202	9.22%
1900	1,172	55.57%	901	42.72%	36	1.71%
1896	864	46.10%	999	53.31%	11	0.59%
1892	742	43.47%	196	11.48%	769	45.05%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, South Dakota

References

1. "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 30, 2015.
4. "Lake County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
5. ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 5, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 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: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
12. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
13. Saranac (historical) in Lake County SD SD Home Town Locator (accessed February 5, 2019)
14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

External links

• Lake County official website

44.02°N 97.12°W / 44.02; -97.12