Grant County, South Dakota

Grant County
U.S. county
County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°10′N 96°46′W / 45.17°N 96.77°W / 45.17; -96.77
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	1873 (created) January 8, 1878 (organized)
Named for	Ulysses S. Grant
Seat	Milbank
Largest city	Milbank
Area
• Total	688 sq mi (1,780 km2)
• Land	681 sq mi (1,760 km2)
• Water	6.1 sq mi (16 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,556
• Density	11/sq mi (4.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	grantcounty.sd.gov

Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,556.^[1] The county seat is Milbank.^[2] The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1878.^[3] It is named for Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.^[4]

Geography[]

Grant County lies on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The terrain consists of rolling hills, sloping to the northeast. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.^[5] The highest point of the terrain is on the county's south boundary line, towards its southwest corner, at 2,014' (614m) ASL.^[6]

Grant County has a total area of 688 square miles (1,780 km²), of which 681 square miles (1,760 km²) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[7]

The lowest point in the state of South Dakota is located on Big Stone Lake at Big Stone City in Grant County, adjacent to Ortonville, Minnesota, where the lake flows into the Minnesota River.

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

Protected areas[]

• Mazeppa State Public Shooting Area^[8]
• Mud Lake State Public Shooting Area^[9]

Lakes^[5][]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	3,010		—
1890	6,814		126.4%
1900	9,103		33.6%
1910	10,303		13.2%
1920	10,880		5.6%
1930	10,729		−1.4%
1940	10,552		−1.6%
1950	10,233		−3.0%
1960	9,913		−3.1%
1970	9,005		−9.2%
1980	9,013		0.1%
1990	8,372		−7.1%
2000	7,847		−6.3%
2010	7,356		−6.3%
2020	7,556		2.7%
US Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[14] there were 7,847 people, 3,116 households, and 2,156 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.61% White, 0.01% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.0% were of German, 16.3% Norwegian and 5.4% American ancestry.

There were 3,116 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 5.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,088, and the median income for a family was $40,407. Males had a median income of $27,941 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,543. About 7.50% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,356 people, 3,089 households, and 2,076 families in the county.^[15] The population density was 10.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km²). There were 3,526 housing units at an average density of 5.2 per square mile (2.0/km²).^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 1.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.^[15] In terms of ancestry, 49.9% were German, 16.8% were Norwegian, 8.9% were Irish, 6.7% were Swedish, 5.6% were English, and 5.2% were American.^[17]

Of the 3,089 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 45.1 years.^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,625 and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $36,204 versus $25,567 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,887. About 7.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.^[18]

Communities[]

Cities[]

• Big Stone City
• Milbank (county seat)

Towns[]

Unincorporated communities[]

• Troy

Townships[]

Politics[]

Grant County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only three national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

See also[]

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

References[]

Coordinates: 45°10′N 96°46′W / 45.17°N 96.77°W / 45.17; -96.77