Beadle County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,149, making it the 11th most populous county in South Dakota.[1] Its county seat is Huron.[2] The county was created in 1879 and organized in 1880.[3] Beadle County comprises the Huron, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Beadle County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota | |
 South Dakota's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 44°25′N 98°17′W / 44.41°N 98.28°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Dakota |
| Founded | 1879 (created) 1880 (organized) |
| Named for | William Henry Harrison Beadle |
| Seat | Huron |
| Largest city | Huron |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,265 sq mi (3,280 km2) |
| • Land | 1,259 sq mi (3,260 km2) |
| • Water | 6.1 sq mi (16 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 19,149 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 19,591  |
| • Density | 15/sq mi (5.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | beadle |
History edit
Beadle County, named for Brigadier General William Henry Harrison Beadle,[4] was created by the Dakota Territory Legislature in 1879, and was organized in 1880 with the appointment of three county commissioners by Governor Nehemiah G. Ordway. The first town within Beadle County was Cavour, but Huron was named the county seat when the county commissioners first met there in July 1880.
Geography edit
The James River flows south-southeastward through the eastern central part of Beadle County.[5] The terrain of Beadle County consists of low rolling hills, sloping toward the river valley. The county's highest point is its SW corner, at 1,841 ft (561 m) ASL. Its lowest point is on the south boundary line, where James River flows into adjacent Sanborn County, at 1,230 ft (370 m) ASL.[6]
The county has a total area of 1,265 square miles (3,280 km2), of which 1,259 square miles (3,260 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (0.5%) is water.[7]
Major highways edit
Adjacent counties edit
- Spink County - north
- Clark County - northeast
- Kingsbury County - east
- Sanborn County - southeast
- Jerauld County - southwest
- Hand County - west
Protected areas edit
- Bob Roe Memorial State Game Production Area
- Brecken Slough State Game Production Area
- Cavour Lake State Game Production Area
- James River School State game Production Area
- Lake Byron Hogsback State Game Production Area
- Mallard Slough State Game Production Area
- Mud Lake State Game Production Area
- North Byron State Game Production Area
- Norwegian/Borden State Game Production Area
- Pheasant Country State Game Production Area
- Sand Creek State Game Production Area
- South Byron State Game Production Area
- South James River State Game Production Area
- Staum Dam State Game Production Area
- Third Street Dam State Game Production Area
- Upper Cain Creek State Game Production Area
Demographics edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,290 | — | |
| 1890 | 9,586 | 643.1% | |
| 1900 | 8,081 | −15.7% | |
| 1910 | 15,776 | 95.2% | |
| 1920 | 19,273 | 22.2% | |
| 1930 | 22,917 | 18.9% | |
| 1940 | 19,648 | −14.3% | |
| 1950 | 21,082 | 7.3% | |
| 1960 | 21,682 | 2.8% | |
| 1970 | 20,877 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 19,195 | −8.1% | |
| 1990 | 18,253 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 17,023 | −6.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,398 | 2.2% | |
| 2020 | 19,149 | 10.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,591 | [8] | 2.3% |
| 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 19,149 people, 7,369 households, and 4,623 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 15.2 inhabitants per square mile (5.9/km2). There were 8,396 housing units.
2010 census edit
As of the 2010 census, there were 17,398 people, 7,276 households, and 4,509 families residing in the county. The population density was 13.8 inhabitants per square mile (5.3/km2). There were 8,304 housing units at an average density of 6.6 per square mile (2.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% white, 3.6% Asian, 1.1% American Indian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 45.4% were German, 11.7% were Norwegian, 10.3% were Irish, 8.8% were English, and 4.1% were American.
Of the 7,276 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.0% were non-families, and 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 41.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,716 and the median income for a family was $56,288. Males had a median income of $37,020 versus $25,824 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,409. About 6.3% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities edit
Cities edit
- Huron (county seat)
- Iroquois (partial)
- Wessington (partial)
Towns edit
Census-designated places edit
Townships edit
- Allen
- Altoona
- Banner
- Barrett
- Belle Prairie
- Bonilla
- Broadland
- Burr Oak
- Carlyle
- Cavour
- Clifton
- Clyde
- Custer
- Dearborn
- Fairfield
- Foster
- Grant
- Hartland
- Huron
- Iowa
- Kellogg
- Lake Byron
- Liberty
- Logan
- Milford
- Nance
- Pearl Creek
- Pleasant View
- Richland
- Sand Creek
- Theresa
- Valley
- Vernon
- Wessington
- Whiteside
- Wolsey
Politics edit
Beadle County has become more Republican in recent history. In 2000, George W. Bush won the county, ending a streak of Democratic-majority voting that began in 1990.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 4,808 | 67.90% | 2,107 | 29.76% | 166 | 2.34% |
| 2016 | 4,455 | 65.79% | 1,912 | 28.23% | 405 | 5.98% |
| 2012 | 4,230 | 58.24% | 2,881 | 39.67% | 152 | 2.09% |
| 2008 | 4,054 | 52.55% | 3,493 | 45.28% | 167 | 2.16% |
| 2004 | 4,917 | 57.98% | 3,443 | 40.60% | 120 | 1.42% |
| 2000 | 4,347 | 56.17% | 3,216 | 41.56% | 176 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | 3,670 | 42.77% | 3,984 | 46.43% | 927 | 10.80% |
| 1992 | 3,363 | 36.81% | 3,925 | 42.96% | 1,848 | 20.23% |
| 1988 | 4,611 | 50.23% | 4,523 | 49.27% | 46 | 0.50% |
| 1984 | 5,876 | 62.36% | 3,523 | 37.39% | 23 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 5,921 | 58.60% | 3,521 | 34.85% | 662 | 6.55% |
| 1976 | 4,758 | 49.22% | 4,846 | 50.13% | 62 | 0.64% |
| 1972 | 5,922 | 57.81% | 4,297 | 41.95% | 25 | 0.24% |
| 1968 | 4,214 | 42.66% | 5,357 | 54.23% | 307 | 3.11% |
| 1964 | 4,051 | 40.43% | 5,968 | 59.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,911 | 59.17% | 4,079 | 40.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,216 | 53.06% | 4,614 | 46.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,487 | 65.33% | 3,443 | 34.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 3,662 | 45.15% | 4,372 | 53.90% | 77 | 0.95% |
| 1944 | 3,610 | 48.44% | 3,842 | 51.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 4,356 | 45.33% | 5,253 | 54.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 2,965 | 32.90% | 5,843 | 64.84% | 203 | 2.25% |
| 1932 | 2,995 | 32.05% | 6,246 | 66.83% | 105 | 1.12% |
| 1928 | 5,094 | 61.43% | 3,168 | 38.20% | 31 | 0.37% |
| 1924 | 3,466 | 53.37% | 851 | 13.10% | 2,177 | 33.52% |
| 1920 | 2,852 | 56.54% | 925 | 18.34% | 1,267 | 25.12% |
| 1916 | 1,662 | 45.72% | 1,828 | 50.29% | 145 | 3.99% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,464 | 45.85% | 1,729 | 54.15% |
| 1908 | 1,776 | 58.50% | 1,105 | 36.40% | 155 | 5.11% |
| 1904 | 1,818 | 73.78% | 493 | 20.01% | 153 | 6.21% |
| 1900 | 1,220 | 55.56% | 915 | 41.67% | 61 | 2.78% |
| 1896 | 935 | 49.89% | 915 | 48.83% | 24 | 1.28% |
| 1892 | 984 | 52.85% | 206 | 11.06% | 672 | 36.09% |
Education edit
School districts include:[15]
See also edit
References edit
Bibliography edit
- J.L. Carr (1957) The Old Timers. A social history of the way of life of the home-steading pioneers in the Prairie States during the first few years of settlement, as shown by a typical community, the 'old-timers' of Beadle County in South Dakota. Huron, South Dakota: privately printed.