Fall River County, South Dakota

Fall River County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,973.[1] Its county seat is Hot Springs.[2] The county was founded in 1883. It is named for Fall River which runs through it.[3]

Fall River County
Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs.
Map of South Dakota highlighting Fall River County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°15′N 103°31′W / 43.25°N 103.52°W / 43.25; -103.52
Country United States
State South Dakota
FoundedApril 3, 1883
Named forFall River
SeatHot Springs
Largest cityHot Springs
Area
 • Total1,749 sq mi (4,530 km2)
 • Land1,740 sq mi (4,500 km2)
 • Water9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,973
 • Estimate 
(2022)
7,370 Increase
 • Density4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitefallriver.sdcounties.org

Geography edit

Fall River County lies at South Dakota's SW corner. Its south borderline abuts the north borderline of the state of Nebraska, and its west borderline abuts the east borderline of the state of Wyoming. The Fall River County terrain contains a mountainous area in the north-central portion, with rolling hills in the rest of the county. Outside the mountainous area, the county's highest point is its SW corner, at 3,970 ft (1,210 m) ASL. Of the several peaks in the mountainous area, one in the NE portion of that zone rises to 4,646 ft (1,416 m) ASL. The terrain slopes to the north and east. Discharging from the Angostura Reservoir, the Cheyenne River flows northeasterly through the upper part of the county, departing the county through its north boundary line into Custer County.

Fall River County has a total area of 1,749 square miles (4,530 km2), of which 1,740 square miles (4,500 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

Protected areas edit

Lakes edit

  • Angostura Reservoir
  • Coldbrook Lake
  • Cottonwood Springs Lake

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18904,478
19003,541−20.9%
19107,763119.2%
19206,985−10.0%
19308,74125.1%
19408,089−7.5%
195010,43929.1%
196010,6882.4%
19707,505−29.8%
19808,43912.4%
19907,353−12.9%
20007,4531.4%
20107,094−4.8%
20206,973−1.7%
2023 (est.)7,393[5]6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
 

2020 census edit

As of the census of 2020, there were 6,973 people.

2010 census edit

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,094 people, 3,272 households, and 1,899 families in the county. The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km2). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 2.4 units per square mile (0.93 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 7.1% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 11.2% were English, 8.4% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Dutch, and 2.3% were American.

Of the 3,272 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.0% were non-families, and 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 50.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,833 and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $36,495 versus $32,058 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,574. About 11.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities edit

Cities edit

Town edit

Census-designated places edit

Other communities edit

Townships edit

Unorganized territories edit

  • Northeast Fall River
  • Southwest Fall River

Politics edit

Fall River voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Fall River County, South Dakota[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,878 71.20% 1,053 26.05% 111 2.75%
2016 2,511 70.47% 821 23.04% 231 6.48%
2012 2,258 64.22% 1,140 32.42% 118 3.36%
2008 2,348 61.64% 1,338 35.13% 123 3.23%
2004 2,413 62.76% 1,326 34.49% 106 2.76%
2000 2,185 63.72% 1,133 33.04% 111 3.24%
1996 1,636 47.31% 1,357 39.24% 465 13.45%
1992 1,533 40.84% 1,416 37.72% 805 21.44%
1988 2,002 58.59% 1,380 40.39% 35 1.02%
1984 2,748 70.37% 1,135 29.07% 22 0.56%
1980 2,831 69.61% 982 24.15% 254 6.25%
1976 2,046 56.60% 1,537 42.52% 32 0.89%
1972 2,374 67.89% 1,107 31.66% 16 0.46%
1968 1,843 59.57% 965 31.19% 286 9.24%
1964 2,026 54.29% 1,706 45.71% 0 0.00%
1960 2,492 63.60% 1,426 36.40% 0 0.00%
1956 2,377 67.39% 1,150 32.61% 0 0.00%
1952 2,863 73.96% 1,008 26.04% 0 0.00%
1948 2,037 59.72% 1,348 39.52% 26 0.76%
1944 1,938 63.33% 1,122 36.67% 0 0.00%
1940 2,420 63.27% 1,405 36.73% 0 0.00%
1936 1,876 47.11% 1,927 48.39% 179 4.50%
1932 1,351 33.53% 2,603 64.61% 75 1.86%
1928 2,216 63.51% 1,258 36.06% 15 0.43%
1924 1,392 52.13% 342 12.81% 936 35.06%
1920 1,236 61.01% 680 33.56% 110 5.43%
1916 668 40.63% 922 56.08% 54 3.28%
1912 0 0.00% 712 42.16% 977 57.84%
1908 726 57.62% 466 36.98% 68 5.40%
1904 777 71.22% 248 22.73% 66 6.05%
1900 521 54.96% 421 44.41% 6 0.63%
1896 530 48.67% 555 50.96% 4 0.37%
1892 569 53.73% 262 24.74% 228 21.53%

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 123.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "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 24, 2015.
  10. ^ Cascade Springs Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

External links edit

43°15′N 103°31′W / 43.25°N 103.52°W / 43.25; -103.52