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Brown County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 45°36′N 98°21′W / 45.60°N 98.35°W / 45.60; -98.35
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brown County
Brown County Courthouse in fall
Flag of Brown County
Map of South Dakota highlighting Brown 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: 45°36′N 98°21′W / 45.6°N 98.35°W / 45.6; -98.35
Country United States
State South Dakota
FoundedJuly 6, 1881[1]
SeatAberdeen
Largest cityAberdeen
Area
 • Total1,731 sq mi (4,480 km2)
 • Land1,713 sq mi (4,440 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total38,301
 • Estimate 
(2023)
37,733 Decrease
 • Density22/sq mi (8.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.brown.sd.us

Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,301,[2] making it the fourth most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Aberdeen.[3] The county is named for Alfred Brown, of Hutchinson County, South Dakota, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1879.[1][4]

Brown County is part of the Aberdeen, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

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Brown County lies on the north side of South Dakota. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of North Dakota. The James River flows south-southwest through the county; its entry point into neighboring Spink County marks Brown County's lowest elevation: 1,266 ft (386 m) ASL.[5] The terrain of Brown County consists of rolling terrain, sloping to the south and east, largely devoted to agriculture.[6]

The county has a total area of 1,731 square miles (4,480 km2), of which 1,713 square miles (4,440 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (1.0%) is water.[7]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Bodi State Game Production Area (part)
  • Casanova State Game Production Area
  • Columbia State Game Production Area
  • Cutler State Game Production Area
  • Diagonal Trees State Game Production Area
  • Elm Creek State Game Production Area (part)
  • Erickson State Game Production Area
  • Hansen Preserve State Game Production Area
  • Hart Quarter State Game Production Area
  • Hecla State Game Production Area
  • Jilek-Dahme State Game Production Area
  • Pigors Lake State Game Production Area
  • Putney Slough State Game Production Area
  • Putney State Game Production Area
  • Renziehausen Slough State Game Bird Refuge
  • Renziehausen State Game Production Area (part)
  • Richmond Dam State Game Production Area
  • Richmond Lake State Recreation Area
  • Richmond State Lakeside Use Area
  • Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  • Zabrasha State Game Production Area

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880353
189016,8554,674.8%
190015,286−9.3%
191025,86769.2%
192029,50914.1%
193031,4586.6%
194029,676−5.7%
195032,6179.9%
196034,1064.6%
197036,9208.3%
198036,9620.1%
199035,580−3.7%
200035,460−0.3%
201036,5313.0%
202038,3014.8%
2023 (est.)37,733[8]−1.5%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[2]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 38,301 people, 16,130 households, and 9,595 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 22.4 inhabitants per square mile (8.6/km2). There were 17,885 housing units.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 36,531 people, 15,489 households, and 9,374 families in the county. The population density was 21.3 inhabitants per square mile (8.2/km2). There were 16,706 housing units at an average density of 9.8 per square mile (3.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 3.0% American Indian, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry.

Of the 15,489 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.5% were non-families, and 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 38.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,615 and the median income for a family was $58,683. Males had a median income of $37,997 versus $28,419 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,878. About 5.6% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Brown County was long a Democratic stronghold, home to notable Democrats including South Dakota Governor Ralph Herseth, US Senate majority leader Tom Daschle and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. It generally voted Democratic except in Republican landslides (though often relatively narrowly margins) in presidential elections from 1932 until 1996. Since then, Brown County has trended Republican, particularly at the local level, although the county was carried by Barack Obama in 2008.

United States presidential election results for Brown County, South Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,580 60.30% 6,538 37.26% 429 2.44%
2016 9,613 59.66% 5,452 33.83% 1,049 6.51%
2012 8,321 51.79% 7,250 45.12% 497 3.09%
2008 8,067 46.29% 9,041 51.88% 318 1.82%
2004 10,386 55.84% 7,943 42.71% 270 1.45%
2000 9,060 54.72% 7,173 43.33% 323 1.95%
1996 6,801 41.35% 7,913 48.11% 1,733 10.54%
1992 6,665 36.93% 7,521 41.67% 3,861 21.39%
1988 8,537 49.34% 8,673 50.13% 92 0.53%
1984 10,541 60.35% 6,852 39.23% 72 0.41%
1980 10,550 58.61% 6,050 33.61% 1,399 7.77%
1976 7,609 45.75% 8,888 53.44% 136 0.82%
1972 8,134 49.44% 8,216 49.94% 101 0.61%
1968 6,685 45.95% 7,302 50.20% 560 3.85%
1964 5,524 37.76% 9,107 62.24% 0 0.00%
1960 8,037 50.45% 7,893 49.55% 0 0.00%
1956 8,193 53.28% 7,184 46.72% 0 0.00%
1952 9,581 60.94% 6,140 39.06% 0 0.00%
1948 5,632 43.42% 7,148 55.10% 192 1.48%
1944 5,611 46.90% 6,352 53.10% 0 0.00%
1940 6,598 45.05% 8,048 54.95% 0 0.00%
1936 4,505 32.19% 9,177 65.58% 311 2.22%
1932 4,639 34.11% 8,669 63.74% 293 2.15%
1928 7,266 58.03% 5,065 40.45% 191 1.53%
1924 2,740 60.67% 361 7.99% 1,415 31.33%
1920 5,581 56.54% 1,364 13.82% 2,926 29.64%
1916 2,659 45.19% 2,676 45.48% 549 9.33%
1912 0 0.00% 2,488 50.69% 2,420 49.31%
1908 2,646 55.93% 1,772 37.46% 313 6.62%
1904 2,737 66.32% 988 23.94% 402 9.74%
1900 2,197 54.42% 1,722 42.66% 118 2.92%
1896 1,618 46.15% 1,867 53.25% 21 0.60%
1892 1,446 45.33% 279 8.75% 1,465 45.92%

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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  • Aberdeen
  • Allison
  • Bates
  • Bath
  • Barnard
  • Cambria
  • Carlisle
  • Claremont
  • Columbia
  • East Hanson
  • East Rondell
  • Franklyn
  • Frederick
  • Garden Prairie
  • Garland
  • Gem
  • Greenfield
  • Groton
  • Hecla
  • Henry
  • Highland
  • Lansing
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln
  • Mercier
  • New Hope
  • North Detroit
  • Oneota
  • Ordway
  • Osceola
  • Palmyra
  • Portage
  • Prairiewood
  • Putney
  • Ravinia
  • Richland
  • Riverside
  • Savo
  • Shelby
  • South Detroit
  • Warner
  • West Hanson
  • West
  • Westport

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Legislative Manual, South Dakota, 2005, p. 596
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
  5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Brown County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "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 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  15. ^ James SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  16. ^ Nahon SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  17. ^ Richmond SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  18. ^ Richmond Heights SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  19. ^ Tacoma Park SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  20. ^ Winship SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)

45°36′N 98°21′W / 45.60°N 98.35°W / 45.60; -98.35