Beresford, South Dakota

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 2,005 people, 861 households, and 561 families living in the city. The population density was 1,126.4 inhabitants per square mile (434.9/km²). There were 959 housing units at an average density of 538.8 per square mile (208.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 861 households, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 38.5 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,006 people, 852 households, and 535 families living in the city. The population density was 1,130.1 people per square mile (435.1/km²). There were 919 housing units at an average density of 517.7 per square mile (199.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.90% White, 0.55% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 852 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $35,331, and the median income for a family was $45,231. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $19,057 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,903. About 1.1% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

The Beresford Library was originally conceived and nurtured by the Beresford Study Club. In 1923, a committee was appointed to come up with the necessary planning and arrangements. At first, the club members were the ones who contributed books to the library via a book shower, which resulted in forty volumes of reference works as well as fiction. Not long after this, the public was invited to donate books to the collection, and this effort produced another hundred books. The study club started up a fund for the library foundation, and through various fundraising efforts accrued $300 for the purchase of more books.[12] In 1924, both the size and popularity of the library were too much for the women of the study club to sponsor, so they appealed to the city attorney to see if the city would take over responsibility, and at the December meeting of the library board meeting that same year, it was officially announced that the city would take over the library.[12]

The original library occupied a small area on the second floor of the fire station. As of 1959, there were approximately 10,000 volumes classified with the Dewey Decimal System.[12] In 1963, with the help of the local Boy Scouts, the library moved to a new home in the former Post Office building. This was also the time when new forms of media were added to the collection, such as talking books, film strips, and movie projectors.[13] In 1972, the library was expanded further by refurbishing the basement, which would house the youth library. By 1983, the library collection consisted of approximately 20,000 books and much media.[13] The current library resides on 3rd Street, and was opened to the public in that venue in the fall of 1992.[14] The library currently holds nearly 30,000 items.