List of counties in South Dakota

There are 66 counties in the U.S. state of South Dakota with FIPS codes.

Counties of South Dakota
LocationState of South Dakota
Number66
Populations1,006 (Jones) – 169,468 (Minnehaha)
Areas412 square miles (1,070 km2) (Clay) – 3,471 square miles (8,990 km2) (Meade)
GovernmentCounty government
Subdivisionscities, towns, townships, unincorporated territories, unorganized territories, census designated place

Todd County and Oglala Lakota County are the only counties in South Dakota which do not have their own county seats. Hot Springs in Fall River County serves as the administrative center for Oglala Lakota County. Winner in Tripp County serves as the administrative center for Todd County.[1] These are two of five counties in South Dakota which are entirely within an Indian reservation. (The other three counties are Corson, Dewey, and Ziebach.)

South Dakota's postal abbreviation is SD and its FIPS state code is 46.

Table of counties
County
 FIPS code[2] County seat[3] Est.[3] Formed from Etymology Population[4] Area[3] Map
Aurora County 003 Plankinton1881Cragin and Wetmore countiesAurora, Roman goddess of dawn 2,710 708 sq mi
(1,834 km2)
Beadle County 005 Huron1879Buchard, Clark, Kingsbury, and Spink countiesWilliam Henry Harrison Beadle, chief surveyor of Dakota Territory 17,398 1,259 sq mi
(3,261 km2)
Bennett County 007 Martin1909Lugenbeel, Oglala Lakota, Washabaugh, and Washington countiesGranville G. Bennett, justice of the Supreme Court for the Dakota Territory 3,431 1,185 sq mi
(3,069 km2)
Bon Homme County 009 Tyndall1862Unorganized territoryFrench phrase meaning "good man" 7,070 563 sq mi
(1,458 km2)
Brookings County 011 Brookings1862Unorganized territoryWilmot Brookings (1830 - 1905), Dakota Territory Supreme Court justice 31,965 794 sq mi
(2,056 km2)
Brown County 013 Aberdeen1879Beadle CountyAlfred Brown, territorial legislator 36,531 1,713 sq mi
(4,437 km2)
Brule County 015 Chamberlain1875Charles Mix CountyBrulé Sioux Native Americans 5,255 819 sq mi
(2,121 km2)
Buffalo County 017 Gann Valley1873Unorganized territoryAmerican Bison 1,912 471 sq mi
(1,220 km2)
Butte County 019 Belle Fourche1883HardingButtes in the region 10,110 2,249 sq mi
(5,825 km2)
Campbell County 021 Mound City1873BuffaloNorman B. Campbell, territorial legislator 1,466 736 sq mi
(1,906 km2)
Charles Mix County 023 Lake Andes1862Unorganized territoryCharles Eli Mix, commissioner of Indian Affairs 9,129 1,098 sq mi
(2,844 km2)
Clark County 025 Clark1873HansonNewton Clark, territorial legislator 3,691 958 sq mi
(2,481 km2)
Clay County 027 Vermillion1862Unorganized territoryHenry Clay (1777 - 1852), U.S. Senator from Kentucky and prominent 19th Century political figure 13,864 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
Codington County 029 Watertown1877Indian landsReverend G.S. Codington, territorial legislator 27,227 688 sq mi
(1,782 km2)
Corson County 031 McIntosh1909Indian landsDighton Corson, a Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court 4,050 2,473 sq mi
(6,405 km2)
Custer County 033 Custer1875Indian landsGeneral George Armstrong Custer (1839 - 1876), key figure in the Indian Wars 8,216 1,558 sq mi
(4,035 km2)
Davison County 035 Mitchell1873HansonHenry C. Davison, prominent merchant and early settler 19,504 436 sq mi
(1,129 km2)
Day County 037 Webster1879ClarkMerrit H. Day, territorial legislator 5,710 1,029 sq mi
(2,665 km2)
Deuel County 039 Clear Lake1862BrookingsJacob S. Deuel, territorial legislator 4,364 624 sq mi
(1,616 km2)
Dewey County 041 Timber Lake1873Armstrong County and Indian landsWilliam P. Dewey, territorial surveyor-general 5,301 2,303 sq mi
(5,965 km2)
Douglas County 043 Armour1873Charles MixStephen A. Douglas (1813 - 1861), U.S. Senator from Illinois and advocate of popular sovereignty as a middle ground in the slavery debate 3,002 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Edmunds County 045 Ipswich1873BuffaloNewton Edmunds, Governor of Dakota Territory 4,071 1,146 sq mi
(2,968 km2)
Fall River County 047 Hot Springs1883CusterFall River 7,094 1,740 sq mi
(4,507 km2)
Faulk County 049 Faulkton1873Unorganized landsAndrew Jackson Faulk, Governor of Dakota Territory 2,364 1,000 sq mi
(2,590 km2)
Grant County 051 Milbank1873Codington and Deuel countiesUlysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885), U.S. President and American Civil War general 7,356 682 sq mi
(1,766 km2)
Gregory County 053 Burke1862Unorganized territoryJohn Shaw Gregory, territorial legislator 4,271 1,016 sq mi
(2,631 km2)
Haakon County 055 Philip1914Stanley CountyKing Haakon VII of Norway 1,937 1,813 sq mi
(4,696 km2)
Hamlin County 057 Hayti1873Deuel CountyHannibal Hamlin, Vice-President and United States Senator from Maine 5,903 511 sq mi
(1,323 km2)
Hand County 059 Miller1873Buffalo CountyGeorge H. Hand, territorial legislator 3,431 1,437 sq mi
(3,722 km2)
Hanson County 061 Alexandria1873Buffalo and Deuel countiesJoseph R. Hanson, army major in the Indian Wars and early settler 3,331 435 sq mi
(1,127 km2)
Harding County 063 Buffalo1909Unorganized landsJ.A. Harding, Speaker of the House for Dakota Territory 1,255 2,671 sq mi
(6,918 km2)
Hughes County 065 Pierre1880Buffalo CountyAlexander Hughes, territorial legislator 17,022 741 sq mi
(1,919 km2)
Hutchinson County 067 Olivet1862Unorganized territoryJohn Hutchinson, territorial legislator 7,343 813 sq mi
(2,106 km2)
Hyde County 069 Highmore1873Buffalo CountyJames Hyde, territorial legislator 1,420 861 sq mi
(2,230 km2)
Jackson County 071 Kadoka1914Stanley CountyJ.R. Jackson, territorial legislator 3,031 1,869 sq mi
(4,841 km2)
Jerauld County 073 Wessington Springs1883Aurora CountyH.A. Jerauld, territorial legislator 2,070 530 sq mi
(1,373 km2)
Jones County 075 Murdo1916Lyman CountyGeorge W. Jones, territorial legislator 1,006 971 sq mi
(2,515 km2)
Kingsbury County 077 De Smet1873Hanson CountyGeorge W. Kingsbury and T.A. Kingsbury, brothers and territorial legislators 5,148 838 sq mi
(2,170 km2)
Lake County 079 Madison1873Brookings and Hanson countiesLakes within the county 11,200 563 sq mi
(1,458 km2)
Lawrence County 081 Deadwood1875Unorganized territoryJohn Lawrence (1839 - 1889), territorial legislator 24,097 800 sq mi
(2,072 km2)
Lincoln County 083 Canton1867Unorganized territoryAbraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States,[5] or, possibly, Lincoln County, Maine. 44,828 578 sq mi
(1,497 km2)
Lyman County 085 Kennebec1873Unorganized territoryW.P. Lyman, territorial legislator 3,755 1,640 sq mi
(4,248 km2)
Marshall County 091 Britton1885Day CountyMarshall Vincent, Day County Commissioner 4,656 839 sq mi
(2,173 km2)
McCook County 087 Salem1873Hanson CountyEdwin McCook, Secretary of Dakota Territory 5,618 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)
McPherson County 089 Leola1873Buffalo CountyJames B. McPherson (1828 - 1864), Civil War general 2,459 1,137 sq mi
(2,945 km2)
Meade County 093 Sturgis1889Lawrence CountyGeorge Meade (1815 - 1872), Civil War general 25,434 3,471 sq mi
(8,990 km2)
Mellette County 095 White River1909Lyman CountyArthur C. Mellette, first Governor of South Dakota 2,048 1,307 sq mi
(3,385 km2)
Miner County 097 Howard1873Hanson CountyNelson Miner and Ephriam Miner, brothers and territorial legislators 2,389 570 sq mi
(1,476 km2)
Minnehaha County 099 Sioux Falls1862Unorganized territorySioux term for waterfall 169,468 809 sq mi
(2,095 km2)
Moody County 101 Flandreau1873Brookings and Minnehaha countiesGideon C. Moody, Speaker of the House for Dakota Territory 6,486 520 sq mi
(1,347 km2)
Oglala Lakota County 102 1875Fall River CountyOglala Lakota tribe 13,586 2,094 sq mi
(5,423 km2)
Pennington County 103 Rapid City1875Unorganized territoryJohn L. Pennington (1829 - 1900), Governor of Dakota Territory 100,948 2,776 sq mi
(7,190 km2)
Perkins County 105 Bison1909Butte and Harding countiesHenry E. Perkins, state senator 2,982 2,872 sq mi
(7,438 km2)
Potter County 107 Gettysburg1875Buffalo CountyJoel A. Potter, territorial legislator 2,329 866 sq mi
(2,243 km2)
Roberts County 109 Sisseton1883Grant CountyS.G. Roberts, territorial legislator 10,149 1,101 sq mi
(2,852 km2)
Sanborn County 111 Woonsocket1883Miner CountyGeorge W. Sanborn, president of the Milwaukee Railroad 2,355 569 sq mi
(1,474 km2)
Spink County 115 Redfield1873Hanson CountySolomon Spink, Secretary of Dakota Territory 6,451 1,504 sq mi
(3,895 km2)
Stanley County 117 Fort Pierre1873Unorganized territoryDavid S. Stanley, commander of Fort Sully 2,966 1,443 sq mi
(3,737 km2)
Sully County 119 Onida1873Potter CountyFort Sully, itself named after General Alfred Sully 1,373 1,007 sq mi
(2,608 km2)
Todd County 121 1909Meyer and Tripp countiesJohn Blair Smith Todd, territorial delegate to Congress 9,612 1,388 sq mi
(3,595 km2)
Tripp County 123 Winner1873Unorganized territoryBartlett Tripp, Chief Justice of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court 5,644 1,614 sq mi
(4,180 km2)
Turner County 125 Parker1871Lincoln CountyJohn W. Turner, territorial legislator 8,347 617 sq mi
(1,598 km2)
Union County 127 Elk Point1862Unorganized territoryThe union of the American states 14,399 460 sq mi
(1,191 km2)
Walworth County 129 Selby1873Buffalo CountyWalworth County, Wisconsin 5,438 708 sq mi
(1,834 km2)
Yankton County 135 Yankton1862Unorganized territoryYankton Sioux Native Americans 22,438 522 sq mi
(1,352 km2)
Ziebach County 137 Dupree1911Armstrong, Schnasse, and Sterling countiesFrank M. Ziebach, publisher and army major during the Indian Wars 2,801 1,962 sq mi
(5,082 km2)

Former names
  • Shannon County: renamed Oglala Lakota County in 2015
  • Boreman County: Renamed Corson County in 1909
  • Mandan County: Renamed Lawrence County
  • Pratt County: Renamed Jones County

Former counties
  • Armstrong County (1883–1952): Created by Dakota Territory as Pyatt County in 1883 from Cheyenne, Rusk (Dewey), and Stanley Counties. Renamed Armstrong in 1895. The western half was annexed to form part of the second Ziebach County, in 1911. The remainder was annexed into Dewey in 1952.
  • Ashmore County
  • Big Sioux County
  • Bramble County
  • Bruguier County
  • Burchard County
  • Burdick County
  • Cheyenne County
  • Choteau County: Abolished when it merged into Perkins County along with Martin, Rinehart and Wagner Counties.
  • Cole County: organized in 1862, was named for Austin Cole, who was a member of the first Territorial Legislature. Two years later, the boundaries were rearranged and the name changed to Union because of sentiment for the Union side of the civil war.
  • Cragin County
  • Delano County: Absorbed by Meade County
  • Ewing County (1889–1890): Created upon statehood. Abolished one year later, when it became the northern half of Harding County.
  • Forsythe County
  • Greely County, South Dakota
  • Jayne County
  • Lugenbeel County (1875–1909): Created by Dakota Territory from unorganized lands and Meyer and Pratt Counties in 1875. Abolished in 1909 when it became part of Bennett and Todd Counties.
  • Martin County: Abolished when it merged into Perkins County along with Choteau, Rinehart and Wagner Counties.
  • Meyer County
  • Midway County
  • Mills County
  • Nowlin County (1883–1898): Created by Dakota Territory in 1883 from Cheyenne and White River Counties. Abolished in 1898 when it became part of Haakon County.
  • Presho County: Absorbed by Lyman County
  • Pyatt County (1883–1895): Created by Dakota Territory from unorganized lands in 1883. Renamed Armstrong in 1895. Later divided between the revived Ziebach County and Dewey County.
  • Rinehart County: Abolished when it merged into Perkins County along with Choteau, Martin, and Wagner Counties.
  • Rusk County
  • Schnasse County (1883–1911): Created by Dakota Territory from unorganized lands and part of Boreman County in 1883. Later absorbed into Boreman and the revived Ziebach Counties
  • Scobey County: Absorbed by Meade County
  • Sterling County (1883–1911): Created by Dakota Territory from Cheyenne County. Abolished in 1911 when it became part of Haakon and Ziebach Counties
  • Stone County
  • Thompson County
  • Wagner County: Abolished when it merged into Perkins County along with Choteau, Martin, and Rinehart Counties.
  • Washabaugh County (1883–1983): South Dakota's most recent county to be eliminated. Created by Dakota Territory in 1883. Abolished in 1983 when it was merged with Jackson County.
  • Washington County (1888–1943): Abolished in 1943 when it was divided between Pennington and Shannon Counties.
  • Wetmore County
  • White River County
  • Wood County
  • Ziebach County (1889–1890): Created in 1889, upon statehood. Abolished in 1890, becoming the eastern portion of Pennington County. The name was revived in 1911, when a second Ziebach County was created from parts of Sterling, Schnasse and Pyatt Counties.

Population density map
Map showing the density of South Dakota's counties

Darker colors indicate heavier density.

See also

List of US counties

References
  1. "South Dakota Counties, Regions, Tourism and State Index". Global Index. Archived from the original on January 2, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2006.
  2. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  3. "NACo - Find a county". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on April 10, 2005. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  4. "South Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. US Government Printing Office. p. 187.
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