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Buffalo County, South Dakota
Fort Thompson Big Bend Dam.
Map of South Dakota highlighting Buffalo County
Location in the state of South Dakota
Map of the U.S
South Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded 1871
Named for American buffalo
Seat Gann Valley
Largest community Fort Thompson
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

488 sq mi (1,264 km²)
471 sq mi (1,220 km²)
16 sq mi (41 km²), 3.4%
PopulationEst.
 - (2016)
 - Density

2,043
4.1/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,912.[1] Its county seat is Gann Valley[2] which, at 14 people, is the least populous county seat in the United States. The county was created in 1864 and organized in 1871[3] as part of the Dakota Territory.

In 2010, the center of population of South Dakota was located in eastern Buffalo County.[4] The Crow Creek Indian Reservation inhabited by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe makes up the majority of Buffalo County.

According to the 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) of the Bureau of the Census, about 41% of county residents live in poverty, making it the fifth-poorest county in South Dakota.[5] This is a far higher poverty rate than the national poverty rate, which is 15.8%.[5] Median household income in 2013 was $21,572, making it the lowest-earning county in South Dakota and the United States.[5]

In March 2015, the unemployment rate was 8.5%; its ten-year peaks occurred in December 2006 (18.%) and December 2009 (17.2%).[6] Many homes lack kitchens and indoor plumbing.[7]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 488 square miles (1,260 km2), of which 471 square miles (1,220 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (3.4%) is water.[8]

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

History[]

As first organized, the county occupied an extensive area, bounded on the north by Canada, southwest and west by the Missouri River, having Montana for a part of its northwest boundary, and comprising a large portion of the “Plateau du Coteau du Missouri,” and a part of the Miniwakan or Devil's Lake.[9] While this does expand into modern-day North Dakota, this conundrum can be solved by realizing that the county was created in 1864, 25 years before the Dakota Territory was split into North and South Dakota.

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 246
1880 63 −74.4%
1890 993 1,476.2%
1900 1,790 80.3%
1910 1,589 −11.2%
1920 1,715 7.9%
1930 1,931 12.6%
1940 1,853 −4.0%
1950 1,615 −12.8%
1960 1,547 −4.2%
1970 1,739 12.4%
1980 1,795 3.2%
1990 1,759 −2.0%
2000 2,032 15.5%
2010 1,912 −5.9%
Est. 2017 1,999 [10] −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census[]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there are 2,032 people, 526 households, and 422 families residing in the county. The population density is 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There are 602 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county is 81.59% Native American, 16.34% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.30% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% were of German ancestry.

There are 526 households out of which 47.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.60% are married couples living together, 31.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.80% are non-families. 16.00% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.83 and the average family size is 4.23.

In the county, the population is spread out with 41.30% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 16.10% from 45 to 64, and 6.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $12,692, and the median income for a family was $14,167. Males had a median income of $18,650 versus $19,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $5,213, the lowest in the nation. About 55.70% of families and 56.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.50% of those under age 18 and 50.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,912 people, 532 households, and 407 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6 /km2). There were 609 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.50 /km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% Native American, 14.8% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 5.6% were German, and 0.0% were American.[18]

Of the 532 households, 55.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 33.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.5% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 4.06. The median age was 25.0 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $27,926 and the median income for a family was $28,333. Males had a median income of $38,920 versus $18,542 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,410. About 44.4% of families and 49.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.2% of those under age 18 and 36.3% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Communities[]

Census-designated places[]

  • Gann Valley (county seat)
  • Fort Thompson

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Crow Creek
  • Shelby

Townships[]

The county consists of one township: Elvira; and three areas of unorganized territory: Crow Creek, North Buffalo, and Southeast Buffalo.

Politics[]

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the votes in Buffalo County due to support from Native Americans.

Presidential Elections Results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 34.9% 171 60.4% 296 4.7% 23
2012 25.9% 166 73.6% 472 0.5% 3
2008 25.2% 156 73.3% 454 1.5% 9
2004 26.5% 223 71.7% 603 1.8% 15
2000 34.3% 140 62.8% 256 2.9% 12
1996 20.9% 134 72.7% 465 6.4% 41
1992 27.6% 137 56.9% 282 15.5% 77
1988 30.8% 151 68.2% 334 1.0% 5
1984 51.2% 253 47.8% 236 1.0% 5
1980 59.7% 272 32.2% 147 8.1% 37
1976 44.7% 194 55.3% 240
1972 44.5% 221 55.3% 275 0.2% 1
1968 47.1% 261 47.8% 265 5.1% 28
1964 35.7% 278 64.3% 501
1960 46.8% 294 53.2% 334
1956 49.7% 314 50.3% 318
1952 61.5% 413 38.5% 259
1948 48.0% 313 51.2% 334 0.8% 5
1944 56.5% 324 43.6% 250
1940 55.4% 491 44.6% 395
1936 46.3% 368 51.6% 410 2.1% 17
1932 29.6% 270 69.6% 634 0.8% 7
1928 51.0% 405 48.7% 387 0.3% 2
1924 41.5% 309 30.2% 225 28.2% 210
1920 59.7% 200 30.2% 101 10.2% 34
1916 30.2% 80 68.7% 182 1.1% 3
1912 0.0% 0 53.9% 105 46.2% 90
1908 59.0% 105 38.8% 69 2.3% 4
1904 60.5% 118 22.1% 43 17.4% 34
1900 46.3% 87 53.2% 100 0.5% 1
1896 46.3% 68 53.7% 79
1892 50.7% 78 8.4% 13 40.9% 63

See also[]

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Buffalo County, South Dakota

Further reading[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46/46017.html. Retrieved November 26, 2013. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved June 7, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. 2006. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. Retrieved March 28, 2015. 
  4. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140103082820/http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt. Retrieved April 25, 2014. 
  5. ^ a b c 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, Interactive SAIPE Data and Mapping Tool, Bureau of the Census.
  6. ^ Unemployment Rate in Buffalo County, SD, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  7. ^ Cara Hetland, South Dakota has nation's poorest county, Minnesota Public Radio (October 1, 2002).
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_46.txt. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  9. ^ Template:AmCyc
  10. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2017/PEPANNRES/0400000US46.05000. Retrieved April 16, 2018. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. https://www.webcitation.org/6G4J8TS75?url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  15. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130911234518/http://factfinder2.census.gov/. Retrieved May 14, 2011. 
  16. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US46017. Retrieved March 11, 2016. 
  17. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US46017. Retrieved March 11, 2016. 
  18. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US46017. Retrieved March 11, 2016. 
  19. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US46017. Retrieved March 11, 2016. 
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

Coordinates: 44°05′N 99°12′W / 44.08, -99.20


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Buffalo County, South Dakota. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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