Brookings County, South Dakota

Brookings County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,375,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Brookings.[2] The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1871.[3]

Brookings County
County
Brookings County Courthouse in Brookings
Brookings County Courthouse in Brookings
Map of South Dakota highlighting Brookings 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: 44°22′N 96°47′W
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1862 (created)
July 3, 1871 (organized)
Named forWilmot Wood Brookings
SeatBrookings
Largest cityBrookings
Area
 • Total805 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land792 sq mi (2,050 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total34,375
 • Estimate 
(2022)
35,484 Increase
 • Density43/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.brookingscountysd.gov

Brookings County comprises the Brookings, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was organized July 3, 1871, and was named for Wilmot Wood Brookings (1830-1905), a politician and pioneer of southeastern South Dakota. Medary was the first county seat, from 1871 to 1879, when it was moved to the city of Brookings.

Geography
Soils of Brookings County

Brookings County is on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The Big Sioux River flows south-southeastward through the east central part of the county; its point of entry into Moody County marks Brookings County's lowest elevation: 1,568 ft (478 m) ASL.[4]

The county terrain consists of sloped flatlands, marked by numerous lakes and ponds especially in the western part. The area is largely devoted to agricultural use.[5] The county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 782 square miles (2,030 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.6%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Airports

Transit

Adjacent counties

Lakes
  • Brush Lake
  • Johnson Lake
  • Lake Campbell
  • Lake Goldsmith
  • Lake Hendricks (partial)
  • Lake Poinsett
  • Lake Sinai
  • Lake Tetonkaha
  • Oak Lake[7]
  • Oakwood Lake

Protected areas
  • Aurora Prairie Nature Preserve[8]
  • Black Slough State Game Production Area
  • Brookings County State Game Production Area
  • Brookings Prairie Park[9]
  • Dakota Nature Park[10]
  • Deer Creek State Game Production Area
  • Kvernmoe Slough State Game Production Area
  • Lake Hendricks State Lakeside Use Area
  • Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area
  • Mehegan State Game Production Area
  • Moe Slough State game Production Area
  • Nelson State Game Production Area
  • Oak Lake State Game Production Area
  • Oakwood Lake State Game Production Area
  • Oakwood Lakes State Park

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870163—
18804,9652,946.0%
189010,132104.1%
190012,56124.0%
191014,17812.9%
192016,11913.7%
193016,8474.5%
194016,560−1.7%
195017,8517.8%
196020,04612.3%
197022,15810.5%
198024,3329.8%
199025,2073.6%
200028,22012.0%
201031,96513.3%
202034,3757.5%
2022 (est.)35,484[11]3.2%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 34,375 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 31,965 people, 12,029 households, and 6,623 families in the county. The population density was 40.3 inhabitants per square mile (15.6/km2). There were 13,137 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 2.7% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.9% were German, 24.3% were Norwegian, 11.9% were Irish, 6.9% were English, 6.1% were Dutch, and 2.0% were American.

Of the 12,029 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.9% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 26.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,134 and the median income for a family was $63,338. Males had a median income of $40,425 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,995. About 5.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Afton
  • Alton
  • Argo
  • Aurora
  • Bangor
  • Brookings
  • Elkton
  • Eureka
  • Lake Hendricks
  • Lake Sinai
  • Laketon
  • Medary
  • Oaklake
  • Oakwood
  • Oslo
  • Parnell
  • Preston
  • Richland
  • Sherman
  • Sterling
  • Trenton
  • Volga
  • Winsor

Politics

Typical of the Great Plains, Brookings County voters are reliably Republican, even for a county with politics influenced by a college town. In only two national elections since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Despite being reliably Republican territory, no Republican has taken over 60% of the vote since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

United States presidential election results for Brookings County, South Dakota[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,000 54.92% 6,110 41.94% 457 3.14%
2016 6,748 53.22% 4,879 38.48% 1,053 8.30%
2012 6,220 50.16% 5,827 46.99% 353 2.85%
2008 6,431 46.12% 7,207 51.68% 307 2.20%
2004 7,662 57.29% 5,443 40.70% 270 2.02%
2000 6,212 56.55% 4,546 41.39% 226 2.06%
1996 5,112 45.35% 5,105 45.29% 1,055 9.36%
1992 4,698 39.14% 4,645 38.70% 2,659 22.15%
1988 5,394 52.34% 4,860 47.16% 51 0.49%
1984 6,679 61.76% 4,089 37.81% 46 0.43%
1980 5,727 52.15% 3,934 35.83% 1,320 12.02%
1976 5,278 52.64% 4,685 46.73% 63 0.63%
1972 5,182 52.26% 4,701 47.41% 33 0.33%
1968 4,674 57.84% 3,202 39.62% 205 2.54%
1964 3,692 46.83% 4,191 53.17% 0 0.00%
1960 5,710 65.75% 2,974 34.25% 0 0.00%
1956 5,293 66.89% 2,620 33.11% 0 0.00%
1952 5,988 76.29% 1,861 23.71% 0 0.00%
1948 3,975 57.39% 2,907 41.97% 44 0.64%
1944 4,136 66.61% 2,073 33.39% 0 0.00%
1940 5,016 65.25% 2,671 34.75% 0 0.00%
1936 3,899 53.40% 3,161 43.29% 242 3.31%
1932 3,231 48.96% 3,247 49.20% 121 1.83%
1928 4,586 70.05% 1,915 29.25% 46 0.70%
1924 4,708 48.51% 1,010 10.41% 3,987 41.08%
1920 2,743 68.64% 564 14.11% 689 17.24%
1916 1,638 51.79% 1,385 43.79% 140 4.43%
1912 0 0.00% 740 30.90% 1,655 69.10%
1908 1,697 63.58% 588 22.03% 384 14.39%
1904 2,220 76.18% 353 12.11% 341 11.70%
1900 1,707 57.36% 1,084 36.42% 185 6.22%
1896 1,263 48.71% 1,288 49.67% 42 1.62%
1892 1,082 51.57% 189 9.01% 827 39.42%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  4. ""Find an Elevation" Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. Brookings County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  7. Oak Lake, Brookings County, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  8. Aurora Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  9. Brookings Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  10. Dakota Nature Park Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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