Lawrence County, South Dakota

Lawrence County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,768.[1] Its county seat is Deadwood.[2]

Lawrence County
County
Lawrence County Courthouse in Deadwood
Lawrence County Courthouse in Deadwood
Map of South Dakota highlighting Lawrence 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 103°47′W
Country United States
State South Dakota
FoundedJanuary 11, 1875 (created)
1877 (organized)
Named forJohn Lawrence
SeatDeadwood
Largest citySpearfish
Area
 • Total800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land800 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total25,768
 • Estimate 
(2022)
27,214 Increase
 • Density32/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.lawrence.sd.us
US Highway 14a w

Lawrence County is coextensive with the Spearfish, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rapid City-Spearfish, SD Combined Statistical Area.

History

Lawrence County was created January 11, 1875, and was organized in 1877.[3] The county was named for "Colonel" John Lawrence,[4] who came to the county as first treasurer in 1877. Lawrence had previously served in the Dakota Territorial Legislature, as a Sergeant at Arms for the United States House of Representatives, and a US Marshal for the Dakota territory. After retirement, he continued to act as county road supervisor and as an election judge. The title "Colonel" was honorary, bestowed by the governor of the Dakota Territory.

Geography

Lawrence County lies on the west side of South Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The terrain of Lawrence County consists of mountains in the south and west, falling off to the hilly northeast portion. A tributary of the Redwater River flows east-northeasterly along a portion of the county's north boundary line, delineating that portion of the line.[5] The terrain generally slopes to the county's northeast corner; its highest point is Crooks Tower, at 7,137'. The county has a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[5]
  • Black Hills National Forest (partial)
  • Beilage Hepler State Game Production Area
  • Coxes-Mirror Lakes State Game Production Area
  • Harrison-Badger-Trucano State Game Production Area
  • Iron Creek Lake State Game Production Area
  • Reausaw Lake State Game Production Area
  • Spearfish Canyon State Nature Area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188013,218—
189011,673−11.7%
190017,89753.3%
191019,69410.0%
192013,029−33.8%
193013,9206.8%
194019,09337.2%
195016,648−12.8%
196017,0752.6%
197017,4532.2%
198018,3395.1%
199020,65512.6%
200021,8025.6%
201024,09710.5%
202025,7686.9%
2022 (est.)27,214[7]5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 25,768 people.

The county population contained 23.10% under the age of 18, 13.70% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,755, and the median income for a family was $40,501. Males had a median income of $30,098 versus $19,679 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,195. About 9.50% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 24,097 people, 10,536 households, and 6,181 families in the county. The population density was 30.1 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km2). There were 12,756 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% white, 2.0% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.5% were German, 13.7% were Irish, 13.4% were English, 11.4% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American.

Of the 10,536 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.3% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 41.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,356 and the median income for a family was $60,209. Males had a median income of $38,933 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,465. About 8.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Hay fields and scenery, North of Deadwood

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities[5]

Ghost towns

Townships and unorganized territories
  • St. Onge Township
  • North Lawrence (unorganized territory)
  • South Lawrence (unorganized territory)

Politics

Lawrence County voters have been reliably Republican for a full century. It was the only South Dakota county to remain loyal to Herbert Hoover in his landslide 1932 loss.[12] In fact, Lawrence County was the second-westernmost county, behind only Utah's Kane County, to never vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt. The only Democratic presidential candidates to carry Lawrence County have been Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916, and William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Lawrence County has also been one of the most consistent strongholds for the Libertarian Party, giving their 2016 nominee, Gary Johnson, one of the largest vote share out of any county outside his home state of New Mexico, with 7.9%. In 2020, Libertarian Party nominee Jo Jorgensen received 3.9% of the popular vote, her second best performance in any county during the election cycle.

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, South Dakota[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,753 63.30% 4,537 32.81% 538 3.89%
2016 7,411 62.58% 3,356 28.34% 1,075 9.08%
2012 7,025 61.85% 3,973 34.98% 361 3.18%
2008 6,787 56.30% 4,932 40.91% 336 2.79%
2004 7,489 64.45% 3,857 33.20% 273 2.35%
2000 6,327 67.27% 2,797 29.74% 282 3.00%
1996 4,430 46.92% 3,568 37.79% 1,444 15.29%
1992 3,770 39.03% 3,157 32.68% 2,732 28.28%
1988 5,570 59.39% 3,705 39.50% 104 1.11%
1984 5,949 69.42% 2,565 29.93% 55 0.64%
1980 5,306 63.14% 2,259 26.88% 838 9.97%
1976 4,206 56.46% 3,102 41.64% 141 1.89%
1972 4,795 65.22% 2,533 34.45% 24 0.33%
1968 4,185 60.23% 2,425 34.90% 338 4.86%
1964 3,743 51.91% 3,468 48.09% 0 0.00%
1960 5,083 66.06% 2,612 33.94% 0 0.00%
1956 4,654 71.33% 1,871 28.67% 0 0.00%
1952 5,559 76.57% 1,701 23.43% 0 0.00%
1948 3,778 62.50% 2,209 36.54% 58 0.96%
1944 3,528 65.41% 1,866 34.59% 0 0.00%
1940 5,288 60.07% 3,515 39.93% 0 0.00%
1936 4,974 56.19% 3,809 43.03% 69 0.78%
1932 3,708 53.99% 3,106 45.22% 54 0.79%
1928 4,141 69.63% 1,785 30.02% 21 0.35%
1924 3,255 71.07% 649 14.17% 676 14.76%
1920 2,986 68.50% 1,201 27.55% 172 3.95%
1916 2,074 47.51% 2,157 49.42% 134 3.07%
1912 0 0.00% 2,412 53.95% 2,059 46.05%
1908 2,735 50.86% 1,564 29.09% 1,078 20.05%
1904 4,247 65.53% 1,347 20.78% 887 13.69%
1900 3,435 55.96% 2,619 42.67% 84 1.37%
1896 2,210 42.91% 2,905 56.41% 35 0.68%
1892 2,140 51.18% 546 13.06% 1,495 35.76%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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 30, 2015.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.
  5. Lawrence County SD Google Maps (accessed February 5, 2019)
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  11. "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 28, 2015.
  12. Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 442 ISBN 1400852293
  13. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

Further reading
  • Caddey, S.W. et al. (1991). The Homestake Gold Mine, an Early Proterozoic iron-formation-hosted gold deposit, Lawrence County, South Dakota [US Geological Survey Bulletin 1857-J]. Washington DC: US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey.

44.36°N 103.79°W / 44.36; -103.79

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