Potter County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 45°04′N 99°57′W / 45.06°N 99.95°W / 45.06; -99.95
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Potter County
County
Potter County Courthouse (July 2013)
Potter County Courthouse (July 2013)
Map of South Dakota highlighting Potter 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: 45°04′N 99°57′W / 45.06°N 99.95°W / 45.06; -99.95
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1873 (created)
1883 (organized)
Named forJoel A. Potter
SeatGettysburg
Largest cityGettysburg
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land861 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (100 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,472
 • Estimate 
(2023)
2,413 Decrease
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large

Potter County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,472.[1] Its county seat is Gettysburg.[2] The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1883.[3]

Geography[edit]

The Missouri River flows southward along the west boundary line of Potter County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[4] The county generally slopes to the south, although the western portion slopes into the river valley.[5] The county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 861 square miles (2,230 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (4.2%) is water.[6]

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Potter County is the westernmost of the SD counties to observe Central Time.[7]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[4][edit]

  • Dodge Draw State Game Production Area
  • Dodge Draw State Lakeside Use Area
  • East Whitlock State Lakeside Use Area
  • Forest City State Game Production Area
  • Green Lake State Game Production Area
  • Potts Dam State Game Production Area
  • Siebrasse State Game Production Area
  • West Whitlock State Recreation Area
  • Whitlocks Bay State Game Production Area

Lakes[4][edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,910—
19002,9882.7%
19104,46649.5%
19204,382−1.9%
19305,76231.5%
19404,614−19.9%
19504,6881.6%
19604,9265.1%
19704,449−9.7%
19803,674−17.4%
19903,190−13.2%
20002,693−15.6%
20102,329−13.5%
20202,4726.1%
2023 (est.)2,413[8]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,472 people, 1,127 households, and 753 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 2.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 1,569 housing units.

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,329 people, 1,062 households, and 648 families in the county. The population density was 2.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.0/km2). There were 1,500 housing units at an average density of 1.7 units per square mile (0.66 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.9% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 65.3% were German, 11.1% were Irish, 8.2% were Norwegian, 8.0% were English, and 3.9% were American.

Of the 1,062 households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.0% were non-families, and 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 50.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,422 and the median income for a family was $53,214. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $29,792 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,986. About 5.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Towns[edit]

Unincorporated area[4][edit]

  • Forest City

Townships[edit]

The county has no organized townships. It is divided into three areas of unorganized territory: West Potter, Central Potter, and East Potter.

Politics[edit]

Like most of South Dakota outside of Native American counties, Potter County has been predominantly Republican throughout most of the state's history. Only three Democrats – William Jennings Bryan, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson – have carried the county as of 2020, and since Jimmy Carter in 1976 no Democrat has passed forty percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Potter County, South Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,139 82.54% 227 16.45% 14 1.01%
2016 1,071 80.10% 215 16.08% 51 3.81%
2012 1,029 74.51% 339 24.55% 13 0.94%
2008 937 65.07% 482 33.47% 21 1.46%
2004 1,143 70.64% 463 28.62% 12 0.74%
2000 1,112 74.43% 356 23.83% 26 1.74%
1996 979 57.52% 534 31.37% 189 11.10%
1992 901 50.67% 493 27.73% 384 21.60%
1988 1,175 62.07% 701 37.03% 17 0.90%
1984 1,551 76.22% 482 23.69% 2 0.10%
1980 1,633 75.29% 436 20.10% 100 4.61%
1976 1,136 55.36% 908 44.25% 8 0.39%
1972 1,389 61.65% 858 38.08% 6 0.27%
1968 1,273 57.81% 780 35.42% 149 6.77%
1964 954 43.09% 1,260 56.91% 0 0.00%
1960 1,326 56.91% 1,004 43.09% 0 0.00%
1956 1,445 63.16% 843 36.84% 0 0.00%
1952 1,625 73.73% 579 26.27% 0 0.00%
1948 1,044 49.69% 1,039 49.45% 18 0.86%
1944 1,001 58.27% 717 41.73% 0 0.00%
1940 1,278 54.80% 1,054 45.20% 0 0.00%
1936 914 39.64% 1,338 58.02% 54 2.34%
1932 660 28.09% 1,668 70.98% 22 0.94%
1928 1,240 52.77% 1,100 46.81% 10 0.43%
1924 1,075 59.82% 283 15.75% 439 24.43%
1920 1,073 72.30% 255 17.18% 156 10.51%
1916 512 54.58% 408 43.50% 18 1.92%
1912 0 0.00% 423 46.95% 478 53.05%
1908 614 58.09% 400 37.84% 43 4.07%
1904 525 62.80% 275 32.89% 36 4.31%
1900 375 47.95% 381 48.72% 26 3.32%
1896 333 45.74% 390 53.57% 5 0.69%
1892 320 51.12% 57 9.11% 249 39.78%

See also[edit]

45°04′N 99°57′W / 45.06°N 99.95°W / 45.06; -99.95

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  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 31, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Potter County SD Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)
  5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. ^ Map of Time Zone Line through South Dakota (accessed January 30, 2019)
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
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