Brookings County, South Dakota Explained

County:Brookings County
State:South Dakota
Founded:1862 (created)
July 3, 1871 (organized)
Seat Wl:Brookings
Largest City Wl:Brookings
Area Total Sq Mi:805
Area Land Sq Mi:792
Area Water Sq Mi:13
Area Percentage:1.6
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:34375
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:35980
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Time Zone:Central
Web:www.brookingscountysd.gov
Ex Image:Brookings court house.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Brookings County Courthouse in Brookings
District:At-large

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 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

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: 1568feet 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, of which is land and (1.6%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Airports

Transit

Adjacent counties

Lakes

Protected areas

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 34,375 people, 13,120 households, and 7,419 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was . There were 14,849 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 31,965 people, 12,029 households, and 6,623 families in the county. The population density was . There were 13,137 housing units at an average density of . 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

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.

See also

External links

44.37°N -96.79°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . March 21, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Find a County . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties.
  3. Web site: 2006 . Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180402202102/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm . April 2, 2018 . March 28, 2015 . Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries . The Newberry Library.
  4. Web site: "Find an Elevation" Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm . May 21, 2019 . January 31, 2019.
  5. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brookings+County,+SD/@44.3574736,-96.9648228,49988m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8789026d85349203:0xf7f6dbc860f39ae0!8m2!3d44.4211592!4d-96.8350999 Brookings County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  6. Web site: August 22, 2012 . 2010 Census Gazetteer Files . March 22, 2015 . US Census Bureau.
  7. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brookings+County,+SD/@44.4733698,-96.7315189,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8789026d85349203:0xf7f6dbc860f39ae0!8m2!3d44.4211592!4d-96.8350999 Oak Lake, Brookings County, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  8. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Aurora+Prairie/@44.2597019,-96.695483,14.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8789026d85349203:0xf7f6dbc860f39ae0!2sBrookings+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d44.4211592!4d-96.8350999!3m4!1s0x87899edf0e6391bf:0x26d5061fe3a1935d!8m2!3d44.2623472!4d-96.7045838 Aurora Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  9. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brookings+Prairie/@44.2519838,-96.8083165,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8789026d85349203:0xf7f6dbc860f39ae0!2sBrookings+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d44.4211592!4d-96.8350999!3m4!1s0x8789a114c33fd139:0x7a27503bbf21ac52!8m2!3d44.2525461!4d-96.8103164 Brookings Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  10. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dakota+Nature+Park/@44.2517793,-96.7846285,14z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8789026d85349203:0xf7f6dbc860f39ae0!2sBrookings+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d44.4211592!4d-96.8350999!3m4!1s0x8789a18afe3ea607:0xd98848eebd39fed9!8m2!3d44.2719085!4d-96.7736292 Dakota Nature Park Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)
  11. Web site: US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type . March 21, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.

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