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Davison County, South Dakota
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{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Davison County | state = South Dakota | ex image = Davison County South Dakota Courthouse (Mitchell).jpg | ex image cap = Davison County Courthouse in Mitchell | seal = | founded year = 1873 (created)<br/>1874 (organized) | founded date = | seat wl = Mitchell | largest city wl = Mitchell | area_total_sq_mi = 437 | area_land_sq_mi = 436 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.4 | area percentage = 0.3 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 19956 | pop_est_as_of = 2024 | population_est = 19907 {{decrease}} | density_sq_mi = auto | time zone = Central | web = www.davisoncounty.org | district = At-large }} '''Davison County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Dakota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 19,956, making it the [[List of counties in South Dakota|10th most populous county in South Dakota]].<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/davisoncountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mitchell, South Dakota|Mitchell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1874.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|website=Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The [[Newberry Library]]|date=2006|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402202102/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was named for Henry C. Davison, the first settler in the county.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA101 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=101}}</ref> Davison County is part of the Mitchell, SD [[Mitchell, South Dakota micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. ==History== The area's first settlement occurred in 1871 in "Firesteel Creek"; the settlers were Herman Cady Greene and John Head. Greene brought lumber from Yankton in 1872 and built a frame house. The small community which grew around this house was called Firesteel. It became part of a county created by the territorial legislature in 1873. In 1881 the territorial legislature met and considered two bills redefining the boundaries of Hanson and Davison Counties. They considered adjusting the two counties' boundaries by either combining the two, or changing their method of separation. A public vote determined to add four townships to the west, and split the two previous counties down the middle. The settlement originally called "Arlandton" was renamed "Mount Vernon" in 1882; by 1883 it boasted a hardware store, a livery stable, lumber yard, drugstore, cigar maker, and a hotel.<ref>[http://www.davisoncounty.org/info/a-brief-history-of-davison-county/ ''A Brief History of Davison County'' (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref> During the latter part of the nineteenth century the county was served by railroad spur lines.<ref>[https://www.american-rails.com/sd.html American Rails/South Dakota (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref> By the mid-twentieth century, those lines had been abandoned and removed.<ref name=DCSD/> ==Geography== The terrain of Davison County consists of rolling hills. Its area is largely devoted to agriculture. The [[James River (Dakotas)|James River]] flows south-southeastward through the NE portion of the county. A local drainage flows eastward through the upper quarter of the county, terminating in Lake Mitchell, north of the city of Mitchell.<ref name=DCSD>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Davison+County,+SD/@43.6714625,-98.3238739,41690m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8786415c7de7e84d:0x677605c0316f51d6!8m2!3d43.7242124!4d-98.2212979 ''Davison County SD'' Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east, and rises toward its SW corner. Its highest point is on the western portion of its southern border, at {{convert|1,667|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019) |access-date=February 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|437|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|436|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.4|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_46.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 24, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the fourth-smallest county in South Dakota by area. ===Major highways=== * [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in South Dakota|Interstate 90]] * [[Image:SD 37.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 37]] * [[Image:SD 42.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 42]] ===Transit=== *[[Jefferson Lines]] ===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]] - north * [[Hanson County, South Dakota|Hanson County]] - east * [[Hutchinson County, South Dakota|Hutchinson County]] - southeast * [[Douglas County, South Dakota|Douglas County]] - southwest * [[Aurora County, South Dakota|Aurora County]] - west {{div col end}} ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 1256 |1890= 5449 |1900= 7483 |1910= 11625 |1920= 14139 |1930= 16821 |1940= 15336 |1950= 16522 |1960= 16681 |1970= 17319 |1980= 17820 |1990= 17503 |2000= 18741 |2010= 19504 |2020= 19956 |estyear=2024 |estimate=19907 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref><br>1790β1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900β1990<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><br>1990β2000<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> 2010β2020<ref name="QF"/> }} ===2020 census=== As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 19,956 people, 8,581 households, and 4,983 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Davison%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|45.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 9,484 housing units. ===2010 census=== As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 19,504 people, 8,296 households, and 4,892 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|44.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 8,852 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.3|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% white, 2.5% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 51.8% were [[German Americans|German]], 10.6% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 10.1% were [[Irish Americans|Irish]], 7.4% were [[English Americans|English]], 6.0% were [[Dutch people|Dutch]], and 4.5% were [[Americans|American]]. Of the 8,296 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.0% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 37.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $41,867 and the median income for a family was $54,677. Males had a median income of $37,688 versus $26,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,794. About 6.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. ==Communities== ===Cities=== * [[Mitchell, South Dakota|Mitchell]] (county seat) * [[Mount Vernon, South Dakota|Mount Vernon]] ===Town=== * [[Ethan, South Dakota|Ethan]] ===Census-designated place=== * [[Loomis, South Dakota|Loomis]] ===Townships=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Badger Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Badger Township]] * [[Baker Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Baker Township]] * [[Beulah Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Beulah Township]] * [[Blenden Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Blenden Township]] * [[Tobin Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Tobin Township]] * [[Lisbon Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Lisbon Township]] * [[Mitchell Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Mitchell Township]] * [[Mount Vernon Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Mount Vernon Township]] * [[Perry Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Perry Township]] * [[Prosper Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Prosper Township]] * [[Rome Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Rome Township]] * [[Union Township, Davison County, South Dakota|Union Township]] {{div col end}} ==Politics== Davison County voters traditionally vote Republican in presidential elections, but [[Bill Clinton]] managed to pick up a plurality of the county's vote in 1992, and 20 years earlier it gave a majority of its votes to losing Democratic candidate [[George McGovern]], who was brought up in the county seat of Mitchell. {{PresHead|place=Davison County, South Dakota|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,208|2,743|226|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,613|2,648|193|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,157|2,355|440|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,757|3,042|172|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,731|3,554|170|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,561|3,263|128|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,445|2,936|147|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,371|3,364|793|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,111|3,285|1,750|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,024|3,705|57|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,783|3,248|17|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,743|3,107|662|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,688|4,510|50|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1972|Democratic|3,796|4,710|25|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,869|3,585|265|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,789|4,861|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,105|4,108|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,056|3,809|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,774|3,227|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,996|4,064|68|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,929|3,222|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,659|4,230|0|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,510|4,983|312|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,147|5,233|100|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,821|2,729|21|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,801|578|2,038|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,605|1,105|1,100|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,516|1,374|113|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|1,266|1,530|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,276|1,081|149|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,626|506|230|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|853|782|62|South Dakota}} {{PresRow|1896|Democratic|616|733|16|South Dakota}} {{PresFoot|1892|Populist|569|120|640|South Dakota}} ==See also== *[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Davison County, South Dakota]] ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== * [http://www.davisoncounty.org/ Davison County, SD government website] {{Geographic Location |Centre = Davison County, South Dakota |North = [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]] |East = [[Hanson County, South Dakota|Hanson County]] |Southeast = [[Hutchinson County, South Dakota|Hutchinson County]] |Southwest = [[Douglas County, South Dakota|Douglas County]] |West = [[Aurora County, South Dakota|Aurora County]] }} {{Davison County, South Dakota}} {{South Dakota}} {{coord|43.68|-98.16|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Davison County, South Dakota| ]] [[Category:1874 establishments in Dakota Territory]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1874]] [[Category:Mitchell, South Dakota micropolitan area]]
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