Editing Day County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Day County
 | state                = South Dakota
 | ex image             = First National Bank NRHP 05000626 Day County, SD.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[First National Bank (Webster, South Dakota)]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1880
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Webster
 | largest city wl      = Webster
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1091
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1028
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 63
 | area percentage      = 5.8
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 5449
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 5408 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://day.sdcounties.org/
 | named for            = Merritt H. Day
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Day 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 5,449.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/daycountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Webster, South Dakota|Webster]].<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 is named for [[Merritt H. Day]], pioneer and 1879 [[Dakota Territory]] [[legislator]].<ref><Legislative Manual 2005, p. 596</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n100 101]}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Day Co SD Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Native Vegetation based on NRCS soils information]]
The terrain of Day County consists of rolling hills, partly devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with numerous lakes and ponds, especially its eastern portion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Day County · South Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Day+County,+SD/@45.3208001,-97.7521397,34038m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Day County · South Dakota |language=en}}</ref> The terrain slopes to the west; its highest point is the northeast corner, at {{convert|2,014|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|1091|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1028|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|63|sqmi}} (5.8%) 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>

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Amsden
* Antelope
* Bitter
* Blue Dog
* [[Enemy Swim Lake|Enemy Swim]]
* Horseshoe
* Lynn
* Minnewaste
* [[Pickerel Lake (South Dakota)|Pickerel Lake]]
* Reetz
* Rush
* Sweetwater
* Waubay
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in South Dakota|U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:SD 25.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 25]]
* [[Image:SD 27.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 27]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Marshall County, South Dakota|Marshall County]] - north
* [[Roberts County, South Dakota|Roberts County]] - east
* [[Grant County, South Dakota|Grant County]] - southeast
* [[Codington County, South Dakota|Codington County]] - southeast
* [[Clark County, South Dakota|Clark County]] - south
* [[Spink County, South Dakota|Spink County]] - southwest
* [[Brown County, South Dakota|Brown County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Buchner Slough State Public Shooting Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Buchner+Slough+State+Public+Shooting+Area,+Webster,+SD+57274/@45.3277319,-97.5947241,13.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cd0a90b8d99cb1:0x4cdab2c465167322!8m2!3d45.3327197!4d-97.5630999 ''Buchner Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Holmquist Slough State Public Shooting Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holmquist+Slough+State+Public+Shooting+Area,+Webster,+SD+57274/@45.3626584,-97.6502292,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cd9fc8673c2cf9:0xd59a96a7b1101a7a!8m2!3d45.3604638!4d-97.62527 ''Holmquist Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Lily State Public Shooting Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lily+State+Public+Shooting+Area,+Bradley,+SD+57217/@45.228612,-97.9288765,12.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cd651cb417ab27:0xb26ddb5d63f8fc5a!8m2!3d45.1600717!4d-97.7647591 ''Lily State Public Shooting Area''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Myland Pass State Public Shooting Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mydland+Pass+State+Public+Shooting+Area,+Webster,+SD+57274/@45.4730271,-97.6702166,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cd98419e1becff:0x806089a3ea2607c4!8m2!3d45.4720054!4d-97.6551982 ''Myland Pass State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Nelson Slough State Public Shooting Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nelson+Slough+State+Public+Shooting+Area,+Webster,+SD+57274/@45.475016,-97.6090514,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cda2ea483ddab7:0xf406da0d2bb33f9!8m2!3d45.4764548!4d-97.5886893 ''Nelson Slough State Public Shooting Area, Webster SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pickerel+Lake+State+Recreation+Area+West+Unit/@45.4824013,-97.2993921,13.75z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cdad49c9b1f1cb:0xd486c3a69fa59797!8m2!3d45.5020157!4d-97.2815323 ''Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* Pierpont Lake Recreation Area<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pierpont+Lake+Recreation+Area,+Pierpont,+SD+57468/@45.4454899,-97.8300906,13z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52cd85140e5af7a5:0x8c966377aea8d2da!8m2!3d45.4611842!4d-97.8317928 ''Pierpont Lake Recreation Area, Pierpont SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Waubay National Wildlife Refuge]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 97
|1890= 9168
|1900= 12254
|1910= 14372
|1920= 15194
|1930= 14606
|1940= 13565
|1950= 12294
|1960= 10516
|1970= 8713
|1980= 8133
|1990= 6978
|2000= 6267
|2010= 5710
|2020= 5449
|estyear=2024
|estimate=5408
|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>1790–1960<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> 1900–1990<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>1990–2000<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> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 5,449 people, 2,370 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Day%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|5.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,395 housing units.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,558 and the median income for a family was $76,583. About 13.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,710 people, 2,504 households, and 1,561 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|5.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,630 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% white, 9.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 43.8% were [[Germans|German]], 25.1% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 12.8% were [[Polish people|Polish]], 8.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 6.1% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 2,504 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 47.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,818 and the median income for a family was $47,949. Males had a median income of $36,549 versus $25,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,542. About 10.7% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Bristol, South Dakota|Bristol]]
* [[Waubay, South Dakota|Waubay]]
* [[Webster, South Dakota|Webster]] (county seat)

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Andover, South Dakota|Andover]]
* [[Butler, South Dakota|Butler]]
* [[Grenville, South Dakota|Grenville]]
* [[Pierpont, South Dakota|Pierpont]]
* [[Roslyn, South Dakota|Roslyn]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Enemy Swim, South Dakota|Enemy Swim]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Amsden<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Amsden,+Groton,+SD+57445/@45.3499126,-97.9695969,16z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x52cda1aa35ba59b5:0x64d3b9602baa802f!2sDay+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.4167482!4d-97.7023716!3m4!1s0x52d27f84fd4a4aeb:0x90992b7f6c30ef69!8m2!3d45.3525128!4d-97.9658443 ''Amsden, Groton SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Crandall, South Dakota|Crandall]]
* [[Holmquist, South Dakota|Holmquist]]
* [[Lily, South Dakota|Lily]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Andover
* Bristol
* Butler
* Central Point
* Egeland
* Farmington
* Grenville
* Highland
* Homer
* Independence
* Kidder
* Kosciusko
* Liberty
* Lynn
* Morton
* Nutley
* Oak Gulch
* Racine
* Raritan
* Rusk
* Scotland
* Troy
* Union
* Valley
* Waubay
* Webster
* Wheatland
* York
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Day County voters have tended to vote Democratic for the past several decades. Since 1948 the county has selected the Democratic Party candidate in 71% of national elections. However, the county swung hard to Donald Trump in 2016, and in 2020 Trump posted the best percentage in the county by a Republican presidential candidate since [[Theodore Roosevelt]] in 1904.
{{PresHead|place=Day 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|1,876|1,000|56|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,869|1,052|43|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,627|974|146|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,320|1,497|56|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,372|1,785|48|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|1,671|1,817|52|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,623|1,492|82|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,282|1,840|411|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,161|1,578|986|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,616|2,137|21|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,150|1,932|19|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,507|1,720|316|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,617|2,610|30|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|1,971|2,719|9|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,062|2,463|182|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,914|3,235|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,626|2,835|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,652|2,971|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,648|2,351|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,438|3,146|97|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,593|2,487|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,277|3,297|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,113|3,335|281|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,983|3,910|298|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,180|2,642|43|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,193|308|1,474|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,739|436|1,404|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,758|907|207|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|787|1,544|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,616|813|300|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,077|383|366|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,558|1,092|114|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,171|1,230|35|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|752|362|818|South Dakota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Day County, South Dakota]]
* [http://www.historicmapworks.com/Atlas/US/7874/Day+County+1929/ Historic Mapworks: Day County 1929 Township Maps]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://day.sdcounties.org/ Day County, South Dakota website]

{{coord|45.37|-97.61|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Day County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Marshall County, South Dakota|Marshall County]]
|East      = [[Roberts County, South Dakota|Roberts County]]
|Southeast = [[Grant County, South Dakota|Grant County]] and [[Codington County, South Dakota|Codington County]]
|South     = [[Clark County, South Dakota|Clark County]]
|Southwest = [[Spink County, South Dakota|Spink County]]
|West      = [[Brown County, South Dakota|Brown County]]
}}

{{Day County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Day County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1880 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1880]]