Editing Dewey County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{about|the county in South Dakota|the unincorporated town of Dewey, South Dakota, in Custer County|Dewey, South Dakota}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Dewey County
 | state                = South Dakota
 | ex image             = FOREST CITY BRIDGE, DEWEY COUNTY, SD.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Dewey County, South Dakota|Forest City Bridge]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1883 (created)<br/>1910 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Timber Lake
 | largest city wl      = North Eagle Butte
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2445
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2302
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 143
 | area percentage      = 5.8
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 5239
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 5322 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = 
 | named for            = William P. Dewey
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Dewey 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 5,239.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/deweycountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Timber Lake, South Dakota|Timber Lake]].<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 1883 and organized in 1910.<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 William P. Dewey,<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/n104 105]}}</ref> Territorial surveyor-general from 1873 to 1877.

Almost the entire county lies in the [[Cheyenne River Indian Reservation]]. The balance of the county, along its extreme northern county line, lies in the [[Standing Rock Sioux Reservation]]. It is one of five South Dakota counties that are contained within [[Indian reservations]].

==Geography==
The Moreau River flows east-northeasterly through the upper central parts of Dewey County, discharging into the [[Missouri River]] near the county's NE corner. Smaller drainages move runoff water northward from the central-eastern portions to the Missouri River, discharging near the community of Promise. A significant arm of the Missouri River forms the county's southeastern border. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, sloping southeastward and dropping off into the Missouri River basin.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude"  Google Maps (accessed February 2, 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|2445|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2302|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|143|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>

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe [[Central Time Zone|Central Time]]; the western counties (18 of 66) observe [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain Time]]. Dewey County is the easternmost of the SD counties to observe Mountain Time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Time Zones Map in South Dakota, USA |url=https://www.timebie.com/us/south_dakota.php |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Timebie}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Image:US 212.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 212]]
* [[Image:SD 20.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 20]]
* [[Image:SD 63.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 63]]
* [[Image:SD 65.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 65]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Corson County, South Dakota|Corson County]] – north
* [[Walworth County, South Dakota|Walworth County]] – northeast (observes [[Central Time Zone|Central Time]])
* [[Potter County, South Dakota|Potter County]] – east (observes Central Time)
* [[Sully County, South Dakota|Sully County]] – southeast (observes Central Time)
* [[Stanley County, South Dakota|Stanley County]] – south
* [[Ziebach County, South Dakota|Ziebach County]] – west
{{div col end}}

===Protected Areas===
* Firesteel Dam State Game Production Area
* Isabel Lake State Game Production Area
* Little Moreau State Game Production Area
* Little Moreau State Recreation Area

===Lakes===
* Lake Isabel
* [[Lake Oahe]] (partial)
* Little Moreau Lake

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1145
|1920= 4802
|1930= 6476
|1940= 5709
|1950= 4916
|1960= 5257
|1970= 5170
|1980= 5366
|1990= 5523
|2000= 5972
|2010= 5301
|2020= 5239
|estyear=2024
|estimate=5322
|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 5,239 people, 1,705 households, and 1,180 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Dewey%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|2.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,923 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,301 people, 1,730 households, and 1,239 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|2.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,002 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 74.9% Native American, 21.0% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.2% were [[Germans|German]], 6.5% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 0.6% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 1,730 households, 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.4% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.60. The median age was 30.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,255 and the median income for a family was $40,500. Males had a median income of $33,942 versus $28,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,632. About 20.5% of families and 30.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 39.5% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Eagle Butte, South Dakota|Eagle Butte]] (partial)
* [[Timber Lake, South Dakota|Timber Lake]] (county seat)

===Town===
* [[Isabel, South Dakota|Isabel]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Green Grass, South Dakota|Green Grass]]
* [[La Plant, South Dakota|La Plant]]
* [[Lantry, South Dakota|Lantry]]
* [[North Eagle Butte, South Dakota|North Eagle Butte]]
* [[Swift Bird, South Dakota|Swift Bird]]
* [[Whitehorse, South Dakota|Whitehorse]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Bear Creek<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bear+Creek,+SD+57636/@45.0613035,-101.4530869,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x532a8a490d4c8eef:0x84145349462034f5!2sDewey+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.2486497!4d-100.7110465!3m4!1s0x532a57a9ee831d89:0x235623982bd99465!8m2!3d45.0613966!4d-101.4443207 ''Bear Creek SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Firesteel, South Dakota|Firesteel]]
* [[Glencross, South Dakota|Glencross]] 
* [[Parade, South Dakota|Parade]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parade,+SD+57625/@45.0238692,-101.113348,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x532a8a490d4c8eef:0x84145349462034f5!2sDewey+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.2486497!4d-100.7110465!3m4!1s0x532a8a2aff5ec7d3:0x575be0010883651!8m2!3d45.0239172!4d-101.1046028 ''Parade SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Promise, South Dakota|Promise]]<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Promise,+SD+57601/@45.3327644,-100.6125069,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x532a8a490d4c8eef:0x84145349462034f5!2sDewey+County,+SD!3b1!8m2!3d45.2486497!4d-100.7110465!3m4!1s0x52d59681a3116e99:0xc3b5cd7a8568321c!8m2!3d45.3328404!4d-100.6038666 ''Promise SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Ridgeview, South Dakota|Ridgeview]]
{{div col end}}

===Unorganized territories===
The county is divided into two areas of unorganized territory: North Dewey and South Dewey.

==Politics==
Dewey has since the 1990s been a strongly Democratic county in solidly Republican South Dakota. The last Republican to carry the county was [[Ronald Reagan]] in his 1984 landslide when he came within 3,761 votes of claiming all fifty states. Before this period, by contrast, Dewey was a Republican-leaning county even for South Dakota. Between its formation and 1984, Dewey had voted Democratic only in the three landslide Democratic wins of 1964, 1936 and 1932, plus for [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1916 when his anti-war policies had strong appeal in the West.
{{PresHead|place=Dewey 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|Democratic|793|1,032|46|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|790|1,131|45|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|723|888|97|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|663|1,207|25|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|659|1,328|32|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|921|1,606|37|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|761|880|40|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|657|1,114|208|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|642|766|344|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|765|1,007|17|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|941|772|14|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,045|600|122|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|820|706|8|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,008|699|5|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|941|721|123|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|981|1,259|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,168|1,044|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,197|912|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,301|660|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|864|727|15|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|913|511|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,396|1,081|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,012|1,216|59|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|710|1,591|26|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,293|996|4|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|956|222|624|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|880|335|175|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|352|379|18|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|0|411|563|South Dakota}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46041_dewey/DC20SD_C46041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dewey County, SD|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=January 14, 2021|access-date=2025-05-11}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46041_dewey/DC20SD_C46041_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Dupree School District 64-2]]
* [[Eagle Butte School District 20-1]]
* [[Timber Lake School District 20-3]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Dewey County, South Dakota]]

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

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Dewey County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Corson County, South Dakota|Corson County]]
|Northeast = [[Walworth County, South Dakota|Walworth County]]
|East      = [[Potter County, South Dakota|Potter County]]
|Southeast = [[Sully County, South Dakota|Sully County]]
|South     = [[Stanley County, South Dakota|Stanley County]]
|West      = [[Ziebach County, South Dakota|Ziebach County]]
}}

{{Dewey County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}

{{coord|45.16|-100.88|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dewey County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in South Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]