Editing Fall River County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Fall River County
 | state                = South Dakota
 | ex image             = 7413a sm.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Battle Mountain Sanitarium]] in [[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = April 3
 | founded year         = 1883
 | seat wl              = Hot Springs
 | largest city wl      = Hot Springs
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1749
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1740
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.2
 | area percentage      = 0.5
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 6973
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 7359 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = http://fallriver.sdcounties.org/
 | named for            = [[Fall River (South Dakota)|Fall River]]
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Fall River 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 6,973.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fallrivercountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]].<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 founded in 1883. It is named for the [[Fall River (South Dakota)|Fall River]] which runs through it.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA123|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=123}}</ref>

==Geography==
Fall River County lies at South Dakota's SW corner. Its south borderline abuts the north borderline of the state of [[Nebraska]], and its west borderline abuts the east borderline of the state of [[Wyoming]]. The Fall River County terrain contains a mountainous area in the north-central portion, with rolling hills in the rest of the county. Outside the mountainous area, the county's highest point is its SW corner, at {{convert|3,970|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL. Of the several peaks in the mountainous area, one in the NE portion of that zone rises to {{convert|4,646|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL. The terrain slopes to the north and east. Discharging from the Angostura Reservoir, the [[Cheyenne River]] flows northeasterly through the upper part of the county, departing the county through its north boundary line into Custer County.

Fall River County has a total area of {{convert|1749|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1740|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.2|sqmi}} (0.5%) 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>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{jct|state=SD|US|18}}
* {{jct|state=SD|US|385}}
* {{jct|state=SD|SD|71}}
* {{jct|state=SD|SD|79}}
* {{jct|state=SD|SD|89}}
* {{jct|state=SD|SD|471}}
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Custer County, South Dakota|Custer County]] - north
* [[Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota|Oglala Lakota County]] - east
* [[Dawes County, Nebraska]] - southeast
* [[Sioux County, Nebraska]] - south
* [[Niobrara County, Wyoming]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Angostura Reservoir State Game Production Area
* [[Angostura Recreation Area|Angostura State Recreation Area]]
* Bailey State Lakeside Use Area
* Battle Mountain State Game Production Area
* [[Black Hills National Forest]] (partial)
* [[Buffalo Gap National Grassland]] (partial)
* Friendshuh State Game Production Area (partial)
* Hill Ranch State Game Production Area
* Oral State Game Production Area
* Romey State Game Production Area
* Scherbarth State Game Production Area
* Sheps Canyon State Lakeside Use Area
* [[Sheps Canyon State Recreation Area]]
* Williams Dam State Game Production
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
* Angostura Reservoir
* Coldbrook Lake
* Cottonwood Springs Lake

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 4478
|1900= 3541
|1910= 7763
|1920= 6985
|1930= 8741
|1940= 8089
|1950= 10439
|1960= 10688
|1970= 7505
|1980= 8439
|1990= 7353
|2000= 7453
|2010= 7094
|2020= 6973
|estyear=2024
|estimate=7359
|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"/>
}}
[[File:Demography Fall River County.svg|thumb|center|upright=2.0]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 6,973 people, 3,226 households, and 1,891 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fall%20River%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|4.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,081 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 7,094 people, 3,272 households, and 1,899 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|4.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 7.1% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were [[Germans|German]], 12.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.2% were [[English people|English]], 8.4% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 5.9% were [[Dutch people|Dutch]], and 2.3% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 3,272 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.0% were non-families, and 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 50.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,833 and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $36,495 versus $32,058 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,574. About 11.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Edgemont, South Dakota|Edgemont]]
* [[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]]

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

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Angostura, South Dakota|Angostura]]
* [[Ardmore, South Dakota|Ardmore]]
* [[Dudley, South Dakota|Dudley]]
* [[Maverick Junction, South Dakota|Maverick Junction]]
* [[Oral, South Dakota|Oral]]
* [[Provo, South Dakota|Provo]]
* [[Smithwick, South Dakota|Smithwick]]
{{div col end}}

===Other communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Burdock, South Dakota|Burdock]] (ghost town)
* Cascade Springs (ghost town)<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cascade+Springs/@43.3349906,-103.5603396,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x876334d1da91b979:0x3d259858ce050731!8m2!3d43.3349759!4d-103.5515848 ''Cascade Springs''  Google Maps (accessed February 2, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Heppner, South Dakota|Heppner]] (ghost town)
* [[Rumford, South Dakota|Rumford]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
* [[Argentine Township, Fall River County, South Dakota|Argentine]]
* [[Provo Township, Fall River County, South Dakota|Provo]]
* [[Robins Township, Fall River County, South Dakota|Robins]]

===Unorganized territories===
* Northeast Fall River
* Southwest Fall River

==Politics==
Fall River voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party presidential candidate.
{{PresHead|place=Fall River 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|3,135|1,030|109|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,878|1,053|111|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,511|821|231|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,258|1,140|118|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,348|1,338|123|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,413|1,326|106|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,185|1,133|111|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,636|1,357|465|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,533|1,416|805|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,002|1,380|35|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,748|1,135|22|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,831|982|254|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,046|1,537|32|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,374|1,107|16|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,843|965|286|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,026|1,706|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,492|1,426|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,377|1,150|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,863|1,008|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,037|1,348|26|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,938|1,122|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,420|1,405|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,876|1,927|179|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,351|2,603|75|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,216|1,258|15|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,392|342|936|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,236|680|110|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|668|922|54|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|712|977|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|726|466|68|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|777|248|66|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|521|421|6|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|530|555|4|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|569|262|228|South Dakota}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46047_fall_river/DC20SD_C46047.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fall River County, SD|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 30, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46047_fall_river/DC20SD_C46047_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Edgemont School District 23-1]]
* [[Hot Springs School District 23-2]]
* [[Oelrichs School District 23-3]]

==See also==
{{Commons category|Fall River County, South Dakota}}

* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Fall River County, South Dakota]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://fallriver.sdcounties.org Fall River County Courthouse Official Website]
* [http://www.hotsprings-sd.com Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100419033003/http://www.cityofhotspringssd.org/ Hot Springs City Hall]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100416143505/http://cityofedgemont.com/ Edgemont City Hall]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Fall River County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Custer County, South Dakota|Custer County]]
|East      = [[Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota|Oglala Lakota County]]
|Southeast = [[Dawes County, Nebraska]]
|South     = [[Sioux County, Nebraska]]
|West      = [[Niobrara County, Wyoming]]
}}

{{Fall River County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|43.25|-103.52|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Fall River County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]