Editing Hand County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{update|date=January 2022|reason=Demographics with 2020 Census}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Hand County
 | state                = South Dakota
 | coordinates          = {{coord|44.55|-99.00|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}}
 | ex image             = Hand County, South Dakota (1892).png
 | ex image size        = 200px
 | ex image cap         = Hand County and its towns and villages in 1892
 | founded year         = 1873 (created)<br/>1882 (redrawn)<br/>1882 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Miller
 | largest city wl      = Miller
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1440
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1437
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.6
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3145
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 3097 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = George A. Hand
 | web                  = hand.sdcounties.org
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Hand 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 3,145.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/handcountysouthdakota/PST045224 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Miller, South Dakota|Miller]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref>

==History==
Hand County was named for George A. Hand, territorial secretary.<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/n147 148]}}</ref> It was created in 1873 by the [[Dakota Territory|Dakota territorial]] [[legislature]]. The boundaries were finalized in 1882, the year it was organized.<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>

==Geography==
The terrain of Hand County consists of rolling hills, dotted with infrequent ponds and small lakes. Most of the area is devoted to agriculture.<ref name=HCSD>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hand+County,+SD/@44.5364176,-99.1814932,74183m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87875978aa1689e5:0xc75203f0ed958d4!8m2!3d44.494661!4d-99.0128926 ''Hand County SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 3, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and northeast; its highest point is on the lower part of the county's west boundary line, at {{convert|2,080|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 3, 2019) |access-date=February 4, 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 contains a total area of {{convert|1440|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1437|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.6|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 14 in South Dakota|U.S. Highway 14]]
* [[Image:US 212.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 212#South Dakota|U.S. Highway 212]]
* [[Image:SD 26.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 26]]
* [[Image:SD 45.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 45]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Faulk County, South Dakota|Faulk County]] - north
* [[Spink County, South Dakota|Spink County]] - northeast
* [[Beadle County, South Dakota|Beadle County]] - east
* [[Jerauld County, South Dakota|Jerauld County]] - southeast
* [[Buffalo County, South Dakota|Buffalo County]] - southwest
* [[Hyde County, South Dakota|Hyde County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Collins State Game Production Area
* Dakota State Game Production Area
* East Pearl State Game Production Area
* Hawkins State Game Production Area
* Lake Jones State Game Production Area
* Lake Louise State Game Production Area
* Lake Louise State Recreation Area
* Lechtenberg State Game Production Area
* Reinhardt State Game Production Area
* Rosehill State Game Production Area
* Spring Lake State Game Production Area
* West Pearl State Game Production Area<ref name=HCSD/>

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* Costigan Slough Lake
* Jones Lake
* Lake Louise
* Matter Lake
* Spring Lake
* Wall Lake<ref name=HCSD/>
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 153
|1890= 6346
|1900= 4525
|1910= 7870
|1920= 8778
|1930= 9485
|1940= 7166
|1950= 7149
|1960= 6712
|1970= 5883
|1980= 4948
|1990= 4272
|2000= 3741
|2010= 3431
|2020= 3145
|estyear=2024
|estimate=3097
|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 3,145 people, 1,348 households, and 891 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hand%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|2.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,705 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 3,431 people, 1,494 households, and 972 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|2.4|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,815 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 57.3% were [[Germans|German]], 15.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.0% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 8.1% were [[English people|English]], 6.1% were [[Dutch people|Dutch]], and 3.4% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 1,494 households, 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 48.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,895 and the median income for a family was $52,407. Males had a median income of $40,725 versus $24,844 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,238. About 11.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Miller, South Dakota|Miller]] (county seat)
* [[Wessington, South Dakota|Wessington]] (partial)
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
* [[Ree Heights, South Dakota|Ree Heights]]
* [[St. Lawrence, South Dakota|St. Lawrence]]

===Census-designated place===
* [[Millerdale Colony, South Dakota|Millerdale Colony]]

===Unincorporated communities===
Source:<ref name=HCSD/>

* [[Polo, South Dakota|Polo]]
* [[Vayland, South Dakota|Vayland]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Alden Township, Hand County, South Dakota|Alden]]
*Alpha
*Bates
*Burdette
*Campbell
*Carlton
*Cedar
*Como
*Florence
*Gilbert
*Glendale
*Grand
*Greenleaf
*Hiland
*Holden
*Hulbert
*Linn
*Logan
*Midland
*[[Miller Township, Hand County, South Dakota|Miller]]
*Mondamin
*Ohio
*Ontario
*Park
*Pearl
*Plato
*Pleasant Valley
*Ree Heights
*Riverside
*Rockdale
*Rose Hill
*St. Lawrence
*Spring Hill
*Spring Lake
*Wheaton
*York
{{div col end}}

===Unorganized territory===
The county contains one area of unorganized territory: Northwest Hand.

==Politics==
Hand County voters have voted Republican for many decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. As shown in the table below, Hand County has voted the same way as South Dakota for more than a century, last voting for a candidate who lost South Dakota in 1916, when Hand County voted Democratic but South Dakota went Republican.
{{PresHead|place=Hand 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|1,376|365|23|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,433|373|30|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,391|334|93|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,242|575|31|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,247|718|46|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,482|668|37|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,419|565|47|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,187|803|278|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,130|785|631|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,461|1,101|16|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,030|846|10|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,066|803|197|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,510|1,477|7|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,806|1,307|6|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,650|1,136|226|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,466|1,563|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,872|1,397|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,804|1,453|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,262|937|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,402|1,367|9|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,558|1,146|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,002|1,608|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,289|1,721|227|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,394|2,658|53|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,430|1,397|14|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,727|690|781|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,511|655|308|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|801|905|76|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|0|826|869|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|851|655|144|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|943|170|284|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|592|594|21|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|451|567|8|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|526|70|587|South Dakota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hand County, South Dakota]]
* [[Titan Wind Project]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Hand County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Faulk County, South Dakota|Faulk County]]
|Northeast = [[Spink County, South Dakota|Spink County]]
|East      = [[Beadle County, South Dakota|Beadle County]]
|Southeast = [[Jerauld County, South Dakota|Jerauld County]]
|Southwest = [[Buffalo County, South Dakota|Buffalo County]]
|West      = [[Hyde County, South Dakota|Hyde County]]
}}
{{Hand County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hand County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]