Editing Hanson County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in the United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Hanson County
 | state              = South Dakota
 | ex image           = Saint Peter's Grotto2 NRHP 01000686 Hanson County, SD.jpg
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = [[Saint Peter's Grotto]] is on the National Register of Historic Places
 | type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | logo               = 
 | coordinates        = {{coord|43|40|50.203|N|97|47|48.642|W|region:US-SD_type:county|display=inline}}
 | founded year       = 1871 (created)<br/>1873 (organized)
 | founded date       = January 13
 | named for          = Joseph R. Hanson
 | seat wl            = Alexandria
 | largest city wl    = Alexandria
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 435.355
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 434.582
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 0.773
 | area percentage    = 0.2%
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_total   = 3461
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | population_est     = 3477 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi      = 7.988
 | time zone          = Central
 | district           = At-large
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.hansoncountysd.gov/|hansoncountysd.gov}}
}}

'''Hanson 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 3,461.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Hanson_County,_South_Dakota?g=050XX00US46061 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Alexandria, South Dakota|Alexandria]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]] |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> The county was founded in 1871 and organized in 1873.<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 Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first legislature.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA149|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States| publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=149}}</ref> Hanson County is part of the [[Mitchell, South Dakota|Mitchell]], SD [[Mitchell micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. The county is somewhat unique among those in the [[United States]] in that there are no officially registered airports within the county borders.

==Geography==
The terrain of Hanson County consists of low rolling hills; its area is mostly devoted to agriculture. The [[James River (Dakotas)|James River]] flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county.<ref name="HCSD">{{Cite web|title=Hanson County · South Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hanson+County,+SD/@43.6970524,-97.8922128,44845m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8788a84651277665:0xb0f8558d8687cc11!8m2!3d43.6082107!4d-97.6982272 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref> The terrain slopes toward the river basin on both sides, and generally gently slopes to the south.<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>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|435.355|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|434.582|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.773|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – South Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_46.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> It is the 64th largest county in South Dakota by total area.

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in South Dakota|Interstate 90]]
* [[Image:SD 25.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 25]]
* [[Image:SD 38.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 38]]
* [[Image:SD 42.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 42]]
* [[Image:SD 262.svg|23px]] [[South Dakota Highway 262]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Miner County, South Dakota|Miner County]] - north
* [[McCook County, South Dakota|McCook County]] - east
* [[Hutchinson County, South Dakota|Hutchinson County]] - south
* [[Davison County, South Dakota|Davison County]] - west
* [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1301
|1890= 4267
|1900= 4947
|1910= 6237
|1920= 6202
|1930= 6131
|1940= 5400
|1950= 4896
|1960= 4584
|1970= 3781
|1980= 3415
|1990= 2994
|2000= 3139
|2010= 3331
|2020= 3461
|estyear=2024
|estimate=3477
|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">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hansoncountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 3,461 people, 1,146 households, and 855 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Hanson%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|8.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,279 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 3,331 people, 1,045 households, and 793 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|7.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,177 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 63.7% were [[Germans|German]], 10.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.2% were [[English people|English]], 5.2% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], and 4.0% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 1,045 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.1% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 35.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,556 and the median income for a family was $52,425. Males had a median income of $38,088 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,391. About 13.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Hanson County was mentioned as an "Extreme Whitopia" in [[Rich Benjamin]]'s book, ''[[Searching for Whitopia]]''.<ref>{{cite web|work=Richbenjamin.com|title=Searching for Whitopia|url=http://www.richbenjamin.com/whitopia.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201063555/http://www.richbenjamin.com/whitopia.html|archive-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Alexandria, South Dakota|Alexandria]] (county seat)
* [[Emery, South Dakota|Emery]]

===Towns===
* [[Farmer, South Dakota|Farmer]]
* [[Fulton, South Dakota|Fulton]]

===Religious communities===
* [[Millbrook Colony, South Dakota|Millbrook Colony]]
* [[Oak Lane Colony, South Dakota|Oak Lane Colony]]
* [[Rockport Colony, South Dakota|Rockport Colony]]
* [[Rosedale Colony, South Dakota|Rosedale Colony]]

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Epiphany, South Dakota|Epiphany]],<ref name=HCSD/> partial

==Government==

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
*Beulah
*Edgerton
*Emery
*Fairview
*Hanson
*Jasper
*Plano
*Rosedale
*Springlake
*Taylor
*Wayne
*Worthen
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Hanson County voters tend to vote Republican. Since 1936, they have selected the Republican Party candidate in 65% of national elections.
{{PresHead|place=Hanson 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|1,611|399|36|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,793|557|38|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,497|424|85|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,627|760|29|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,426|961|44|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,379|745|26|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|944|457|20|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|801|541|192|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|522|566|347|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|786|776|10|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|898|625|7|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,015|598|112|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|693|1,005|9|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|876|1,022|8|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|901|826|72|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|802|1,232|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,087|1,153|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,050|1,187|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,320|773|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|860|953|15|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,070|864|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,408|1,216|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,090|1,530|88|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|845|1,783|22|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,576|1,129|6|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|811|299|894|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,001|418|511|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|767|712|22|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|632|771|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|668|630|74|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|745|523|68|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Tie|607|607|23|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|420|658|6|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|378|196|470|South Dakota}}

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

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

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

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Hanson County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Miner County, South Dakota|Miner County]]
|East      = [[McCook County, South Dakota|McCook County]]
|South     = [[Hutchinson County, South Dakota|Hutchinson County]]
|West      = [[Davison County, South Dakota|Davison County]]
|Northwest = [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]]
}}
{{Hanson County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hanson County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Mitchell, South Dakota micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]