Editing Kingsbury County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Kingsbury County
 | state                = South Dakota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1873 (created)<br/>1880 (organized)
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = De Smet
 | largest city wl      = De Smet
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 864
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 832
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 32
 | area percentage      = 3.6
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 5187
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 5261 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = http://kingsbury.sdcounties.org
 | named for            = George W. Kingsbury<br/>& T.A. Kingsbury
 | ex image             = Kingsbury County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Kingsbury County Courthouse in De Smet
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Kingsbury 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 5,187.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kingsburycountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[De Smet, South Dakota|De Smet]].<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 1873, and was organized in 1880.<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 30, 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 brothers George W. and T. A. Kingsbury, descendants of the colonial English Kingsbury family in [[Boston]], Massachusetts. They were prominently involved in the affairs of [[Dakota Territory]] and served as elected members of several Territorial Legislatures.

==History==
[[John C. Frémont|John C. Fremont]] surveyed the area in 1838, naming lakes Preston and Albert.<ref name="HistorySD">History of Southeastern Dakota, Its Settlement and Growth (Sioux City, Iowa: Western Publishing Company, 1881), 270–272.</ref> The 1851 [[Treaty of Mendota]] with the [[Santee Sioux]] and the [[Yankton Treaty|1858 Yankton Treaty]] ceded the region for American settlement.<ref name="Robinson">Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota (B.F. Bowen & Co., 1904), 136.</ref> American presence was minimal until the [[Dakota Boom]], with the notable exception of Jacob Hanson's settlement at [[Lake Albert (Kingsbury County, South Dakota)|Lake Albert]] in 1873.<ref name="Robinson" />

Settlement surged in 1879 with the [[Chicago and North Western Railway|Chicago & North Western Railroad’s]] extension to De Smet.<ref name="HistorySD" /> Kingsbury County was created in 1873, named for territorial legislators George W. and T. A. Kingsbury and was organized on December 13, 1879 with De Smet as the county seat.<ref name="HistorySD" /> Settlements at Lake Preston, Arlington, and Iroquois grew rapidly, driven by the railroad and fertile prairie lands. By 1880, the county’s population reached 1,234.<ref name="HistorySD" />

Agriculture, particularly corn and wheat, anchored early economic growth, with towns like Lake Preston boasting mills and newspapers by 1881.<ref name="HistorySD" /> De Smet gained fame as the setting for Laura Ingalls Wilder’s [[Little House on the Prairie|Little House]] series, including [[The Long Winter (novel)|The Long Winter]] and [[Little Town on the Prairie]], chronicling her family’s life there from 1879.<ref>Robinson, 137.</ref>

==Geography==
The terrain of Kingsbury County consists of low rolling hills. The central and east portions of the county hold numerous lakes and ponds. The land is largely devoted to agriculture.<ref name="KCSD">{{Cite web |title=Kingsbury County · South Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kingsbury+County,+SD/@44.3936761,-97.5786252,11z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87886946f1f136fb:0xa2b2a4eabc1e9751!8m2!3d44.3777311!4d-97.5247243 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref> The terrain generally slopes to the southwest, and the highest point is near the midpoint of the east boundary line, at {{convert|1,857|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 5, 2019) |access-date=February 5, 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|864|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|832|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.6|sqmi}} (6.2%) 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>

===Lakes===
Source:<ref name=KCSD/>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Cherry Lake (South Dakota)|Cherry Lake]]
* [[Mud Lake (South Dakota)|Mud Lake]]
* [[Lake Albert (Kingsbury County, South Dakota)|Lake Albert]]
* [[Lake Badger]]
* [[Lake Henry (Kingsbury County, South Dakota)|Lake Henry]]
* Lake Iroquois
* [[Lake Preston (South Dakota)|Lake Preston]]
* [[Lake Thisted]]
* [[Lake Thompson (South Dakota)|Lake Thompson]]
* [[Lake Whitewood]]
* Osceola Lake
* [[Plum Lake (South Dakota)|Plum Lake]]
* Spring Lake
* [[Spirit Lake (South Dakota)|Spirit Lake]]
* Twin Lakes (partial)
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 14 in South Dakota|U.S. Highway 14]]
* [[Image:US 81.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 81 in South Dakota|U.S. Highway 81]]
* [[Image:SD 25.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 25]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Hamlin County, South Dakota|Hamlin County]] – northeast
* [[Brookings County, South Dakota|Brookings County]] – east
* [[Lake County, South Dakota|Lake County]] – southeast
* [[Miner County, South Dakota|Miner County]] – south
* [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]] – southwest
* [[Beadle County, South Dakota|Beadle County]] – west
* [[Clark County, South Dakota|Clark County]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
* Arnold State Public Shooting Area<ref name=KCSD/>

==Demographics==
Industrialization of agriculture and the attraction of urban areas have contributed to the decline in population of Kingsbury County, similar to what has occurred in other Plains rural areas. In 2010 it had less than half the population of its peak in 1930, before the [[Dust Bowl]] and the [[Great Depression]].
{{US Census population
|1880= 1102
|1890= 8562
|1900= 9866
|1910= 12560
|1920= 12802
|1930= 12805
|1940= 10831
|1950= 9962
|1960= 9227
|1970= 7657
|1980= 6679
|1990= 5925
|2000= 5815
|2010= 5148
|2020= 5187
|estyear=2024
|estimate=5261
|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 5,187 people, 2,191 households, and 1,398 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Lyman%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|6.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,615 housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 5,148 people, 2,222 households, and 1,418 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|6.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,720 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of European ancestry, 42.8% were [[German Americans|German]], 25.5% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 10.9% were [[Danes|Danish]], 9.6% were [[Irish Americans|Irish]], 7.2% were [[English Americans|English]], and 3.5% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 2,222 households, 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.2% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 47.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,948 and the median income for a family was $56,925. Males had a median income of $35,585 versus $28,141 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,660. About 7.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[De Smet, South Dakota|De Smet]] (county seat)
* [[Arlington, South Dakota|Arlington]] (partial)
* [[Iroquois, South Dakota|Iroquois]] (partial)
* [[Lake Preston, South Dakota|Lake Preston]]
* [[Oldham, South Dakota|Oldham]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Badger, South Dakota|Badger]]
* [[Bancroft, South Dakota|Bancroft]]
* [[Erwin, South Dakota|Erwin]]
* [[Hetland, South Dakota|Hetland]]
{{div col end}}

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

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Esmond, South Dakota|Esmond]]
* [[Osceola, South Dakota|Osceola]]

===Ghost town===
* [[Manchester, South Dakota|Manchester]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Badger Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Badger]]
* [[Baker Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Baker]]
* [[De Smet Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|De Smet]]
* [[Denver Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Denver]]
* [[Esmond Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Esmond]]
* [[Hartland Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Hartland]]
* [[Iroquois Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Iroquois]]
* [[Le Sueur Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Le Sueur]]
* [[Manchester Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Manchester]]
* [[Mathews Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Mathews]]
* [[Spirit Lake Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Spirit Lake]]
* [[Spring Lake Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Spring Lake]]
* [[Whitewood Township, Kingsbury County, South Dakota|Whitewood]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Harvey Dunn]] - painter and professor of Fine Arts
* [[Eugene Peter Knudsen]] - Minnesota state legislator and farmer
* [[Theodore Schultz]] -  Nobel prize winning economist
* [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]] - author

==Politics==
Kingsbury County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only two national elections since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
{{PresHead|place=Kingsbury 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|1,989|760|52|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,904|819|56|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,680|703|168|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,451|1,092|65|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,435|1,277|72|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,804|1,163|47|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,612|1,049|66|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,297|1,357|347|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,113|1,267|763|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,592|1,472|23|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,121|1,249|13|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,376|1,132|299|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,844|1,762|11|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,320|1,632|6|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,300|1,491|146|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,126|2,005|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,887|1,677|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,933|1,585|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,703|1,029|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,332|1,338|58|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,541|1,156|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,551|1,503|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,813|2,037|226|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,135|2,808|90|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,499|1,352|17|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,242|333|840|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,344|481|446|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,339|1,096|150|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|747|1,417|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,537|799|196|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,896|344|201|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,330|868|91|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|950|1,051|28|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|951|175|929|South Dakota}}

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

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

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150204120847/http://kingsbury.sdcounties.org/ Official website]

==Further reading==
* Johnson, Lyle R. "Decades of Drought: A Year by Year-by-Year Account of Weather-Related Changes in 1930s Kingsbury County," ''South Dakota History'' 43 (Fall 2013), 218–44.
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Kingsbury County, South Dakota
|Northeast = [[Hamlin County, South Dakota|Hamlin County]]
|East      = [[Brookings County, South Dakota|Brookings County]]
|Southeast = [[Lake County, South Dakota|Lake County]]
|South     = [[Miner County, South Dakota|Miner County]]
|Southwest = [[Sanborn County, South Dakota|Sanborn County]]
|West      = [[Beadle County, South Dakota|Beadle County]]
|Northwest = [[Clark County, South Dakota|Clark County]]
}}

{{Kingsbury County, South Dakota}}
{{South Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|44.37|-97.49|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-SD_source:UScensus1990}}

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