Hanson County, South Dakota

Hanson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,461.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Alexandria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was founded in 1871 and organized in 1873.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first legislature.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hanson County is part of the Mitchell, SD 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 flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county.<ref name="HCSD">Template:Cite web</ref> The terrain slopes toward the river basin on both sides, and generally gently slopes to the south.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 64th largest county in South Dakota by total area.

Major highways

• File:I-90.svg Interstate 90
• File:SD 25.svg South Dakota Highway 25
• File:SD 38.svg South Dakota Highway 38
• File:SD 42.svg South Dakota Highway 42
• File:SD 262.svg South Dakota Highway 262

Adjacent counties

• Miner County - north
• McCook County - east
• Hutchinson County - south
• Davison County - west
• Sanborn County - northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,461 people, 1,146 households, and 855 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,279 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,331 people, 1,045 households, and 793 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,177 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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 German, 10.8% were Irish, 6.2% were English, 5.2% were Norwegian, and 4.0% were 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Communities

Cities

• Alexandria (county seat)
• Emery

Towns

• Farmer
• Fulton

Religious communities

• Millbrook Colony
• Oak Lane Colony
• Rockport Colony
• Rosedale Colony

Unincorporated community

• Epiphany,<ref name=HCSD/> partial

Government

Townships

• Beulah
• Edgerton
• Emery
• Fairview
• Hanson
• Jasper
• Plano
• Rosedale
• Springlake
• Taylor
• Wayne
• Worthen

Politics

Hanson County voters tend to vote Republican. Since 1936, they have selected the Republican Party candidate in 65% of national elections. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hanson County, South Dakota

External links

• Template:Official website