Lawrence County, South Dakota

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US Highway 14a w

Lawrence County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,768,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the 8th most populous county in South Dakota, and was estimated to be 28,809 in 2024.<ref name="QF"/> Its county seat is Deadwood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lawrence County is coextensive with the Spearfish, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rapid City-Spearfish, SD Combined Statistical Area.

History

Lawrence County was created January 11, 1875, and was organized in 1877.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named for "Colonel" John Lawrence,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> who came to the county as first treasurer in 1877. Lawrence had previously served in the Dakota Territorial Legislature, as a Sergeant at Arms for the United States House of Representatives, and a US Marshal for the Dakota territory. After retirement, he continued to act as county road supervisor and as an election judge. The title "Colonel" was honorary, bestowed by the governor of the Dakota Territory.

Geography

Lawrence County lies on the west side of South Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The terrain of Lawrence County consists of mountains in the south and west, falling off to the hilly northeast portion. A tributary of the Redwater River flows east-northeasterly along a portion of the county's north boundary line, delineating that portion of the line.<ref name="LCSD">Template:Cite web</ref> The terrain generally slopes to the county's northeast corner; its highest point is Crooks Tower, at 7,137'.

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 (0.03%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 41st largest county in South Dakota by total area.

Protected areas

Source:<ref name=LCSD/>

Black Hills National Forest (partial)
Beilage Hepler State Game Production Area
Coxes-Mirror Lakes State Game Production Area
Harrison-Badger-Trucano State Game Production Area
Iron Creek Lake State Game Production Area
Reausaw Lake State Game Production Area
Spearfish Canyon State Nature Area

Demographics

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As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Lawrence County was $322,680.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 11,812 estimated households in Lawrence County with an average of 2.16 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $66,766. Approximately 11.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Lawrence County has an estimated 64.7% employment rate, with 34.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.4% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (95.3%), Spanish (2.3%), Indo-European (1.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.7%), and Other (0.5%).

The median age in the county was 43.8 years.

Lawrence County, South Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
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Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 1990<ref name=1990CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>
White alone (NH)	17,734 (96.70%)	19,726 (95.50%)	20,631 (94.63%)	22,349 (92.75%)	22,935 (89.01%)
Black or African American alone (NH)	27 (0.15%)	29 (0.14%)	45 (0.21%)	87 (0.36%)	128 (0.50%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	331 (1.80%)	514 (2.49%)	454 (2.08%)	457 (1.90%)	486 (1.89%)
Asian alone (NH)	29 (0.16%)	56 (0.27%)	70 (0.32%)	157 (0.65%)	196 (0.76%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	—	—	11 (0.05%)	6 (0.02%)	18 (0.07%)
Other race alone (NH)	21 (0.11%)	3 (0.01%)	2 (0.01%)	10 (0.04%)	51 (0.20%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	—	—	193 (0.89%)	419 (1.74%)	1,032 (4.00%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	197 (1.07%)	327 (1.58%)	396 (1.82%)	612 (2.54%)	922 (3.58%)
Total	18,339 (100.00%)	20,655 (100.00%)	21,802 (100.00%)	24,097 (100.00%)	25,768 (100.00%)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 25,768 people, 11,444 households, and 6,689 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,163 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 90.50% White, 0.52% African American, 2.14% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from some other races and 5.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.58% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 11,444 households, 13.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 25.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 24,097 people, 10,536 households, and 6,181 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 12,756 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.40% White, 0.38% African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from some other races and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.54% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.5% were German, 13.7% were Irish, 13.4% were English, 11.4% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American.

Of the 10,536 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.3% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 41.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,356 and the median income for a family was $60,209. Males had a median income of $38,933 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,465. About 8.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.