Hand County, South Dakota

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Hand County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,145.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Miller.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Hand County was named for George A. Hand, territorial secretary.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was created in 1873 by the Dakota territorial legislature. The boundaries were finalized in 1882, the year it was organized.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>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 Template:Convert ASL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county contains a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Faulk County - north
Spink County - northeast
Beadle County - east
Jerauld County - southeast
Buffalo County - southwest
Hyde County - west

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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

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Costigan Slough Lake
Jones Lake
Lake Louise
Matter Lake
Spring Lake
Wall Lake<ref name=HCSD/>

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Demographics

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,145 people, 1,348 households, and 891 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,705 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,431 people, 1,494 households, and 972 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,815 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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 German, 15.3% were Irish, 9.0% were Norwegian, 8.1% were English, 6.1% were Dutch, and 3.4% were 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.