Buffalo County, South Dakota

Not to be confused with Buffalo, South Dakota.
Buffalo County, South Dakota
Map of South Dakota highlighting Buffalo County
Location in the state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded 1871
Named for American buffalo
Seat Gann Valley
Largest community Fort Thompson
Area
 • Total 488 sq mi (1,264 km2)
 • Land 471 sq mi (1,220 km2)
 • Water 16 sq mi (41 km2), 3.4%
Population (est.)
 • (2013) 2,024
 • Density 4.1/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,912.[1] Its county seat is Gann Valley[2] which, at 14 people, is the least populous county seat in the United States. The county was created in 1864 and organized in 1871[3] as part of the Dakota Territory.

In 2010, the center of population of South Dakota was located in eastern Buffalo County.[4] The Crow Creek Indian Reservation inhabited by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe makes up the majority of Buffalo County.

According to the 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) of the Bureau of the Census, about 41% of county residents live in poverty, making it the fifth-poorest county in South Dakota.[5] This is a far higher poverty rate than the national poverty rate, which is 15.8%.[5] Median household income in 2013 was $21,572, making it the lowest-earning county in South Dakota and one of the lowest-earning counties in America.[5]

In March 2015, the unemployment rate was 8.5%; its ten-year peaks occurred in December 2006 (18.%) and December 2009 (17.2%).[6] Many homes lack kitchens and indoor plumbing.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 488 square miles (1,260 km2), of which 471 square miles (1,220 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (3.4%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

History

As first organized, the county occupied an extensive area, bounded on the north by Canada, southwest and west by the Missouri River, having Montana for a part of its northwest boundary, and comprising a large portion of the “Plateau du Coteau du Missouri,” and a part of the Miniwakan or Devil's Lake.[9] While this does expand into modern-day North Dakota, this conundrum can be solved by realizing that the county was created in 1864, 25 years before the Dakota Territory was split into North and South Dakota.

Demographic characteristics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870246—
188063−74.4%
18909931,476.2%
19001,79080.3%
19101,589−11.2%
19201,7157.9%
19301,93112.6%
19401,853−4.0%
19501,615−12.8%
19601,547−4.2%
19701,73912.4%
19801,7953.2%
19901,759−2.0%
20002,03215.5%
20101,912−5.9%
Est. 20142,077[10]8.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there are 2,032 people, 526 households, and 422 families residing in the county. The population density is 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There are 602 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county is 81.59% Native American, 16.34% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.30% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% were of German ancestry.

There are 526 households out of which 47.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.60% are married couples living together, 31.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.80% are non-families. 16.00% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.83 and the average family size is 4.23.

In the county, the population is spread out with 41.30% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 16.10% from 45 to 64, and 6.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $12,692, and the median income for a family was $14,167. Males had a median income of $18,650 versus $19,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $5,213, the lowest in the nation. About 55.70% of families and 56.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.50% of those under age 18 and 50.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

The county consists of one township: Elvira; and three areas of unorganized territory: Crow Creek, North Buffalo, and Southeast Buffalo.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buffalo County, South Dakota.

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, Interactive SAIPE Data and Mapping Tool, Bureau of the Census.
  6. ↑ Unemployment Rate in Buffalo County, SD, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  7. ↑ Cara Hetland, South Dakota has nation's poorest county, Minnesota Public Radio (Oct. 1, 2002).
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  9. ↑  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Buffalo (counties)". The American Cyclopædia.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  15. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

Coordinates: 44°05′N 99°12′W / 44.08°N 99.20°W / 44.08; -99.20

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