Buffalo County, South Dakota

Buffalo County, South Dakota
Location in the state of 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 km^2)
• Land	471 sq mi (1,220 km^2)
• Water	16 sq mi (41 km^2), 3.4%
Population (est.)
• (2015)	2,095
• 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

• South Dakota Highway 34
• South Dakota Highway 45
• South Dakota Highway 47
• South Dakota Highway 50

Adjacent counties

• Hand County - northeast
• Jerauld County - east
• Brule County - south
• Lyman County - west
• Hyde County - northwest

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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	246		—
1880	63		−74.4%
1890	993		1,476.2%
1900	1,790		80.3%
1910	1,589		−11.2%
1920	1,715		7.9%
1930	1,931		12.6%
1940	1,853		−4.0%
1950	1,615		−12.8%
1960	1,547		−4.2%
1970	1,739		12.4%
1980	1,795		3.2%
1990	1,759		−2.0%
2000	2,032		15.5%
2010	1,912		−5.9%
Est. 2015	2,095	[10]	9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2015[1]

2000 census

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.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,912 people, 532 households, and 407 families residing in the county.^[16] The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). There were 609 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.50/km²).^[17] The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% American Indian, 14.8% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.^[16] In terms of ancestry, 5.6% were German, and 0.0% were American.^[18]

Of the 532 households, 55.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 33.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.5% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 4.06. The median age was 25.0 years.^[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $27,926 and the median income for a family was $28,333. Males had a median income of $38,920 versus $18,542 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,410. About 44.4% of families and 49.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.2% of those under age 18 and 36.3% of those age 65 or over.^[19]

Communities

Census-designated place

• Fort Thompson

Unincorporated communities

• Crow Creek
• Gann Valley (county seat)
• Shelby

Townships

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

See also

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

Further reading

• "Buffalo County". South Dakota Magazine. Part of a series on South Dakota counties.

References

1. "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. 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: Riple, 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, 2015". Retrieved March 24, 2016.
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.
16. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
17. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
18. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
19. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.

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