Hand County, South Dakota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Hand County
state = South Dakota


founded year = 1873
founded date =
seat wl = Miller
largest city wl = Miller
area_total_sq_mi = 1440
area_total_km2 = 3730
area_land_sq_mi = 1437
area_land_km2 = 3721
area_water_sq_mi = 4
area_water_km2 = 9
area percentage = 0.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 3741
density_sq_mi = 3
density_km2 = 1
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web =
named for =

Hand County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of 2000, the population was 3,741. Its county seat is Miller.GR|6

History

Hand County was named for George H. Hand originally from Akron, Ohio. It was created in 1873 by the Dakota territorial legislature. The boundaries were finalized in 1882, the year it was organized.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,440 square miles (3,730 km²), of which, 1,437 square miles (3,721 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.

Townships

The county is divided into forty townships: Alden, Alpha, Bates, Burdette, Campbell, Carlton, Cedar, Como, Florence, Gilbert, Glendale, Grand, Greenleaf, Hiland, Holden, Hulbert, Linn, Logan, Midland, Miller, Mondamin, Ohio, Ontario, Park, Pearl, Plato, Pleasant Valley, Ree Heights, Riverside, Rockdale, Rose Hill, St. Lawrence, Spring Hill, Spring Lake, Wheaton, and York; and one area of unorganized territory: Northwest Hand.

Major Highways

*
*
*
*

Adjacent Counties

* Faulk County, South Dakota - north
* Spink County, South Dakota - northeast
* Beadle County, South Dakota - east
* Jerauld County, South Dakota - southeast
* Buffalo County, South Dakota - southwest
* Hyde County, South Dakota - west

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900 = 4525
1910 = 7870
1920 = 8778
1930 = 9485
1940 = 7166
1950 = 7149
1960 = 6712
1970 = 5883
1980 = 4948
1990 = 4272
2000 = 3741
estyear = 2007
estimate = 3273

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,741 people, 1,543 households, and 1,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,840 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.30% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,543 households out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 24.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,377, and the median income for a family was $38,017. Males had a median income of $26,335 versus $16,181 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,735. About 6.10% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Miller
*Ree Heights
*St. Lawrence
*Vayland
*Polo

References