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Hamlin County, South Dakota

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Hamlin County, South Dakota
County
Hamlin County Courthouse in Hayti in 1974
Hamlin County Courthouse in Hayti in 1974
Map of South Dakota highlighting Hamlin County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Coordinates: 44°41′N 97°12′W / 44.68°N 97.2°W / 44.68; -97.2
Country United States
State South Dakota
Created1873
Organized1878
Named forHannibal Hamlin
SeatHayti
Largest cityEstelline
Area
 • Total
538 sq mi (1,390 km2)
 • Land507 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)  5.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,164
 • Estimate 
(2025)[1]
6,900 Increase
 • Density13.6/sq mi (5.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitehamlinco.us

Hamlin County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,164.[2] Its county seat is Hayti.[3] The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1878.[4] It was named for Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice-president.[5]

Geography

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Soils of Hamlin County

The terrain of Hamlin County consists of low rolling hills, dotted with small lakes and ponds. The land is largely dedicated to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the south-southeast, and its highest point is on the eastern boundary line, near its NE corner, at 1,949 ft (594 m) ASL.[7]

Hamlin County has a total area of 538 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 507 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (5.7%) is water.[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Source:[6]

  • Baxter Slough State Public Shooting Area
  • Bochek State Public Shooting Area
  • Eidsness State Public Shooting Area
  • Hamlin State Public Shooting Area
  • Harju State Public Shooting Area
  • Hayes Slough State Public Shooting Area
  • Johnsons Slough State Public Shooting Area
  • McShane State Public Shooting Area
  • Opdahl Slough State Public Shooting Area
  • Rasmussen State Public Shooting Area

Lakes

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Source:[6]

  • Clear Lake
  • Dry Lake
  • Lake Albert (partial)
  • Lake Marsh
  • Lake Mary
  • Lake Norden
  • Lake Poinsett
  • Lake Saint John

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880693—
18904,623567.1%
19005,94528.6%
19107,47525.7%
19208,0547.7%
19308,2993.0%
19407,562−8.9%
19507,058−6.7%
19606,303−10.7%
19705,172−17.9%
19805,2611.7%
19904,974−5.5%
20005,54011.4%
20105,9036.6%
20206,1644.4%
2025 (est.)6,900Increase11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9][10][11][12][2][13]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 6,164 people, 2,155 households, and 1,513 families residing in the county, and the population density was 12.2 inhabitants per square mile (4.7/km2).[14]

Of the residents, 32.3% were under the age of 18 and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.2 males.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 3.0% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[15]

There were 2,155 households in the county, of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 16.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 2,759 housing units, of which 21.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.0% were owner-occupied and 18.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[14]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 5,903 people, 2,108 households, and 1,483 families in the county. The population density was 11.6 inhabitants per square mile (4.5/km2). There were 2,760 housing units at an average density of 5.4 units per square mile (2.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 24.0% were Norwegian, 7.0% were English, 6.1% were Irish, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.3% were American.

Of the 2,108 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 36.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,439 and the median income for a family was $54,483. Males had a median income of $36,921 versus $24,645 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,558. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Source:[6]

Townships

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  • Brantford
  • Castlewood
  • Cleveland
  • Dempster
  • Dixon
  • Estelline
  • Florence
  • Garfield
  • Hamlin
  • Hayti
  • Norden
  • Opdahl
  • Oxford

Politics

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Hamlin County voters have usually voted Republican. In only one national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Hamlin County, South Dakota[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 537 50.80% 161 15.23% 359 33.96%
1896 702 55.10% 559 43.88% 13 1.02%
1900 928 62.79% 509 34.44% 41 2.77%
1904 1,197 75.76% 307 19.43% 76 4.81%
1908 1,095 68.57% 434 27.18% 68 4.26%
1912 0 0.00% 474 29.92% 1,110 70.08%
1916 1,039 57.82% 692 38.51% 66 3.67%
1920 1,322 63.68% 337 16.23% 417 20.09%
1924 1,144 52.38% 207 9.48% 833 38.14%
1928 1,959 63.19% 1,088 35.10% 53 1.71%
1932 1,267 39.23% 1,920 59.44% 43 1.33%
1936 1,857 52.25% 1,622 45.64% 75 2.11%
1940 2,279 64.00% 1,282 36.00% 0 0.00%
1944 1,811 63.97% 1,020 36.03% 0 0.00%
1948 1,608 53.98% 1,326 44.51% 45 1.51%
1952 2,391 71.48% 954 28.52% 0 0.00%
1956 2,083 61.68% 1,294 38.32% 0 0.00%
1960 2,139 63.49% 1,230 36.51% 0 0.00%
1964 1,525 49.42% 1,561 50.58% 0 0.00%
1968 1,649 56.36% 1,149 39.27% 128 4.37%
1972 1,693 56.85% 1,276 42.85% 9 0.30%
1976 1,452 50.66% 1,402 48.92% 12 0.42%
1980 1,885 62.69% 903 30.03% 219 7.28%
1984 1,782 64.54% 963 34.88% 16 0.58%
1988 1,380 52.06% 1,258 47.45% 13 0.49%
1992 1,133 41.35% 826 30.15% 781 28.50%
1996 1,352 49.02% 1,101 39.92% 305 11.06%
2000 1,731 63.57% 923 33.90% 69 2.53%
2004 1,946 64.63% 1,015 33.71% 50 1.66%
2008 1,661 59.60% 1,043 37.42% 83 2.98%
2012 1,803 64.55% 921 32.98% 69 2.47%
2016 2,051 74.26% 555 20.09% 156 5.65%
2020 2,372 76.94% 647 20.99% 64 2.08%
2024 2,560 79.36% 610 18.91% 56 1.74%

Education

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School districts include:[17]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 148.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Hamlin County · South Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  7. ↑ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  15. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  17. ↑ Geography Division (January 14, 2021). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Hamlin County, SD (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 23, 2026. - Text list

44°41′N 97°12′W / 44.68°N 97.20°W / 44.68; -97.20

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