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Miner County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 44°01′N 97°37′W / 44.02°N 97.61°W / 44.02; -97.61
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Miner County
County
Map of South Dakota highlighting Miner County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°01′N 97°37′W / 44.02°N 97.61°W / 44.02; -97.61
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1873 (created)
1880 (organized)
Named forNelson Miner and Ephriam Miner
SeatHoward
Largest cityHoward
Area
 • Total
572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,298
 • Estimate 
(2023)
2,280 Decrease
 • Density4.0/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.minercountysd.org

Miner County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,298.[1] Its county seat is Howard. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1880.

History

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The area is situated on the site of Dakota Sioux trails that connected two sites of cultural significance to the Dakota people, the pipestone quarries in southwestern Minnesota and the Sioux Crossing of the Three Rivers, near present-day Fort Thompson.[2] South Dakota Highway 34 now roughly follows this route.

The Fort Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road, also known as Nobles Trail, the first road in Dakota Territory, passed through the area. It was made in 1857, connecting Fort Ridgley, Minnesota with South Pass in Wyoming Territory, along the Oregon Trail. The Minnesota and Powder River Road of 1865 also passed through the county.[2]

The boundaries of present-day Miner County experienced several changes during territorial times. The county was established in 1873 by the Dakota Territorial Legislature when Hanson County was divided into several parts.[3] It was named for Ephriam Miner, a territorial legislator, and Nelson Miner, a territorial legislator and captain in the 1st Dakota Cavalry. At the time, Miner County spanned the southern half of present-day Miner and Sanborn counties; Bramble County (now extinct) spanned the northern portion of these counties.[4] In 1879 the legislature combined Miner, Bramble, and portions of Wetmore counties, and eliminated the latter two. The new Miner County was organized the following year with Forestburg as the county seat. In 1883 the county was divided; the western portion being renamed Sanborn County, and the eastern portion retaining the name Miner County. Howard was named the county seat of Miner County.[4][5]

In 1881, the Milwaukee Road railroad opened tracks in Miner County that followed Fort Ridgely Road from east to west, connecting Madison to Woonsocket.[6] The Chicago and North Western railroad opened tracks from Hawarden, Iowa, to Iroquois, crossing northwest across the county in 1882.[6] These railroads have since abandoned their tracks in the county.

The first settler in Miner County was Matthew A. Moore, who homesteaded near the present site of Howard in the spring of 1879. Significant homesteading started in the latter part of 1879 and concluded in 1884, when all available government land had been claimed. Settlers were primarily Norwegian, German, Danish, Welsh, Irish and Swedish.[7]

On August 28, 1884, the second known photograph of a tornado was taken in Miner County. See 1884 Howard, South Dakota tornado.[8]

The current Miner County Courthouse was built in 1938 at a cost of $107,000 by the Great Depression-era Public Works Administration and was dedicated on September 26, 1938.[7]

On June 13, 1943, two B-17 bombers from the 393rd Bomb Group of the Sioux City Army Air Base collided while on a training exercise over Miner County. One plane crashed immediately, and the other made a controlled landing in a creek bed several miles away. Eleven airmen were killed.[9]

Geography

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The terrain of Miner County consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, and generally devoted to agriculture.[10] The terrain generally slopes to the south and southwest, with its highest point occurring along the north boundary line in the northeast part of the county, at 1,729 ft (527 m) ASL.[11] The county has a total area of 572 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 570 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[12]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Bitter Lake Public Shooting Area
  • Burke Slough Public Shooting Area
  • Morris Lake Public Shooting Area
  • Twin Lakes Public Shooting Area[10]

Lakes

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  • Bitter Lake
  • Glee Lake
  • Lake Carthage
  • Lake Thompson
  • Morris Lake
  • Ness Chain Lake
  • Stone House Lake
  • Twin Lakes[10]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880363—
18905,1651,322.9%
19005,86413.5%
19107,66130.6%
19208,56011.7%
19308,376−2.1%
19406,836−18.4%
19506,268−8.3%
19605,398−13.9%
19704,454−17.5%
19803,739−16.1%
19903,272−12.5%
20002,884−11.9%
20102,389−17.2%
20202,298−3.8%
2023 (est.)2,280[13]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 2,298 people, 943 households, and 570 families residing in the county.[18] The population density was 4.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km2). There were 1,189 housing units.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 2,389 people, 1,032 households, and 606 families in the county. The population density was 4.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km2). There were 1,308 housing units at an average density of 2.3 units per square mile (0.89 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.7% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.2% were German, 20.7% were Norwegian, 12.4% were Irish, 5.7% were English, 5.7% were Swedish, and 4.2% were American.

Of the 1,032 households, 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.3% were non-families, and 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 46.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,958 and the median income for a family was $54,650. Males had a median income of $33,984 versus $25,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,450. About 2.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated community[10]

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Ghost Town(s)

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Government

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Townships

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  • Adams
  • Beaver
  • Belleview
  • Canova
  • Carthage
  • Clearwater
  • Clinton
  • Grafton
  • Green Valley
  • Henden
  • Howard
  • Miner
  • Redstone
  • Rock Creek
  • Roswell
  • Vermillion

Politics

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Miner County voters have tended to vote Republican the past two decades.

United States presidential election results for Miner County, South Dakota[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 841 72.07% 293 25.11% 33 2.83%
2020 787 69.16% 320 28.12% 31 2.72%
2016 706 66.35% 281 26.41% 77 7.24%
2012 636 55.79% 479 42.02% 25 2.19%
2008 577 47.37% 605 49.67% 36 2.96%
2004 810 55.10% 641 43.61% 19 1.29%
2000 724 57.19% 523 41.31% 19 1.50%
1996 571 38.35% 739 49.63% 179 12.02%
1992 543 34.28% 698 44.07% 343 21.65%
1988 795 45.30% 955 54.42% 5 0.28%
1984 1,004 50.78% 960 48.56% 13 0.66%
1980 1,172 53.98% 833 38.37% 166 7.65%
1976 839 39.21% 1,289 60.23% 12 0.56%
1972 1,059 44.03% 1,337 55.59% 9 0.37%
1968 1,045 43.69% 1,255 52.47% 92 3.85%
1964 945 36.01% 1,679 63.99% 0 0.00%
1960 1,377 51.13% 1,316 48.87% 0 0.00%
1956 1,456 48.97% 1,517 51.03% 0 0.00%
1952 1,964 65.62% 1,029 34.38% 0 0.00%
1948 1,188 45.92% 1,373 53.07% 26 1.01%
1944 1,544 58.62% 1,090 41.38% 0 0.00%
1940 2,095 60.55% 1,365 39.45% 0 0.00%
1936 1,377 38.77% 2,051 57.74% 124 3.49%
1932 976 28.57% 2,332 68.27% 108 3.16%
1928 1,990 59.37% 1,341 40.01% 21 0.63%
1924 995 35.65% 308 11.04% 1,488 53.31%
1920 1,450 56.73% 651 25.47% 455 17.80%
1916 1,006 52.21% 880 45.67% 41 2.13%
1912 0 0.00% 720 43.43% 938 56.57%
1908 906 53.93% 720 42.86% 54 3.21%
1904 893 61.29% 475 32.60% 89 6.11%
1900 662 48.01% 697 50.54% 20 1.45%
1896 582 45.05% 705 54.57% 5 0.39%
1892 486 38.57% 290 23.02% 484 38.41%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "South Dakota State Historical Society Markers" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "DT, ND, SD: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Robinson, Doane (January 1, 1904). History of South Dakota. B. F. Bowen.
  5. ^ "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 30, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "South Dakota's Railroads" (PDF). South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office. p. 80. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Prairie Tamers of Miner County, South Dakota. Prepared by the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration in South Dakota. 1939.
  8. ^ "AMS Journals Online". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 65: 360–364. doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1984)065<0360:etp>2.0.co;2.
  9. ^ "The Crash of the Flying Sioux - South Dakota Historical Markers". Waymarking.com. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Miner County SD Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019)
  11. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  12. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  17. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
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