Codington County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 44°59′N 97°11′W / 44.98°N 97.18°W / 44.98; -97.18
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Codington County
Codington County Courthouse in July 2013
Map of South Dakota highlighting Codington 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°59′N 97°11′W / 44.98°N 97.18°W / 44.98; -97.18
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1877 (created)
1878 (organized)
Named forReverend George S. S. Codington
SeatWatertown
Largest cityWatertown
Area
 • Total717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land688 sq mi (1,780 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)  4.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,325
 • Estimate 
(2023)
28,971 Increase
 • Density40/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.codington.org

Codington County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,325, making it the 7th most populous county in South Dakota.[1] Its county seat is Watertown.[2] The county was created in 1877 and organized in 1878.[3] It is named for Rev. George S. S. Codington, Dakota Territory legislator.[4]

Codington County comprises the Watertown, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography[edit]

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information

Codington County terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds, especially in the southwest portion. The land is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain is higher on the county's east and west sides, and generally slopes to the south.[6] The county has a total area of 717 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 688 square miles (1,780 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (4.0%) is water.[7]

Major highways[edit]

Transit[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

  • American Game Association State Game Production Area[8]
  • Blythe State Game Production Area[9]
  • Christopherson Game Production Area[10]
  • Clarksean State Game Production Area[11]
  • Codington County State Game Production Area[12]
  • Curley State Game Production Area[13]
  • Elmore State Game Production Area[14]
  • Gilbert State Game Production Area[15]
  • Goose Lake State Game Production Area[16]
  • Hanson State Game Production Area[17]
  • Horseshoe Lake State Game Production Area[18]
  • Larson State Game Production Area[19]
  • McKillicans Lake State Game Production Area[20]
  • North Nichols State Game Production Area[21]
  • North Stink Lake State Game Production Area[22]
  • Pelican Lake State Recreation Area
  • Punished Womans Lake State Game Production Area[23]
  • Sandy Shore State Recreation Area
  • Spencer State Game Production Area[24]
  • Spoonbill Pass State Game Production Area[25]
  • Thompson's Point State Lakeside Use Area[26]
  • Warner Lake State Game Production Area[27]
  • Wolf State Game Production Area (partial)[28]

Major lakes[edit]

  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Dry Lake
  • Goose Lake
  • Grass Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Kings Lake
  • Lake Kampeska
  • Lake Nicholson
  • Long Lake
  • McKillicans Lake
  • Medicine Lake
  • Pelican Lake
  • Punished Womans Lake
  • Round Lake
  • Still Lake
  • Warner Lake

[5]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18802,156
18907,037226.4%
19008,77024.6%
191014,09260.7%
192016,54917.4%
193017,4575.5%
194017,014−2.5%
195018,94411.3%
196020,2206.7%
197019,140−5.3%
198020,8859.1%
199022,6988.7%
200025,89714.1%
201027,2275.1%
202028,3254.0%
2023 (est.)28,971[29]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[30]
1790-1960[31] 1900-1990[32]
1990-2000[33] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 28,325 people, 12,026 households, and 7,199 families residing in the county.[34] The population density was 41.2 inhabitants per square mile (15.9/km2). There were 13,211 housing units.

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 27,227 people, 11,432 households, and 7,216 families in the county. The population density was 39.5 inhabitants per square mile (15.3/km2). There were 12,397 housing units at an average density of 18.0 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% white, 2.0% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.3% were German, 22.6% were Norwegian, 9.6% were Irish, 6.7% were English, and 3.3% were American.

Of the 11,432 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 37.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,275 and the median income for a family was $60,202. Males had a median income of $39,076 versus $26,945 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,781. About 8.9% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Towns[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

  • Dexter
  • Eden
  • Elmira
  • Fuller
  • Germantown
  • Graceland
  • Henry
  • Kampeska
  • Kranzburg
  • Lake
  • Leola
  • Pelican
  • Phipps
  • Rauville
  • Richland
  • Sheridan
  • Waverly

Politics[edit]

Codington County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In no national election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Codington County, South Dakota[37]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,958 68.06% 3,837 29.15% 366 2.78%
2016 7,764 66.54% 3,174 27.20% 731 6.26%
2012 6,696 58.10% 4,588 39.81% 240 2.08%
2008 6,374 52.31% 5,595 45.92% 216 1.77%
2004 7,778 61.00% 4,803 37.67% 170 1.33%
2000 6,718 60.32% 4,192 37.64% 228 2.05%
1996 4,995 45.18% 4,722 42.71% 1,338 12.10%
1992 3,943 36.03% 3,701 33.82% 3,299 30.15%
1988 5,050 51.99% 4,570 47.05% 94 0.97%
1984 6,108 63.11% 3,528 36.45% 42 0.43%
1980 5,903 59.09% 3,353 33.56% 734 7.35%
1976 4,504 48.89% 4,680 50.80% 29 0.31%
1972 4,936 51.61% 4,601 48.11% 27 0.28%
1968 3,929 46.49% 4,235 50.11% 288 3.41%
1964 3,593 40.16% 5,353 59.84% 0 0.00%
1960 5,309 55.23% 4,304 44.77% 0 0.00%
1956 5,150 57.72% 3,772 42.28% 0 0.00%
1952 5,750 65.91% 2,974 34.09% 0 0.00%
1948 3,349 45.01% 4,042 54.32% 50 0.67%
1944 3,348 51.76% 3,120 48.24% 0 0.00%
1940 4,320 53.83% 3,705 46.17% 0 0.00%
1936 3,005 39.44% 4,256 55.85% 359 4.71%
1932 2,538 34.32% 4,806 64.98% 52 0.70%
1928 3,762 53.08% 3,299 46.55% 26 0.37%
1924 1,862 41.38% 627 13.93% 2,011 44.69%
1920 2,706 59.84% 867 19.17% 949 20.99%
1916 1,550 51.82% 1,344 44.93% 97 3.24%
1912 0 0.00% 1,111 45.03% 1,356 54.97%
1908 1,618 63.30% 831 32.51% 107 4.19%
1904 1,741 72.18% 582 24.13% 89 3.69%
1900 1,225 58.28% 805 38.30% 72 3.43%
1896 1,041 57.10% 759 41.63% 23 1.26%
1892 882 52.16% 408 24.13% 401 23.71%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 86.
  5. ^ a b Codington County SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  8. ^ American Game Association State Public Shooting Area, Florence SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  9. ^ Blythe State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  10. ^ Christopherson State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  11. ^ Clarksean State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  12. ^ Codington County State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  13. ^ Curley State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  14. ^ Elmore State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  15. ^ Gilbert State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  16. ^ Goose Lake State Public Shooting Area, Watertown SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  17. ^ Hanson State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  18. ^ Horseshoe Lake State Public Shooting Area, Florence SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  19. ^ Larson State Public Shooting Area, South Shore SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  20. ^ McKillicans Lake State Public Shooting Area, Florence SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  21. ^ North Nichols State Public Shooting Area, Florence SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  22. ^ North Stink Lake State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  23. ^ Punished Womans Lake State Shooting Area, South Shore SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  24. ^ Spencer State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  25. ^ Spoonbill Pass State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  26. ^ Thompson's Point State Lakeside Use Area Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  27. ^ Warner Lake State Public Shooting Area, Henry SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  28. ^ Wolf State Public Shooting Area, Hazel SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  29. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  30. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  31. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  32. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  33. ^ "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 23, 2015.
  34. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Appleby SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  36. ^ Rauville SD Google Maps (accessed February 1, 2019)
  37. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

44°59′N 97°11′W / 44.98°N 97.18°W / 44.98; -97.18