Fall River County, South Dakota

Updated on Oct 06, 2024

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Named for Fall River Largest city Hot Springs Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6 Founded 1883 Unemployment rate 5.0% (Apr 2015)		Seat Hot Springs Congressional district At-large Area 4,530 km² Population 6,839 (2013)

Website fallriver.sdcounties.org Cities Hot Springs, Edgemont, Oelrichs, Burdock, South Dakota Rivers Cheyenne River, Beaver Creek, Madden Creek Points of interest Mammoth Site - Hot Springs, Evans Plunge Mineral S, Pioneer Museum, Fossil Cycad National, Shaman Galleries

Fall River County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,094. Its county seat is Hot Springs. The county was founded in 1883. It is named for Fall River which runs through it.

Map of Fall River County, SD, USA

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,749 square miles (4,530 km²), of which 1,740 square miles (4,500 km²) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 18

U.S. Highway 385

South Dakota Highway 71

South Dakota Highway 79

South Dakota Highway 89

South Dakota Highway 471

Adjacent counties

Custer County - north

Oglala Lakota County - east

Dawes County, Nebraska - southeast

Sioux County, Nebraska - south

Niobrara County, Wyoming - west

National protected areas

Black Hills National Forest (part)

Buffalo Gap National Grassland (part)

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,453 people, 3,127 households, and 1,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 3,812 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.51% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 6.05% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 12.1% English, 9.5% Norwegian and 7.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,127 households out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.80% were non-families. 32.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.80% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 28.30% from 45 to 64, and 22.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 109.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,631, and the median income for a family was $37,827. Males had a median income of $30,646 versus $20,017 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,048. About 7.80% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,094 people, 3,272 households, and 1,899 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). There were 4,191 housing units at an average density of 2.4 per square mile (0.93/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 7.1% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 11.2% were English, 8.4% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Dutch, and 2.3% were American.

Of the 3,272 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.0% were non-families, and 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 50.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,833 and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $36,495 versus $32,058 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,574. About 11.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.