Volga, South Dakota

History

Volga was founded by the Western Town Lot Company on December 27, 1879 by Col. Arthur Jacoby. It was originally named "Bandy Town" after the Bandy family, early settlers there. Later, in 1880, the railroad assigned it the name "Volga", after the Volga River, in Russia. Volga is talked about in the juvenile novel The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder in the chapter titled "Pa Goes to Volga".

Geography

Volga is located at 44°19′19″N 96°55′28″W (44.321994, -96.924565).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.91 square miles (2.36 km²), all of it land.

Volga has been assigned the ZIP code 57071 and the FIPS place code 67700.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,768 people, 734 households, and 483 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,942.9 inhabitants per square mile (750.2/km²). There were 783 housing units at an average density of 860.4 per square mile (332.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 734 households of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 33.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,435 people, 571 households, and 413 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,862.1 people per square mile (719.6/km²). There were 596 housing units at an average density of 773.4 per square mile (298.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.75% White, 0.42% Native American, 0.21% Asian, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 571 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $41,818, and the median income for a family was $51,131. Males had a median income of $31,083 versus $23,190 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,237. About 3.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

Old Timer's Day in Volga occurs in the first week of June every year and is capped off by an over-21-only street dance and many private parties.

The Brookings County Historical Museum is located in Volga, as well as a home of an early settler by the city park.

Public schools

Volga is served by the Sioux Valley School District. The district has one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Students attend Sioux Valley High School. Three communities are included in the Sioux Valley school system: Bruce, Sinai, and Volga.

Private schools

Volga also has a private K through 8th school called the Volga Christian School.

Notable people