Corson County, South Dakota
Corson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,902. Its county seat is McIntosh. The county was named for Dighton Corson, a native of Maine, who came to the Black Hills in 1876, and in 1877 began practicing law at Deadwood.
The county is encompassed within the Sioux Reservation">Sioux County, North Dakota">Sioux Reservation, which extends into North Dakota. The Lakota people reside primarily in the South Dakota part of the reservation; the Yanktonai and Dakota live in that part in North Dakota. The Grand River, a tributary of the Missouri River, runs through the reservation.
Geography
Corson County lies on the north line of South Dakota. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of North Dakota. The Missouri River flows south-southeastward along its eastern boundary line. The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills. A portion of the land is dedicated to agriculture. The Grand River flows eastward through the central part of the county to discharge into the river, and Standing Cloud Creek flows eastward through the county's lower SW area. The terrain generally slopes to the east and south; its highest point is near its NW corner, at ASL.Corson County has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the fifth-largest county in South Dakota by area. The entire county lies within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, which also includes Sioux, Ziebach, and Dewey counties.
The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties observe Central Time; the western counties observe Mountain Time. Corson County is the easternmost of the SD counties to observe Mountain Time.
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 12
- 20px South Dakota Highway 20
- 20px South Dakota Highway 63
- 20px South Dakota Highway 65
- 23px South Dakota Highway 1806
Adjacent counties
- Sioux County, North Dakota – north
- Campbell County – east
- Walworth County – southeast
- Dewey County – south
- Ziebach County – southwest
- Perkins County – west
- Adams County, North Dakota – northwest
Protected areas
- Grand River National Grassland
- C.C. Lee State Game Production Area
Lakes
- Mallard
- McGee
- McIntosh
- Morristown East
- Morristown West
- Lake Oahe
- Pudwell
- Trail City
Rivers and Streams
- Missouri River
- Grand River
- White Shirt Creek
- Hump Creek
- Stink Creek
- Black Horse Butte Creek
- Soldier Creek
- Firesteel Creek
- Oak Creek
- Rock Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- High Bank Creek
Peaks
- Hump Butte
- Black Horse Butte
- Rattlesnake Butte
- Elk Butte
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,902 people, 1,196 households, and 825 families residing in the county. Of the residents, 34.6% were under the age of 18 and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.6 males.The population density was. There were 1,362 housing units, of which 12.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.0% were owner-occupied and 44.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.
The racial makeup of the county was 24.5% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 70.1% Native Americans in [the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native], 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.
Of the 1,196 households, 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,050 people, 1,260 households, and 939 families in the county. The population density was. There were 1,540 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 67.0% American Indian, 29.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry,Of the 1,260 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.5% were non-families, and 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.73. The median age was 29.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,877 and the median income for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $32,037 versus $23,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,359. About 24.1% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Town
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Athboy
- Black Horse
- Jeffrey
- Keldron
- Mahto
- Maple Leaf
- Miscol
- Snake Creek
- Thunder Hawk
- Trail City
- Walker
- Watauga
Townships
- Custer
- Delaney
- Lake
- Mission
- Pleasant Ridge
- Prairie View
- Ridgeland
- Rolling Green
- Sherman
- Wakpala
- Watauga
Unorganized territories
- Central Corson
- Lemmon No. 2
- Northeast Corson
- West Corson