Lawrence County, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 Lawrence County Courthouse in Deadwood | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofSouth Dakota | |
 South Dakota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°20′54.65″N103°48′22.903″W / 44.3485139°N 103.80636194°W /44.3485139; -103.80636194 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Dakota |
| Founded | January 11, 1875 (created) 1877 (organized) |
| Named after | John Lawrence |
| Seat | Deadwood |
| Largest city | Spearfish |
| Area | |
• Total | 800.311 sq mi (2,072.80 km2) |
| • Land | 800.053 sq mi (2,072.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.258 sq mi (0.67 km2) 0.03% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,768 |
• Estimate (2024) | 28,809 |
| • Density | 35.068/sq mi (13.540/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | lawrence.sd.us |
Lawrence County is acounty in theU.S. state ofSouth Dakota. As of the2020 census, the population was 25,768,[1] making it the8th most populous county in South Dakota, and was estimated to be 28,809 in 2024.[2] Itscounty seat isDeadwood.[3]
Lawrence County is coextensive with theSpearfish, SDMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theRapid City-Spearfish, SDCombined Statistical Area.
Lawrence County was created January 11, 1875, and was organized in 1877.[4] The county was named for "Colonel" John Lawrence,[5] who came to the county as first treasurer in 1877. Lawrence had previously served in theDakota Territorial Legislature, as aSergeant at Arms for theUnited States House of Representatives, and aUS Marshal for the Dakota territory. After retirement, he continued to act as county road supervisor and as an election judge. The title "Colonel" was honorary, bestowed by the governor of theDakota Territory.
Lawrence County lies on the west side of South Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state ofWyoming. The terrain of Lawrence County consists of mountains in the south and west, falling off to the hilly northeast portion. A tributary of theRedwater River flows east-northeasterly along a portion of the county's north boundary line, delineating that portion of the line.[6] The terrain generally slopes to the county's northeast corner; its highest point is Crooks Tower, at 7,137'.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 800.311 square miles (2,072.80 km2), of which 800.053 square miles (2,072.13 km2) is land and 0.258 square miles (0.67 km2) (0.03%) is water.[7] It is the 41st largest county in South Dakota by total area.
Source:[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 13,218 | — | |
| 1890 | 11,673 | −11.7% | |
| 1900 | 17,897 | 53.3% | |
| 1910 | 19,694 | 10.0% | |
| 1920 | 13,029 | −33.8% | |
| 1930 | 13,920 | 6.8% | |
| 1940 | 19,093 | 37.2% | |
| 1950 | 16,648 | −12.8% | |
| 1960 | 17,075 | 2.6% | |
| 1970 | 17,453 | 2.2% | |
| 1980 | 18,339 | 5.1% | |
| 1990 | 20,655 | 12.6% | |
| 2000 | 21,802 | 5.6% | |
| 2010 | 24,097 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 25,768 | 6.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 28,809 | [8] | 11.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[2] | |||
As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Lawrence County was $322,680.[13]
As of the 2023American Community Survey, there are 11,812 estimated households in Lawrence County with an average of 2.16 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $66,766. Approximately 11.1% of the county's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Lawrence County has an estimated 64.7% employment rate, with 34.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.4% holding a high school diploma.[2]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (95.3%), Spanish (2.3%), Indo-European (1.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.7%), and Other (0.5%).
The median age in the county was 43.8 years.
Lawrence County, South Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 1980[14] | Pop. 1990[15] | Pop. 2000[16] | Pop. 2010[17] | Pop. 2020[18] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 17,734 (96.70%) | 19,726 (95.50%) | 20,631 (94.63%) | 22,349 (92.75%) | 22,935 (89.01%) |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 27 (0.15%) | 29 (0.14%) | 45 (0.21%) | 87 (0.36%) | 128 (0.50%) |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 331 (1.80%) | 514 (2.49%) | 454 (2.08%) | 457 (1.90%) | 486 (1.89%) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 29 (0.16%) | 56 (0.27%) | 70 (0.32%) | 157 (0.65%) | 196 (0.76%) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | — | — | 11 (0.05%) | 6 (0.02%) | 18 (0.07%) |
| Other race alone (NH) | 21 (0.11%) | 3 (0.01%) | 2 (0.01%) | 10 (0.04%) | 51 (0.20%) |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | — | — | 193 (0.89%) | 419 (1.74%) | 1,032 (4.00%) |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 197 (1.07%) | 327 (1.58%) | 396 (1.82%) | 612 (2.54%) | 922 (3.58%) |
| Total | 18,339 (100.00%) | 20,655 (100.00%) | 21,802 (100.00%) | 24,097 (100.00%) | 25,768 (100.00%) |
As of the2020 census, there were 25,768 people, 11,444 households, and 6,689 families residing in the county.[19] Thepopulation density was 32.2 inhabitants per square mile (12.4/km2). There were 14,163 housing units at an average density of 17.7 per square mile (6.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.50%White, 0.52%African American, 2.14%Native American, 0.76%Asian, 0.09%Pacific Islander, 0.73% from some other races and 5.26% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.58% of the population.[20]
Of the 11,444 households, 13.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% weremarried couples living together, 25.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.
As of the2010 census, there were 24,097 people, 10,536 households, and 6,181 families in the county. The population density was 30.1 inhabitants per square mile (11.6/km2). There were 12,756 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40%White, 0.38%African American, 2.03%Native American, 0.66%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.49% from some other races and 2.02% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.54% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 44.5% wereGerman, 13.7% wereIrish, 13.4% wereEnglish, 11.4% wereNorwegian, and 4.4% wereAmerican.
Of the 10,536 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.3% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age was 41.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,356 and the median income for a family was $60,209. Males had a median income of $38,933 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,465. About 8.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Source:[6]
Owing to itsYankee influence, Lawrence County has been reliably Republican for a full century. It was the only South Dakota county to remain loyal toHerbert Hoover in his landslide 1932 loss.[21] In fact, Lawrence County was the second-westernmost county, behind only Utah'sKane County, to never vote forFranklin D. Roosevelt. The only Democratic presidential candidates to carry Lawrence County have beenWoodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916, andWilliam Jennings Bryan in 1896. Lawrence County has also been one of the most consistent strongholds for theLibertarian Party, giving their 2016 nominee,Gary Johnson, one of the largest vote share out of any county outside his home state ofNew Mexico, with 7.9%. In 2020, Libertarian Party nomineeJo Jorgensen received 3.9% of the popular vote, her second best performance in any county during the election cycle.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,140 | 51.18% | 546 | 13.06% | 1,495 | 35.76% |
| 1896 | 2,210 | 42.91% | 2,905 | 56.41% | 35 | 0.68% |
| 1900 | 3,435 | 55.96% | 2,619 | 42.67% | 84 | 1.37% |
| 1904 | 4,247 | 65.53% | 1,347 | 20.78% | 887 | 13.69% |
| 1908 | 2,735 | 50.86% | 1,564 | 29.09% | 1,078 | 20.05% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 2,412 | 53.95% | 2,059 | 46.05% |
| 1916 | 2,074 | 47.51% | 2,157 | 49.42% | 134 | 3.07% |
| 1920 | 2,986 | 68.50% | 1,201 | 27.55% | 172 | 3.95% |
| 1924 | 3,255 | 71.07% | 649 | 14.17% | 676 | 14.76% |
| 1928 | 4,141 | 69.63% | 1,785 | 30.02% | 21 | 0.35% |
| 1932 | 3,708 | 53.99% | 3,106 | 45.22% | 54 | 0.79% |
| 1936 | 4,974 | 56.19% | 3,809 | 43.03% | 69 | 0.78% |
| 1940 | 5,288 | 60.07% | 3,515 | 39.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,528 | 65.41% | 1,866 | 34.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 3,778 | 62.50% | 2,209 | 36.54% | 58 | 0.96% |
| 1952 | 5,559 | 76.57% | 1,701 | 23.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,654 | 71.33% | 1,871 | 28.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,083 | 66.06% | 2,612 | 33.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,743 | 51.91% | 3,468 | 48.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,185 | 60.23% | 2,425 | 34.90% | 338 | 4.86% |
| 1972 | 4,795 | 65.22% | 2,533 | 34.45% | 24 | 0.33% |
| 1976 | 4,206 | 56.46% | 3,102 | 41.64% | 141 | 1.89% |
| 1980 | 5,306 | 63.14% | 2,259 | 26.88% | 838 | 9.97% |
| 1984 | 5,949 | 69.42% | 2,565 | 29.93% | 55 | 0.64% |
| 1988 | 5,570 | 59.39% | 3,705 | 39.50% | 104 | 1.11% |
| 1992 | 3,770 | 39.03% | 3,157 | 32.68% | 2,732 | 28.28% |
| 1996 | 4,430 | 46.92% | 3,568 | 37.79% | 1,444 | 15.29% |
| 2000 | 6,327 | 67.27% | 2,797 | 29.74% | 282 | 3.00% |
| 2004 | 7,489 | 64.45% | 3,857 | 33.20% | 273 | 2.35% |
| 2008 | 6,787 | 56.30% | 4,932 | 40.91% | 336 | 2.79% |
| 2012 | 7,025 | 61.85% | 3,973 | 34.98% | 361 | 3.18% |
| 2016 | 7,411 | 62.58% | 3,356 | 28.34% | 1,075 | 9.08% |
| 2020 | 8,753 | 63.30% | 4,537 | 32.81% | 538 | 3.89% |
| 2024 | 9,904 | 64.27% | 5,074 | 32.93% | 431 | 2.80% |
School districts include:[23]
Media related toLawrence County, South Dakota at Wikimedia CommonsPlaces adjacent to Lawrence County, South Dakota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofLawrence County, South Dakota,United States | ||
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