Armstrong County, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Armstrong County is the name shared by two defunct counties that existed in Dakota Territory
and South Dakota
from 1873 to 1879 and again from 1883 to 1952.
in 1873 in the southeastern part of the state, taking its territory from Charles Mix County and Hutchinson County
. The county was short lived and never fully organized. In 1879 it was annexed into Hutchinson County]].
and named it Pyatt County. The county was formed from unorganized lands and parts of Cheyenne, Dewey
(then named Rusk) and Stanley Counties
. The county was never formally organized, and was attached to Stanley County for governmental purposes. In 1895, the county was renamed Armstrong in honor of Moses K. Armstrong
, a pioneer in the territory who lobbied for territorial organization and later served in the Territorial Legislature and as a territorial delegate
to the United States House of Representatives
. The county originally covered much of the souther part of what is now the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
. 1898 part of the county was annexed to Stanley County to the south. The western portion was lost when Ziebach County
was created in 1911.
In 1940 Armstrong was the only county in the nation without a post office. A decade later it had the distinction of being the only county in the United States without a single civilian federal employee. Spiritual Mobilization, a group opposed to government spending, wrote a song about it:
In World War II
parts of the county were used for aerial gunnery practice. During that conflict the county lost one citizen who was killed in action. In the United States Presidential election of 1944
, every eligible person in the county (100%) voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
In 1952, given its small population and with much of the best landed flooded by the Oahe Dam
, the county was abolished and annexted into the southern part of Dewey County
.
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
from 1873 to 1879 and again from 1883 to 1952.
Armstrong County (original)
Armstrong was first created by the Dakota Territorial LegislatureDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
in 1873 in the southeastern part of the state, taking its territory from Charles Mix County and Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,075 people, 3,190 households, and 2,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 3,517 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
. The county was short lived and never fully organized. In 1879 it was annexed into Hutchinson County]].
Armstrong County (South Dakota)
In 1883 Dakota Territory created a new county west of the Missouri RiverMissouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and named it Pyatt County. The county was formed from unorganized lands and parts of Cheyenne, Dewey
Dewey County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,972 people, 1,863 households, and 1,386 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
(then named Rusk) and Stanley Counties
Stanley County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,772 people, 1,111 households, and 775 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,277 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
. The county was never formally organized, and was attached to Stanley County for governmental purposes. In 1895, the county was renamed Armstrong in honor of Moses K. Armstrong
Moses K. Armstrong
Moses Kimball Armstrong was an American surveyor who served as a delegate from Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives....
, a pioneer in the territory who lobbied for territorial organization and later served in the Territorial Legislature and as a territorial delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The county originally covered much of the souther part of what is now the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation was created by the United States in 1889 by breaking up the Great Sioux Reservation, following its victory over the Lakota in a series of wars in the 1870s. The reservation covers almost all of Dewey and Ziebach counties in South Dakota...
. 1898 part of the county was annexed to Stanley County to the south. The western portion was lost when Ziebach County
Ziebach County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,519 people, 741 households, and 594 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile . There were 879 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile...
was created in 1911.
In 1940 Armstrong was the only county in the nation without a post office. A decade later it had the distinction of being the only county in the United States without a single civilian federal employee. Spiritual Mobilization, a group opposed to government spending, wrote a song about it:
All Hail to Armstrong, South Dakota,
Land of the Free
You have yet to fill your quota
With a Federal Employee!
No one from Agriculture?
How do you farm?
No one from Justice?
Who keeps you from harm?
No one from Veterans?
By whom are you paid?
No one from Commerce?
How do you trade?
No one from Housing?
Who buildeth your shacks?
No one from Treasury?
Who takes your tax?
No one from Post Office?
Who sells your stamp supply?
No one from Military?
Who keeps your powder dry?
And no one from Security?
How, then, can you be social?
If you have no single bureaucrat
To decide things equivocal?
Even the Department of the Interior
Is from Armstrong’s roster missed.
Tell me, Armstrong County,
How do you exist?
All Hail to Armstrong County,
Where there’s no ’share the pelf,’
And despite the Welfare Staters,
Each does things for himself!
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
parts of the county were used for aerial gunnery practice. During that conflict the county lost one citizen who was killed in action. In the United States Presidential election of 1944
United States presidential election, 1944
The United States presidential election of 1944 took place while the United States was preoccupied with fighting World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office longer than any other president, but remained popular. Unlike 1940, there was little doubt that Roosevelt would run for...
, every eligible person in the county (100%) voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
In 1952, given its small population and with much of the best landed flooded by the Oahe Dam
Oahe Dam
The Oahe Dam is a large dam along the Missouri River, just north of Pierre, South Dakota in the United States. It creates Lake Oahe, the fourth largest artificial reservoir in the United States, which stretches up the course of the Missouri to Bismarck, North Dakota. The dam's powerplant provides...
, the county was abolished and annexted into the southern part of Dewey County
Dewey County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,972 people, 1,863 households, and 1,386 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
.
Demographics
| Armstrong County Population by year |
1900 - 8 1910 - 647 1920 - ? 1930 - 80 1940 - 42 1950 - 52 |