Aurora County, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Aurora County is a county located in the U.S. state
of South Dakota
. As of the 2010 census, the population is 2,710. It's county seat
is Plankinton
.
, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territorial Legislature on February 22, 1879. It was organized in 1881 when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of Cragin and Wetmore Counties, which had both been formed in 1873. The county commission first met on August 29, 1881, and named Plankinton
the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. Aurora County was reduced in size in 1883, when the northern part of the county was established as Jerauld County
.
, the county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,846.7 km²), of which 708 square miles (1,833.7 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.61%) is water.
:
of 2000, there were 3,058 people, 1,165 households, and 816 families residing in the county. The population density
was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,298 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.68% White
, 0.29% Black
or African American
, 1.93% Native American
, 0.10% Asian
, 1.44% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 48.0% were of German, 13.0% Dutch
, 6.9% Norwegian, 6.6% English
, 6.1% Irish
and 5.8% United States
or American ancestry.
There were 1,165 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples
living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,783, and the median income for a family was $37,227. Males had a median income of $25,786 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $13,887. About 7.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. As of the 2010 census, the population is 2,710. It's county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Plankinton
Plankinton, South Dakota
Plankinton is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 707 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Aurora County. Plankinton was named for Milwaukee meatpacker and hotel owner John Plankinton, a friend of Alexander Mitchell, the President of the Milwaukee Road...
.
History
Aurora County, named for AuroraAurora (mythology)
Aurora is the Latin word for dawn, the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology and Latin poetry.Like Greek Eos and Rigvedic Ushas , Aurora continues the name of an earlier Indo-European dawn goddess, *Hausos....
, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territorial Legislature on February 22, 1879. It was organized in 1881 when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of Cragin and Wetmore Counties, which had both been formed in 1873. The county commission first met on August 29, 1881, and named Plankinton
Plankinton, South Dakota
Plankinton is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 707 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Aurora County. Plankinton was named for Milwaukee meatpacker and hotel owner John Plankinton, a friend of Alexander Mitchell, the President of the Milwaukee Road...
the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. Aurora County was reduced in size in 1883, when the northern part of the county was established as Jerauld County
Jerauld County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,295 people, 987 households, and 651 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,167 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile . The racial makeup of the county was 99.00% White,...
.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,846.7 km²), of which 708 square miles (1,833.7 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.61%) is water.
Townships
The county is divided into twenty townshipsTownship (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
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Major highways
Interstate 90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
U.S. Highway 281
South Dakota Highway 42South Dakota Highway 42South Dakota Highway 42 travels from Ethan, SD to Rowena, SD , then turning to Iowa State Highway 9 in Iowa.Highway 42 travels through Sioux Falls, where it is known as 12th Street from the western city limits to Menlo Avenue. At Menlo Avenue, Highway 42 curves north slightly and becomes 11th...
Adjacent counties
- Jerauld County, South DakotaJerauld County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,295 people, 987 households, and 651 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,167 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile . The racial makeup of the county was 99.00% White,...
- north - Sanborn County, South DakotaSanborn County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,675 people, 1,043 households, and 732 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 1,220 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
- northeast - Davison County, South DakotaDavison County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 18,741 people, 7,585 households, and 4,770 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 8,093 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
- east - Douglas County, South DakotaDouglas County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,458 people, 1,321 households, and 947 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 1,453 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
- south - Charles Mix County, South Dakota - southwest
- Brule County, South DakotaBrule County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,364 people, 1,998 households, and 1,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 2,272 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
- west
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,058 people, 1,165 households, and 816 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,298 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.68% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.29% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.93% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 48.0% were of German, 13.0% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, 6.9% Norwegian, 6.6% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 6.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.8% United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or American ancestry.
There were 1,165 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,783, and the median income for a family was $37,227. Males had a median income of $25,786 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $13,887. About 7.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Aurora CenterAurora Center, South DakotaAurora Center is a census-designated place in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 12 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Aurora Center is located at ....
- PlankintonPlankinton, South DakotaPlankinton is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 707 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Aurora County. Plankinton was named for Milwaukee meatpacker and hotel owner John Plankinton, a friend of Alexander Mitchell, the President of the Milwaukee Road...
- StickneyStickney, South DakotaStickney is a town in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 284 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was named for J.B. Stickney, an official with the Milwaukee Railroad...
- StorlaStorla, South DakotaStorla is a census-designated place in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Storla is located at ....
- White LakeWhite Lake, South DakotaWhite Lake is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 372 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Lake is located at ....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South DakotaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South DakotaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South Dakota.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties on the National Register of Historic Places in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States...