Harding County, South Dakota

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Harding County, South Dakota
Map of South Dakota highlighting Harding County
Location in the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded February 26, 1909
Seat Buffalo
Largest town Buffalo
Area
 • Total 2,678 sq mi (6,936 km2)
 • Land 2,671 sq mi (6,918 km2)
 • Water 6.5 sq mi (17 km2), 0.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 1,250
 • Density 0.5/sq mi (0/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.hardingcountysd.com

Harding County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,255,[1] making it the second-least populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Buffalo.[2] The county was established in 1881 and named in honor of J.A. Harding, who had been Speaker of the House of the Dakota Territory.[3] It was merged for a few years with Butte County, under that county's name, but became separate again in 1909.

Custer National Forest has its South Dakota portion in Harding County, and South Dakota State University operates the Antelope Range and Livestock Research Station about 14 miles (23 km) east of Buffalo.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,678 square miles (6,940 km2), of which 2,671 square miles (6,920 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-largest county in South Dakota by area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910 4,228 —
1920 3,953 −6.5%
1930 3,589 −9.2%
1940 3,010 −16.1%
1950 2,289 −24.0%
1960 2,371 3.6%
1970 1,855 −21.8%
1980 1,700 −8.4%
1990 1,669 −1.8%
2000 1,353 −18.9%
2010 1,255 −7.2%
Est. 2014 1,250 [5] −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.5 people per square mile (0.2/km²). There were 804 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county, as defined by the US Census was 97.63% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 1.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.9% were of German, 24.3% Norwegian, 12.8% American, 7.1% Irish and 6.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 525 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $25,556 versus $16,375 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,794. About 19.40% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.80% of those under age 18 and 22.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential election results
Year GOP DEM Others
2012 86.3% 638 11.1% 82 2.6% 19
2008 78.3% 575 18.4% 135 3.3% 24
2004 86.4% 704 11.5% 94 2.1% 17
2000 88.9% 650 8.8% 64 2.3% 17
1996 68.4% 537 19.2% 151 12.4% 97
1992 58.5% 515 15.8% 139 25.7% 227
1988 70.3% 633 28.8% 259 0.9% 8
1984 79.3% 723 20.4% 186 0.3% 3
1980 74.6% 727 21.0% 205 4.3% 42
1976 49.7% 470 48.6% 459 1.7% 16
1972 71.6% 637 28.4% 253 0.0% 0
1968 63.0% 564 29.7% 366 7.3% 65
1964 50.1% 489 49.9% 487 0.0% 0
1960 63.9% 676 36.1% 382 0.0% 0

Harding is a heavily Republican county in Presidential and Congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. In 2008, Republican John McCain won 78% of the county's vote, while in 2012 Mitt Romney won 86% of the vote.

In the South Dakota Senate Harding is part of the 28th Senate district, which is held by Republican Betty Olson. In the State House Harding is part of district 28B, which is held by Republican J. Sam Marty.

Communities

See also

References

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  3. ↑ Joseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), p148, p479
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 Fallon County, Montana Bowman County, North Dakota Adams County, North Dakota
Carter County, Montana Perkins County
  Harding County, South Dakota  
Butte County

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