Buffalo County, South Dakota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Buffalo County
state = South Dakota


founded year =
founded date =
seat wl = Gannvalley
largest city wl =
area_total_sq_mi = 487
area_total_km2 = 1262
area_land_sq_mi = 471
area_land_km2 = 1219
area_water_sq_mi = 17
area_water_km2 = 44
area percentage = 3.45%
census yr = 2000
pop = 2032
density_sq_mi = 4
density_km2 = 2
time zone =
UTC offset =
DST offset =
footnotes =
web =
named for =

Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of 2000, the population is 2,032. Its county seat is Gann ValleyGR|6, which is also the center of population of South Dakota, [cite web | title = Population and Population Centers by State - 2000 | publisher = United States Census Bureau | accessdate = 2008-02-25 | url = http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt] though Gann Valley is an unincorporated community. The county's per-capita income makes it the poorest county in the United States [ [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200210/02_hetlandc_census-m/] ] . The Crow Creek Indian Reservation inhabited by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe makes up the majority of Buffalo County. Unemployment is 57%; many homes lack indoor plumbing and electricity.Fact|date=January 2008

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 487 square miles (1,262 km²), of which, 471 square miles (1,219 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (44 km²) of it is water. The total area is 3.45% water.

Townships

The county is divided into one township: Elvira; and three areas of unorganized territory: Crow Creek, North Buffalo, and Southeast Buffalo.

Major Highways

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Adjacent Counties

* Hand County, South Dakota - northeast
* Jerauld County, South Dakota - east
* Brule County, South Dakota - south
* Lyman County, South Dakota - west
* Hyde County, South Dakota - northwest

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900 = 1790
1910 = 1589
1920 = 1715
1930 = 1931
1940 = 1853
1950 = 1615
1960 = 1547
1970 = 1739
1980 = 1795
1990 = 1759
2000 = 2032
estyear = 2007
estimate = 2111

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there are 2,032 people, 526 households, and 422 families residing in the county. The population density is 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There are 602 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county is 81.59% Native American, 16.34% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.30% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% were of German ancestry.

There are 526 households out of which 47.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.60% are married couples living together, 31.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.80% are non-families. 16.00% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.83 and the average family size is 4.23.

In the county, the population is spread out with 41.30% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 16.10% from 45 to 64, and 6.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $12,692, and the median income for a family was $14,167. Males had a median income of $18,650 versus $19,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $5,213, the lowest in the nation. About 55.70% of families and 56.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.50% of those under age 18 and 50.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Fort Thompson

References

External links

* [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200210/02_hetlandc_census-m/ "South Dakota has nation's poorest county" Minnesota Public Radio]