Bon Homme County, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bon Homme County
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Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
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 South Dakota's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Dakota |
| Founded | April 5, 1862 |
| Named for | Bon Homme Island |
| Seat | Tyndall |
| Largest city | Springfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 582 sq mi (1,510 km2) |
| • Land | 564 sq mi (1,460 km2) |
| • Water | 18 sq mi (50 km2) 3.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,003 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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7,065  |
| • Density | 12.033/sq mi (4.646/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
Bon Homme County (/ˈbɑːn əm/ bahn_əm) is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. In 2020, about 7,003 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Tyndall. The county's name comes from a French word, "bonhomme," which means "good man."
Contents
History
Bon Homme County was created in 1862. Its name comes from "Bon Homme Island." This island was named by explorers Lewis and Clark in 1804. When settlers arrived in the late 1850s, they used the name for their village. Later, the county was named after this village.
In 1865, there was an idea to change the county's name to "Jefferson." But this idea was not approved. The original Bon Homme Island is now under Lewis and Clark Lake. The village of Bon Homme was the first county seat until 1885. Then, the county seat moved to Tyndall.
An interesting plant, a type of tumbleweed called Kali tragus, was first seen here in 1877. It probably came from Ukraine with flax seeds.
Geography
Bon Homme County is in the southern part of South Dakota. The Missouri River forms its southern border. Across the river is the state of Nebraska. Choteau Creek generally forms the western border. It flows south into the Missouri River.
The county has gentle, rolling hills. Most of the land is used for farming. The highest point in the county is in its northwest corner. It is about 1,883 feet (574 meters) above sea level.
The county covers about 582 square miles (1,507 square kilometers). About 564 square miles (1,461 square kilometers) is land. The rest, about 18 square miles (47 square kilometers), is water.
Major Highways
South Dakota Highway 25
South Dakota Highway 37
South Dakota Highway 46
South Dakota Highway 50
South Dakota Highway 52
Nearby Counties
- Hutchinson County - to the north
- Yankton County - to the east
- Knox County, Nebraska - to the south
- Charles Mix County - to the west
Special Natural Areas
- Bucholz Waterfowl Production Area
- Charley Creek Unit
- Cosby Waterfowl Production Area
- Missouri National Recreational River (part)
- Sand Creek Recreation Area
- Schaefer Waterfowl Production Area
- Scheffel Waterfowl Production Area
- Snatch Creek Recreation Area
- South Bon Homme State Shooting Area
- Springfield State Recreation Area
- Tabor State Lakeside Use Area
Lakes
- Lake Henry
- Hruska Lake
- Kloucek Lake
- Lewis and Clark Lake (part)
- Meiers Lake
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 608 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,468 | 799.3% | |
| 1890 | 9,057 | 65.6% | |
| 1900 | 10,379 | 14.6% | |
| 1910 | 11,061 | 6.6% | |
| 1920 | 11,940 | 7.9% | |
| 1930 | 11,737 | −1.7% | |
| 1940 | 10,241 | −12.7% | |
| 1950 | 9,440 | −7.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,229 | −2.2% | |
| 1970 | 8,577 | −7.1% | |
| 1980 | 8,059 | −6.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,089 | −12.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,260 | 2.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,070 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 7,003 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,065 | −0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2020, the county had 7,003 people living there. There were 2,378 households and 1,503 families. The population density was about 12.4 people per square mile.
In 2010, there were 7,070 people. Most people (89.8%) were white. About 7.1% were Native American. Many people had German (48.6%) or Czech (20.6%) backgrounds.
The average age in the county was about 43.1 years old. About 25.6% of households had children under 18.
Towns and Communities
Cities
- Avon
- Scotland
- Springfield
- Tyndall (county seat)
Town
Census-designated place
- Bon Homme Colony
- Running Water
Unincorporated communities
- Kingsburg
- Perkins
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bon Homme para niños
