Lake County, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake County
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Lake County Courthouse
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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 | 1873 |
| Seat | Madison |
| Largest city | Madison |
| Area | |
| • Total | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 563 sq mi (1,460 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 2.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,059 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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11,031  |
| • Density | 19.233/sq mi (7.426/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
Lake County is a cool place located in the state of South Dakota, USA. It's like a special area with its own local government. In 2020, about 11,059 people lived here. The main town, where the county government is, is called Madison. Lake County was created a long time ago, in 1873.
Contents
Exploring Lake County's Geography
Lake County has gentle, rolling hills. Much of the land is used for farming. Two important streams flow through the county. The East Fork Vermillion River flows through the western part. Buffalo Creek starts in the middle and flows towards the southeast. The land generally slopes downwards to the south. However, some higher spots, about 1,814 feet above sea level, are found on the northern and southern edges.
Lake County covers a total area of 575 square miles. Most of this, 563 square miles, is land. The remaining 12 square miles (about 2.1%) is water, mostly from its many lakes.
Beautiful Lakes of Lake County
Lake County is known for its many lakes and water bodies. Here are some of the main ones:
- Buffalo Slough
- Brant Lake
- Davis Slough
- Gilman Lake
- Green Lake
- Lake Badus
- Lake Herman
- Lake Madison
- Long Lake
- Mud Lake
- Pelican Lake
- Round Lake
- Spring Lake
Parks and Protected Areas
Lake County also has special places where nature is protected. These are great for outdoor activities.
- Lake Herman State Park
- Walker's Point State Recreation Area
Main Roads and Highways
Getting around Lake County is easy with these major highways:
U.S. Highway 81
South Dakota Highway 19
South Dakota Highway 34
Neighboring Counties
Lake County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Brookings County - to the northeast
- Moody County - to the east
- Minnehaha County - to the southeast
- McCook County - to the southwest
- Miner County - to the west
- Kingsbury County - to the northwest
People and Population in Lake County
The number of people living in Lake County has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shifted:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,657 | — | |
| 1890 | 7,508 | 182.6% | |
| 1900 | 9,137 | 21.7% | |
| 1910 | 10,711 | 17.2% | |
| 1920 | 12,257 | 14.4% | |
| 1930 | 12,379 | 1.0% | |
| 1940 | 12,412 | 0.3% | |
| 1950 | 11,792 | −5.0% | |
| 1960 | 11,764 | −0.2% | |
| 1970 | 11,456 | −2.6% | |
| 1980 | 10,724 | −6.4% | |
| 1990 | 10,550 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,276 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 11,200 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 11,059 | −1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 11,031 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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What the 2020 Census Shows
In 2020, the census counted 11,059 people in Lake County. There were 4,576 households and 2,804 families. This means there were about 19.6 people per square mile. The county also had 5,658 housing units.
What the 2010 Census Shows
Back in 2010, there were 11,200 people living here. The population density was about 19.9 people per square mile. Most people (96.2%) were white. Other groups included Asian, American Indian, and Black or African American people. About 1.6% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many people in Lake County have German (50.7%) or Norwegian (20.6%) roots. Other common ancestries include Irish, English, Dutch, and Danish.
The average age in the county was 39.9 years. About 26.7% of households had kids under 18. The average household had 2.30 people. The average family had 2.88 people.
In 2010, the typical household earned about $45,606 per year. Families earned about $57,753. The income per person was around $22,447. About 12.1% of all people, including 12.8% of those under 18, lived below the poverty line.
Towns and Communities
Lake County has several towns and communities. Each one adds to the county's unique character.
Main City
- Madison (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Smaller Towns
Villages
Special Census Areas
These are specific areas defined for census purposes:
- Brant Lake South
- Chester
- Graceville Colony
- Lake Madison
- Rustic Acres Colony
- Winfred
Other Small Communities
Townships
Lake County is also divided into smaller local areas called townships:
- Badus
- Chester
- Clarno
- Concord
- Farmington
- Franklin
- Herman
- Lake View
- Le Roy
- Nunda
- Orland
- Rutland
- Summit
- Wayne
- Wentworth
- Winfred
Historical Sites
- Saranac (This is a historical townsite, meaning it was once a town but isn't anymore.)
Images for kids
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Lake County Courthouse
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U.S. Highway 81 sign
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South Dakota Highway 19 sign
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South Dakota Highway 34 sign
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lake (Dakota del Sur) para niños
