Spencer, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spencer, South Dakota
|
|
|---|---|
Location in McCook County and the state of South Dakota
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | McCook |
| Incorporated | 1917 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| • Land | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,381 ft (421 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 136 |
| • Density | 507.46/sq mi (195.83/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
57374
|
| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-60060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267589 |
Spencer is a small city located in McCook County, South Dakota, in the United States. In 2020, about 136 people lived there. Spencer is known for a powerful tornado that hit the city in 1998. This event caused a lot of damage and changed the town significantly.
Contents
History of Spencer
Spencer was founded in 1887. This happened when a railroad line was built to reach that area. The city was named after H. Spencer, who was an important official for the railroad company. A post office opened in Spencer in the same year, 1887. Spencer officially became a city in 1917.
The 1998 Spencer Tornado
On May 30, 1998, Spencer was hit by one of the strongest and most destructive tornadoes in South Dakota's history. This tornado was rated as an F4, which means it had incredibly powerful winds. It started northwest of Farmer and moved east-southeast.
As the tornado approached Spencer, scientists using a special mobile Doppler weather radar called "Doppler on Wheels" measured its winds. They found that the winds inside the tornado were blowing as fast as 264 miles per hour! This is faster than many race cars. The tornado caused a lot of damage and sadly, six people lost their lives.
After the tornado, many people moved away from Spencer. The city's population dropped from 315 people to just 145 by April 1999. The population has stayed around that number since then.
Geography of Spencer
Spencer is a small city in terms of its size. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 0.27 square miles (0.69 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.
Population Changes in Spencer
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 332 | — | |
| 1910 | 506 | 52.4% | |
| 1920 | 637 | 25.9% | |
| 1930 | 561 | −11.9% | |
| 1940 | 617 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 552 | −10.5% | |
| 1960 | 460 | −16.7% | |
| 1970 | 385 | −16.3% | |
| 1980 | 380 | −1.3% | |
| 1990 | 317 | −16.6% | |
| 2000 | 157 | −50.5% | |
| 2010 | 154 | −1.9% | |
| 2020 | 136 | −11.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
|||
The population of Spencer has changed a lot over the years. In the early 1900s, the city grew, reaching its largest population of 637 people in 1920. After that, the population slowly decreased. The biggest drop happened between 1990 and 2000, which was after the major tornado in 1998.
Spencer's Population in 2010
In 2010, the census showed that 154 people lived in Spencer. There were 60 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Most of the people living in Spencer were White. A small number of people were African American or from two or more racial backgrounds. Some residents were also of Hispanic or Latino origin.
About 30% of the households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Spencer was around 42.7 years old. This means there was a mix of young people, adults, and older adults living in the city.
See also
In Spanish: Spencer (Dakota del Sur) para niños
