kids encyclopedia robot

Sully County, South Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Sully County
Sully Courthouse (2013)
Sully Courthouse (2013)
Map of South Dakota highlighting Sully County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  South Dakota
Founded 1873 (created)
1883 (organized)
Named for Alfred Sully
Seat Onida
Largest city Onida
Area
 • Total 1,070 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land 1,007 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Water 63 sq mi (160 km2)  5.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,446
 • Estimate 
(2023)
1,494 Increase
 • Density 1.351/sq mi (0.5218/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district At-large

Sully County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,446, making it the fifth-least populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Onida. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1883. It is named after General Alfred Sully, who built Fort Sully.

Sully County is included in the Pierre, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

The west boundary line of Sully County is defined by the meanderings of the Missouri River, which flows southward along its edge. The county's terrain is composed of semi-arid rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east, but the west portion of the county slopes westward into the river valley. The county's highest point is along the midpoint of its north boundary line, at 1,949 ft (594 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 1,070 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,007 square miles (2,610 km2) is land and 63 square miles (160 km2) (5.9%) is water.

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Sully County is at the western edge of those counties that observe Central Time.

Major highways

  • US 83.svg U.S. Highway 83
  • SD 1804.svg South Dakota Highway 1804

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Bush's Landing State Lakeside Use Area
  • Cottonwood Lake State Game Production Area
  • Cow Creek State Game Production Area
  • Cow Creek State Recreation Area
  • Elk State Game Production Area
  • Fort Sully State Game Production Area
  • Hofer State Game Production Area
  • Koenig State Game Production Area Area
  • Lambrecht State Game Production Area
  • Lake State Game Production Area
  • Little Bend State Game Production Area
  • Little Bend State Lakeside Use Area Area
  • Mail Shack State Game Production Area
  • Medicine Knoll Creek State Game Production Area
  • Okobojo Creek State Game Production Area
  • Okobojo Point State Recreation Area
  • Onida State Game Production Area
  • Pleasant State Game Production Area
  • Spring Creek Recreation Area
  • Stone Lake State Game Production Area
  • Sutton Bay State Game Production Area
  • Sutton Bay State Lakeside Use Area

Lakes

  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Mundt Lake
  • Fuller Lake
  • Lake Oahe (part)
  • Lake Okobojo
  • Stone Lake
  • Sully Lake
  • Walker Lake
  • Warnes Slough

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 296
1890 2,412 714.9%
1900 1,715 −28.9%
1910 2,462 43.6%
1920 2,831 15.0%
1930 3,852 36.1%
1940 2,668 −30.7%
1950 2,713 1.7%
1960 2,607 −3.9%
1970 2,362 −9.4%
1980 1,990 −15.7%
1990 1,589 −20.2%
2000 1,556 −2.1%
2010 1,373 −11.8%
2020 1,446 5.3%
2023 (est.) 1,494 8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,446 people, 635 households, and 428 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.54/km2). There were 892 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,373 people, 610 households, and 397 families in the county. The population density was 1.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.54/km2). There were 845 housing units at an average density of 0.84 units per square mile (0.32 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.0% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry,

Of the 610 households, 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,958 and the median income for a family was $58,875. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $29,087 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,596. About 4.4% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated place

Unorganized territories

The county organization does not include division into townships. Its area is divided into two areas of unorganized territory: West Sully and East Sully.

Notable person

  • Irwin Gunsalus (1912–2008), biochemist, was born in Sully County.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Sully para niños

kids search engine
Sully County, South Dakota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.