Woonsocket, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woonsocket, South Dakota
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| Motto(s):
"The Town with the Beautiful Lake"
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Location in Sanborn County and the state of South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Sanborn |
| Incorporated | 1888 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.80 sq mi (2.06 km2) |
| • Land | 0.78 sq mi (2.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,303 ft (397 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 631 |
| • Density | 804.85/sq mi (310.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
57385
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| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-72700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267662 |
| Website | The City of Woonsocket, South Dakota |
Woonsocket is a small city in Sanborn County, South Dakota, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Sanborn County. In 2020, about 631 people lived there. The city's motto is "The Town with the Beautiful Lake."
Contents
History of Woonsocket
Woonsocket started in 1883. It grew because it was a "railroad town." This means it was built where two parts of the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad met.
C.H. Prior, who was in charge of the railroad, named the town. He named it after his own hometown, Woonsocket, in Rhode Island. The town officially became a city in 1888.
The Famous Artesian Well
Woonsocket was once famous for its artesian well. This well was drilled in 1888. An artesian well is a special kind of well where water flows up naturally from the ground without needing a pump.
People said that at its best, the well pushed out over 8,000 gallons of water every minute! The water came from a pipe that was six inches wide. The well was closed off in 1906.
2003 South Dakota Tornado Outbreak
On June 24, 2003, a strong tornado passed very close to Woonsocket. This tornado was rated F3, which means it was quite powerful.
That day, 67 tornadoes touched down in South Dakota. This set a record for the most tornadoes in the state on a single day.
Woonsocket's Geography
Woonsocket covers a total area of about 0.79 square miles (2.06 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.78 square miles (2.03 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 687 | — | |
| 1900 | 648 | −5.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,027 | 58.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,368 | 33.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,108 | −19.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,050 | −5.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,051 | 0.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,035 | −1.5% | |
| 1970 | 852 | −17.7% | |
| 1980 | 799 | −6.2% | |
| 1990 | 766 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 720 | −6.0% | |
| 2010 | 655 | −9.0% | |
| 2020 | 631 | −3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Woonsocket's Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 655 people living in Woonsocket. These people lived in 287 different homes, and 168 of these were families.
The city had about 840 people per square mile. There were 318 housing units, which are places where people can live.
Most of the people in Woonsocket were White (98.3%). A small number were Native American (0.3%), Asian (0.3%), or from other races. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 24% of homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (45.3%) were married couples. About 37.6% of all homes had only one person living there. Also, 21.3% of homes had someone 65 years old or older living alone.
The average age of people in Woonsocket was 48.9 years old. About 21.2% of residents were under 18. About 27.5% were 65 years old or older. The city had slightly more females (51.1%) than males (48.9%).
Famous People from Woonsocket
- George L. Cross: He was the president of the University of Oklahoma for many years, from 1943 to 1968.
- Eleanor McGovern: She was the wife of George McGovern, a well-known American politician.
- Eloise Ramsey: She was a professor at Wayne State University. She was an expert in children's literature.
- Volney F. Warner: He was a retired United States Army general. A general is a very high-ranking officer in the army.
See also
In Spanish: Woonsocket (Dakota del Sur) para niños
