Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota
The combination of inflation and increased work-from-home opportunities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted migration patterns across the United States, the effects of which are still being felt in 2024, according to the latest Census Bureau data.
In the first year of the pandemic, migration out of densely populated, expensive cities like New York and San Francisco was especially notable. Many moved to Sun Belt states where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.
But by the second year of the pandemic, it became clear that not everyone who was moving wanted to go far. A 2022 analysis of movement out of crowded cities from Stateline showed that many people leaving city centers moved to nearby suburbs in the same state. In Texas, for example, moves out of Houston rose 62% in the first month of the pandemic; meanwhile, the western suburb of Katy saw more new residents move in than any other part of the country.
According to the latest data from the Census Bureau, released in September 2023, 53.5% of people who moved in 2022 did so within the same county and an additional 24.3% remained in state, meaning more than three-quarters of movers stuck close to home.
Many young people in particular are remaining in the state, town, or even house that they grew up in. Before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise and those patterns have continued. A late 2023 survey released by Lending Tree found that 57% of millennials and Gen Zers live in their hometowns.
Many people choose not to leave the state they were raised in for reasons ranging from wanting to be close to family, to not having the resources to leave, to sticking with a lower cost of living.
In order to determine where people stay put in your home state, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota using data from the Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents who were born in the state according to the latest data, which is 2022 five-year estimates. The percentage of residents who were born in another state, a U.S. territory, and another country is also included.
Read on to find out where the most loyal South Dakota residents live.
#50. Beadle County
- Population: 19,089
- Born in South Dakota: 11,911 (62.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,830 (25.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 55 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,293 (12.0% of population)
#49. Lincoln County
- Population: 65,801
- Born in South Dakota: 41,215 (62.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,197 (32.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 200 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 3,189 (4.8% of population)
#48. Butte County
- Population: 10,369
- Born in South Dakota: 6,572 (63.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,645 (35.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 87 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 65 (0.6% of population)
#47. Walworth County
- Population: 5,317
- Born in South Dakota: 3,400 (63.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,854 (34.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 60 (1.1% of population)
#46. Hughes County
- Population: 17,812
- Born in South Dakota: 11,938 (67.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,652 (31.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 67 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 155 (0.9% of population)
#45. Bon Homme County
- Population: 7,018
- Born in South Dakota: 4,885 (69.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,048 (29.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 54 (0.8% of population)
#44. Moody County
- Population: 6,346
- Born in South Dakota: 4,422 (69.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,669 (26.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 29 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 226 (3.6% of population)
#43. Roberts County
- Population: 10,242
- Born in South Dakota: 7,145 (69.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,025 (29.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 27 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 45 (0.4% of population)
#42. Brown County
- Population: 38,278
- Born in South Dakota: 26,905 (70.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,663 (22.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 660 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,050 (5.4% of population)
#41. Codington County
- Population: 28,402
- Born in South Dakota: 20,008 (70.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,678 (27.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 187 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 529 (1.9% of population)
#40. Hamlin County
- Population: 6,196
- Born in South Dakota: 4,389 (70.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,568 (25.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 223 (3.6% of population)
#39. Lake County
- Population: 11,207
- Born in South Dakota: 7,967 (71.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,016 (26.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 193 (1.7% of population)
#38. Sully County
- Population: 1,318
- Born in South Dakota: 949 (72.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 295 (22.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (5.6% of population)
#37. Bennett County
- Population: 3,391
- Born in South Dakota: 2,458 (72.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 877 (25.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 44 (1.3% of population)
#36. Kingsbury County
- Population: 5,172
- Born in South Dakota: 3,797 (73.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,336 (25.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 26 (0.5% of population)
#35. Davison County
- Population: 19,966
- Born in South Dakota: 14,845 (74.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,682 (23.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 74 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 365 (1.8% of population)
#34. Turner County
- Population: 8,687
- Born in South Dakota: 6,459 (74.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,058 (23.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 135 (1.6% of population)
#33. Hyde County
- Population: 1,319
- Born in South Dakota: 982 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 337 (25.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
#32. McPherson County
- Population: 2,251
- Born in South Dakota: 1,677 (74.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 552 (24.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (1.0% of population)
#31. Marshall County
- Population: 4,363
- Born in South Dakota: 3,260 (74.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 953 (21.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 138 (3.2% of population)
#30. Jones County
- Population: 1,006
- Born in South Dakota: 753 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 248 (24.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 3 (0.3% of population)
#29. Jerauld County
- Population: 1,836
- Born in South Dakota: 1,378 (75.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 394 (21.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 60 (3.3% of population)
#28. Stanley County
- Population: 2,979
- Born in South Dakota: 2,239 (75.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 704 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 17 (0.6% of population)
#27. Gregory County
- Population: 3,983
- Born in South Dakota: 3,077 (77.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 854 (21.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 40 (1.0% of population)
#26. Douglas County
- Population: 2,823
- Born in South Dakota: 2,183 (77.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 584 (20.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 56 (2.0% of population)
#25. Day County
- Population: 5,485
- Born in South Dakota: 4,258 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,169 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 42 (0.8% of population)
#24. McCook County
- Population: 5,714
- Born in South Dakota: 4,449 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,199 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 59 (1.0% of population)
#23. Tripp County
- Population: 5,607
- Born in South Dakota: 4,367 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,179 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 56 (1.0% of population)
#22. Todd County
- Population: 9,353
- Born in South Dakota: 7,316 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,683 (18.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 339 (3.6% of population)
#21. Clark County
- Population: 3,837
- Born in South Dakota: 3,019 (78.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 725 (18.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 77 (2.0% of population)
#20. Aurora County
- Population: 2,590
- Born in South Dakota: 2,046 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 408 (15.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 28 (1.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 108 (4.2% of population)
#19. Edmunds County
- Population: 4,014
- Born in South Dakota: 3,172 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 791 (19.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 47 (1.2% of population)
#18. Haakon County
- Population: 1,755
- Born in South Dakota: 1,387 (79.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 358 (20.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 10 (0.6% of population)
#17. Spink County
- Population: 6,355
- Born in South Dakota: 5,051 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,256 (19.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 48 (0.8% of population)
#16. Potter County
- Population: 2,587
- Born in South Dakota: 2,093 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 471 (18.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 23 (0.9% of population)
#15. Miner County
- Population: 2,312
- Born in South Dakota: 1,873 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 430 (18.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
#14. Brule County
- Population: 5,247
- Born in South Dakota: 4,252 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 926 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 12 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 57 (1.1% of population)
#13. Hutchinson County
- Population: 7,401
- Born in South Dakota: 6,007 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,265 (17.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 23 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 106 (1.4% of population)
#12. Hand County
- Population: 3,075
- Born in South Dakota: 2,498 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 529 (17.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 48 (1.6% of population)
#11. Lyman County
- Population: 3,719
- Born in South Dakota: 3,059 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 617 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 33 (0.9% of population)
#10. Mellette County
- Population: 1,989
- Born in South Dakota: 1,638 (82.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 351 (17.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
#9. Jackson County
- Population: 2,838
- Born in South Dakota: 2,346 (82.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 470 (16.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (0.8% of population)
#8. Charles Mix County
- Population: 9,302
- Born in South Dakota: 7,701 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,506 (16.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 74 (0.8% of population)
#7. Hanson County
- Population: 3,443
- Born in South Dakota: 2,870 (83.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 528 (15.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 29 (0.8% of population)
#6. Sanborn County
- Population: 2,373
- Born in South Dakota: 1,982 (83.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 360 (15.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 29 (1.2% of population)
#5. Faulk County
- Population: 2,140
- Born in South Dakota: 1,788 (83.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 334 (15.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 18 (0.8% of population)
#4. Dewey County
- Population: 5,275
- Born in South Dakota: 4,563 (86.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 685 (13.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 25 (0.5% of population)
#3. Ziebach County
- Population: 2,455
- Born in South Dakota: 2,135 (87.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 296 (12.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 24 (1.0% of population)
#2. Oglala Lakota County
- Population: 13,695
- Born in South Dakota: 12,045 (88.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,590 (11.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 44 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 16 (0.1% of population)
#1. Buffalo County
- Population: 1,859
- Born in South Dakota: 1,733 (93.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 121 (6.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
