Fastest-growing counties in South Dakota
Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.
This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.
As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."
Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in South Dakota. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in South Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.
#50. Walworth County
--- #1,657 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.3%
--- #47 among counties in South Dakota, #1,887 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,315
--- #33 largest county in South Dakota, #2,794 largest county nationwide
#49. Fall River County
--- #1,654 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.7%
--- #44 among counties in South Dakota, #1,789 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,973
--- #26 largest county in South Dakota, #2,661 largest county nationwide
#48. Miner County
--- #1,622 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.8%
--- #52 among counties in South Dakota, #2,133 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,298
--- #56 largest county in South Dakota, #3,017 largest county nationwide
#47. Campbell County
--- #1,615 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.1%
--- #56 among counties in South Dakota, #2,477 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,377
--- #63 largest county in South Dakota, #3,088 largest county nationwide
#46. Jones County
--- #1,615 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.8%
--- #62 among counties in South Dakota, #2,774 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 917
--- #66 largest county in South Dakota, #3,109 largest county nationwide
#45. Edmunds County
--- #1,609 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.1%
--- #46 among counties in South Dakota, #1,870 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,986
--- #40 largest county in South Dakota, #2,889 largest county nationwide
#44. Deuel County
--- #1,586 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.6%
--- #43 among counties in South Dakota, #1,764 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,295
--- #38 largest county in South Dakota, #2,864 largest county nationwide
#43. Bon Homme County
--- #1,583 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.9%
--- #37 among counties in South Dakota, #1,647 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,003
--- #25 largest county in South Dakota, #2,660 largest county nationwide
#42. Haakon County
--- #1,580 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -3.4%
--- #50 among counties in South Dakota, #2,053 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,872
--- #60 largest county in South Dakota, #3,052 largest county nationwide
#41. Dewey County
--- #1,578 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.2%
--- #40 among counties in South Dakota, #1,683 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,239
--- #35 largest county in South Dakota, #2,803 largest county nationwide
#40. Spink County
--- #1,563 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.8%
--- #36 among counties in South Dakota, #1,620 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,361
--- #27 largest county in South Dakota, #2,710 largest county nationwide
#39. Bennett County
--- #1,559 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.5%
--- #42 among counties in South Dakota, #1,738 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,381
--- #45 largest county in South Dakota, #2,933 largest county nationwide
#38. McPherson County
--- #1,553 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.0%
--- #45 among counties in South Dakota, #1,835 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,411
--- #54 largest county in South Dakota, #3,007 largest county nationwide
#37. Lyman County
--- #1,538 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.0%
--- #38 among counties in South Dakota, #1,652 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,718
--- #43 largest county in South Dakota, #2,906 largest county nationwide
#36. Sanborn County
--- #1,519 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.1%
--- #39 among counties in South Dakota, #1,660 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,330
--- #55 largest county in South Dakota, #3,013 largest county nationwide
#35. Tripp County
--- #1,514 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.4%
--- #35 among counties in South Dakota, #1,555 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,624
--- #31 largest county in South Dakota, #2,769 largest county nationwide
#34. Brule County
--- #1,499 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.2%
--- #34 among counties in South Dakota, #1,514 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,247
--- #34 largest county in South Dakota, #2,801 largest county nationwide
#33. Stanley County
--- #1,472 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.5%
--- #33 among counties in South Dakota, #1,418 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,980
--- #47 largest county in South Dakota, #2,959 largest county nationwide
#32. Buffalo County
--- #1,448 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.9%
--- #24 among counties in South Dakota, #1,203 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,948
--- #58 largest county in South Dakota, #3,045 largest county nationwide
#31. Aurora County
--- #1,446 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.4%
--- #25 among counties in South Dakota, #1,271 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,747
--- #51 largest county in South Dakota, #2,980 largest county nationwide
#30. Kingsbury County
--- #1,442 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.8%
--- #31 among counties in South Dakota, #1,367 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,187
--- #36 largest county in South Dakota, #2,812 largest county nationwide
#29. Harding County
--- #1,423 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.5%
--- #13 among counties in South Dakota, #881 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,311
--- #64 largest county in South Dakota, #3,091 largest county nationwide
#28. McCook County
--- #1,416 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #30 among counties in South Dakota, #1,319 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,682
--- #30 largest county in South Dakota, #2,762 largest county nationwide
#27. Sully County
--- #1,411 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.3%
--- #11 among counties in South Dakota, #789 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 1,446
--- #62 largest county in South Dakota, #3,079 largest county nationwide
#26. Hutchinson County
--- #1,407 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.1%
--- #29 among counties in South Dakota, #1,317 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,427
--- #24 largest county in South Dakota, #2,627 largest county nationwide
#25. Oglala Lakota County
--- #1,406 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #32 among counties in South Dakota, #1,390 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,672
--- #15 largest county in South Dakota, #2,176 largest county nationwide
#24. Custer County
--- #1,392 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.2%
--- #28 among counties in South Dakota, #1,299 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,318
--- #22 largest county in South Dakota, #2,554 largest county nationwide
#23. Hanson County
--- #1,371 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.9%
--- #19 among counties in South Dakota, #939 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,461
--- #44 largest county in South Dakota, #2,924 largest county nationwide
#22. Roberts County
--- #1,370 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #27 among counties in South Dakota, #1,287 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,280
--- #17 largest county in South Dakota, #2,392 largest county nationwide
#21. Butte County
--- #1,369 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #26 among counties in South Dakota, #1,283 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,243
--- #18 largest county in South Dakota, #2,395 largest county nationwide
#20. Potter County
--- #1,362 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.1%
--- #10 among counties in South Dakota, #694 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 2,472
--- #52 largest county in South Dakota, #3,000 largest county nationwide
#19. Clark County
--- #1,360 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.0%
--- #17 among counties in South Dakota, #932 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 3,837
--- #42 largest county in South Dakota, #2,899 largest county nationwide
#18. Grant County
--- #1,332 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.7%
--- #21 among counties in South Dakota, #1,092 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,556
--- #23 largest county in South Dakota, #2,614 largest county nationwide
#17. Charles Mix County
--- #1,304 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.7%
--- #22 among counties in South Dakota, #1,097 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,373
--- #19 largest county in South Dakota, #2,464 largest county nationwide
#16. Hamlin County
--- #1,287 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.4%
--- #14 among counties in South Dakota, #883 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,164
--- #29 largest county in South Dakota, #2,724 largest county nationwide
#15. Turner County
--- #1,245 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.9%
--- #18 among counties in South Dakota, #938 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,673
--- #21 largest county in South Dakota, #2,515 largest county nationwide
#14. Davison County
--- #1,168 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.3%
--- #23 among counties in South Dakota, #1,140 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,956
--- #10 largest county in South Dakota, #1,818 largest county nationwide
#13. Hughes County
--- #1,073 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.4%
--- #15 among counties in South Dakota, #887 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,765
--- #12 largest county in South Dakota, #1,932 largest county nationwide
#12. Yankton County
--- #1,035 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.9%
--- #20 among counties in South Dakota, #942 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,310
--- #9 largest county in South Dakota, #1,669 largest county nationwide
#11. Codington County
--- #975 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.0%
--- #16 among counties in South Dakota, #922 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,325
--- #7 largest county in South Dakota, #1,480 largest county nationwide
#10. Clay County
--- #974 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.0%
--- #7 among counties in South Dakota, #570 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,967
--- #14 largest county in South Dakota, #2,088 largest county nationwide
#9. Lawrence County
--- #870 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.9%
--- #9 among counties in South Dakota, #638 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,768
--- #8 largest county in South Dakota, #1,568 largest county nationwide
#8. Beadle County
--- #853 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +10.1%
--- #5 among counties in South Dakota, #412 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,149
--- #11 largest county in South Dakota, #1,863 largest county nationwide
#7. Brown County
--- #852 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.8%
--- #12 among counties in South Dakota, #842 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 38,301
--- #4 largest county in South Dakota, #1,217 largest county nationwide
#6. Brookings County
--- #762 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.5%
--- #8 among counties in South Dakota, #595 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 34,375
--- #5 largest county in South Dakota, #1,317 largest county nationwide
#5. Union County
--- #761 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +16.8%
--- #3 among counties in South Dakota, #173 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,811
--- #13 largest county in South Dakota, #1,983 largest county nationwide
#4. Meade County
--- #597 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +17.4%
--- #2 among counties in South Dakota, #158 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 29,852
--- #6 largest county in South Dakota, #1,436 largest county nationwide
#3. Pennington County
--- #478 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.2%
--- #6 among counties in South Dakota, #551 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 109,222
--- #2 largest county in South Dakota, #560 largest county nationwide
#2. Lincoln County
--- #287 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +45.4%
--- #1 among counties in South Dakota, #9 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 65,161
--- #3 largest county in South Dakota, #827 largest county nationwide
#1. Minnehaha County
--- #230 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +16.4%
--- #4 among counties in South Dakota, #184 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 197,214
--- #1 largest county in South Dakota, #344 largest county nationwide