Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota

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 2024 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. Harding County
- Population: 1,148
- Born in South Dakota: 694 (60.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 437 (38.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 11 (1.0% of population)

49. Beadle County
- Population: 19,309
- Born in South Dakota: 11,906 (61.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,737 (24.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 337 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 2,329 (12.1% of population)

48. Sully County
- Population: 1,526
- Born in South Dakota: 946 (62.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 506 (33.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 73 (4.8% of population)

47. Yankton County
- Population: 23,414
- Born in South Dakota: 15,008 (64.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,633 (32.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 93 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 680 (2.9% of population)

46. Walworth County
- Population: 5,271
- Born in South Dakota: 3,426 (65.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,799 (34.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 25 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 21 (0.4% of population)

45. Roberts County
- Population: 10,221
- Born in South Dakota: 6,883 (67.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,100 (30.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 120 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 118 (1.2% of population)

44. Hughes County
- Population: 17,664
- Born in South Dakota: 12,026 (68.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,322 (30.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 119 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 197 (1.1% of population)

43. Lake County
- Population: 10,972
- Born in South Dakota: 7,501 (68.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,018 (27.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 405 (3.7% of population)

42. Moody County
- Population: 6,397
- Born in South Dakota: 4,437 (69.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,680 (26.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 261 (4.1% of population)

41. Brown County
- Population: 37,877
- Born in South Dakota: 26,475 (69.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,150 (24.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 633 (1.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 1,619 (4.3% of population)

40. Bon Homme County
- Population: 7,044
- Born in South Dakota: 4,925 (69.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,049 (29.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 15 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 55 (0.8% of population)

39. Hamlin County
- Population: 6,373
- Born in South Dakota: 4,539 (71.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,554 (24.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 249 (3.9% of population)

38. Codington County
- Population: 28,767
- Born in South Dakota: 20,609 (71.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,584 (26.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 202 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 372 (1.3% of population)

37. Marshall County
- Population: 4,344
- Born in South Dakota: 3,183 (73.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,025 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 134 (3.1% of population)

36. Turner County
- Population: 8,882
- Born in South Dakota: 6,576 (74.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,079 (23.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 52 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 175 (2.0% of population)

35. Kingsbury County
- Population: 5,244
- Born in South Dakota: 3,886 (74.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,294 (24.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 50 (1.0% of population)

34. McCook County
- Population: 5,751
- Born in South Dakota: 4,297 (74.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,358 (23.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 6 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 90 (1.6% of population)

33. Bennett County
- Population: 3,345
- Born in South Dakota: 2,505 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 781 (23.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 55 (1.6% of population)

32. Jones County
- Population: 1,004
- Born in South Dakota: 766 (76.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 190 (18.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 1 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 47 (4.7% of population)

31. Davison County
- Population: 19,952
- Born in South Dakota: 15,236 (76.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,289 (21.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 30 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 397 (2.0% of population)

30. Todd County
- Population: 9,244
- Born in South Dakota: 7,083 (76.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,919 (20.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 228 (2.5% of population)

29. Day County
- Population: 5,437
- Born in South Dakota: 4,171 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,135 (20.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 95 (1.7% of population)

28. Clark County
- Population: 3,917
- Born in South Dakota: 3,010 (76.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 772 (19.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 31 (0.8% of population)
- Born in another country: 104 (2.7% of population)

27. Stanley County
- Population: 3,015
- Born in South Dakota: 2,319 (76.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 643 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.4% of population)
- Born in another country: 42 (1.4% of population)

26. Edmunds County
- Population: 4,048
- Born in South Dakota: 3,119 (77.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 824 (20.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 94 (2.3% of population)

25. Tripp County
- Population: 5,611
- Born in South Dakota: 4,341 (77.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,172 (20.9% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 2 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 96 (1.7% of population)

24. Douglas County
- Population: 2,828
- Born in South Dakota: 2,191 (77.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 546 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 86 (3.0% of population)

23. Hanson County
- Population: 3,472
- Born in South Dakota: 2,693 (77.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 729 (21.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 8 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 42 (1.2% of population)

22. Aurora County
- Population: 2,642
- Born in South Dakota: 2,055 (77.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 445 (16.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 19 (0.7% of population)
- Born in another country: 123 (4.7% of population)

21. Hutchinson County
- Population: 7,404
- Born in South Dakota: 5,770 (77.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,486 (20.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 141 (1.9% of population)

20. Gregory County
- Population: 4,016
- Born in South Dakota: 3,140 (78.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 783 (19.5% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 49 (1.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 44 (1.1% of population)

19. Jerauld County
- Population: 1,772
- Born in South Dakota: 1,387 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 325 (18.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 60 (3.4% of population)

18. Mellette County
- Population: 1,943
- Born in South Dakota: 1,530 (78.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 413 (21.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)

17. Sanborn County
- Population: 2,384
- Born in South Dakota: 1,879 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 461 (19.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 40 (1.7% of population)

16. Brule County
- Population: 5,283
- Born in South Dakota: 4,196 (79.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 987 (18.7% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 28 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 72 (1.4% of population)

15. Potter County
- Population: 2,388
- Born in South Dakota: 1,898 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 455 (19.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
- Born in another country: 32 (1.3% of population)

14. Hyde County
- Population: 1,191
- Born in South Dakota: 948 (79.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 238 (20.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 5 (0.4% of population)

13. Spink County
- Population: 6,219
- Born in South Dakota: 5,011 (80.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,128 (18.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.2% of population)
- Born in another country: 67 (1.1% of population)

12. Hand County
- Population: 3,140
- Born in South Dakota: 2,534 (80.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 578 (18.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 28 (0.9% of population)

11. McPherson County
- Population: 2,145
- Born in South Dakota: 1,740 (81.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 399 (18.6% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 6 (0.3% of population)

10. Miner County
- Population: 2,300
- Born in South Dakota: 1,882 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 415 (18.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 3 (0.1% of population)

9. Haakon County
- Population: 1,722
- Born in South Dakota: 1,440 (83.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 282 (16.4% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)

8. Charles Mix County
- Population: 9,281
- Born in South Dakota: 7,770 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,388 (15.0% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 45 (0.5% of population)
- Born in another country: 78 (0.8% of population)

7. Faulk County
- Population: 2,126
- Born in South Dakota: 1,787 (84.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 325 (15.3% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 14 (0.7% of population)

6. Dewey County
- Population: 5,205
- Born in South Dakota: 4,436 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 733 (14.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (0.4% of population)

5. Jackson County
- Population: 2,802
- Born in South Dakota: 2,431 (86.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 371 (13.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)

4. Lyman County
- Population: 3,724
- Born in South Dakota: 3,274 (87.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 415 (11.1% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.3% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (0.6% of population)

3. Ziebach County
- Population: 2,377
- Born in South Dakota: 2,136 (89.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 232 (9.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 9 (0.4% of population)

2. Oglala Lakota County
- Population: 13,491
- Born in South Dakota: 12,205 (90.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,189 (8.8% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 75 (0.6% of population)
- Born in another country: 22 (0.2% of population)

1. Buffalo County
- Population: 1,808
- Born in South Dakota: 1,695 (93.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 113 (6.2% of population)
- Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
- Born in another country: 0 (0.0% of population)

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