Counties with the most veterans in South Dakota
There are roughly 17.1 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 29%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in South Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2024 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Montana are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,144 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#50. Stanley County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.8% (137 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 21
--- Vietnam War: 54
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 32
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 29
#49. Hamlin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6% (254 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 28
--- Vietnam War: 87
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 54
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 80
#48. Lincoln County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.1% (3,191 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 72
--- Vietnam War: 1,108
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 709
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,157
#47. Beadle County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.2% (859 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 287
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 100
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 222
#46. Haakon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (87 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 32
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 12
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 31
#45. Sanborn County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (111 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 11
--- Vietnam War: 44
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 30
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 20
#44. Brown County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.6% (1,899 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 14
--- Korean War: 64
--- Vietnam War: 672
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 502
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 357
#43. Ziebach County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.6% (117 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 37
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 46
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 34
#42. Kingsbury County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (264 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 131
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 38
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 60
#41. Minnehaha County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (10,167 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 49
--- Korean War: 385
--- Vietnam War: 3,397
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,148
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,882
#40. Hutchinson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (377 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 53
--- Vietnam War: 137
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 34
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 101
#39. Butte County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (560 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 18
--- Vietnam War: 189
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 173
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 172
#38. Corson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (172 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 65
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 31
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 36
#37. Codington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (1,581 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 33
--- Korean War: 81
--- Vietnam War: 494
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 426
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 365
#36. Davison County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (1,079 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 93
--- Vietnam War: 303
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 312
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 202
#35. Bennett County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (157 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 63
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 17
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 37
#34. Moody County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (338 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 1
--- Vietnam War: 163
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 57
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 62
#33. Faulk County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (117 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 17
--- Vietnam War: 47
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 22
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 9
#32. Bon Homme County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (425 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 28
--- Vietnam War: 196
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 53
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 77
#31. Douglas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (156 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 3
--- Vietnam War: 71
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 46
#30. Deuel County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (246 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 16
--- Vietnam War: 108
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 40
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 28
#29. Grant County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (442 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 23
--- Vietnam War: 146
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 96
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 68
#28. Yankton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (1,390 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 36
--- Vietnam War: 630
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 252
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 334
#27. Union County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (979 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 13
--- Korean War: 25
--- Vietnam War: 272
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 313
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 332
#26. Clark County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (212 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 28
--- Vietnam War: 87
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 37
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 42
#25. Roberts County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (561 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 34
--- Vietnam War: 216
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 72
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 76
#24. Campbell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (99 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 8
--- Vietnam War: 16
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 26
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 18
#23. Lake County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (682 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 51
--- Vietnam War: 302
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 87
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 98
#22. Spink County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (380 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 22
--- Vietnam War: 195
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 109
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 64
#21. Hanson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (195 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 6
--- Vietnam War: 47
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 65
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 55
#20. Gregory County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (243 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 13
--- Vietnam War: 124
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 55
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 27
#19. McCook County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (330 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 12
--- Vietnam War: 78
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 102
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 88
#18. Charles Mix County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (520 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 44
--- Vietnam War: 182
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 111
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 123
#17. Walworth County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (326 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 31
--- Vietnam War: 123
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 27
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 85
#16. Jerauld County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (112 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 41
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 30
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 7
#15. Turner County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (556 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 51
--- Vietnam War: 215
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 140
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 106
#14. Edmunds County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (263 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 10
--- Korean War: 22
--- Vietnam War: 87
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 35
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 41
#13. Day County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (364 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 45
--- Vietnam War: 149
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 79
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 90
#12. Mellette County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (119 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 40
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 43
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 31
#11. Marshall County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (296 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 25
--- Vietnam War: 79
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 77
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 66
#10. Hughes County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.2% (1,226 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 95
--- Vietnam War: 410
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 195
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 330
#9. Perkins County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (226 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 130
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 29
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 36
#8. Harding County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.8% (86 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 36
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 22
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 28
#7. Lawrence County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.4% (2,366 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 64
--- Vietnam War: 824
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 682
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 728
#6. Buffalo County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.5% (116 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 35
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 47
#5. McPherson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.8% (204 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 14
--- Vietnam War: 47
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 58
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 14
#4. Pennington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.3% (10,727 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 272
--- Vietnam War: 3,574
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,371
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,218
#3. Meade County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.7% (2,861 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 69
--- Vietnam War: 624
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 755
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,232
#2. Custer County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13% (995 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 18
--- Vietnam War: 502
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 297
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 267
#1. Fall River County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15% (915 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 50
--- Vietnam War: 368
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 295
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 166
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