Counties with the most veterans in South Dakota
There are roughly 17.5 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 35%.
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' 2023 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#50. Lyman County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.8% (154 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 8
--- Vietnam War: 97
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 13
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 8
#49. Lincoln County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.9% (2,922 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 18
--- Korean War: 50
--- Vietnam War: 1,106
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 640
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 910
#48. Miner County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.9% (107 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 15
--- Vietnam War: 55
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 14
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 14
#47. Potter County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6% (113 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 13
--- Vietnam War: 60
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 8
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 9
#46. Brown County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.1% (1,774 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 95
--- Vietnam War: 628
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 403
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 333
#45. Bennett County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (139 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 59
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 52
#44. Campbell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (79 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 17
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 15
#43. Faulk County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (107 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 16
--- Vietnam War: 37
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 10
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 17
#42. Hamlin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (281 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 42
--- Vietnam War: 97
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 52
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 59
#41. Hutchinson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (366 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 53
--- Vietnam War: 109
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 36
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 112
#40. Ziebach County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.7% (119 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 29
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 32
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 52
#39. Grant County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.8% (399 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 21
--- Vietnam War: 179
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 102
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 66
#38. Gregory County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (207 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 24
--- Vietnam War: 102
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 44
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 13
#37. Kingsbury County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (267 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 123
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 47
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 48
#36. Minnehaha County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (10,405 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 81
--- Korean War: 344
--- Vietnam War: 3,701
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,201
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,691
#35. Spink County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (345 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 35
--- Vietnam War: 175
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 61
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 52
#34. Lake County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (628 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 59
--- Vietnam War: 292
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 80
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 78
#33. Moody County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (330 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 8
--- Vietnam War: 162
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 56
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 46
#32. Charles Mix County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (460 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 39
--- Vietnam War: 145
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 91
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 99
#31. Sanborn County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (122 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 13
--- Vietnam War: 44
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 31
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 22
#30. Mellette County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (104 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 47
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 17
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 13
#29. Bon Homme County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (426 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 33
--- Vietnam War: 217
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 37
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 75
#28. Hanson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (185 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 6
--- Vietnam War: 55
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 58
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 61
#27. Roberts County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (557 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 10
--- Korean War: 29
--- Vietnam War: 244
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 60
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 86
#26. Davison County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (1,163 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 99
--- Vietnam War: 294
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 365
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 197
#25. Union County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (986 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 27
--- Vietnam War: 390
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 250
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 268
#24. Butte County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (619 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 22
--- Vietnam War: 198
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 177
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 176
#23. Codington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (1,750 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 47
--- Korean War: 102
--- Vietnam War: 556
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 461
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 332
#22. Corson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (198 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 5
--- Vietnam War: 78
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 26
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 32
#21. Edmunds County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (245 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 9
--- Korean War: 23
--- Vietnam War: 70
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 38
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 37
#20. McCook County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (334 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 23
--- Vietnam War: 105
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 60
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 52
#19. Douglas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (170 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 11
--- Vietnam War: 84
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 28
#18. Marshall County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (275 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 33
--- Vietnam War: 84
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 73
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 43
#17. Clark County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (230 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 30
--- Vietnam War: 111
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 42
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 41
#16. Turner County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (547 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 62
--- Vietnam War: 241
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 113
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 74
#15. Yankton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (1,545 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 57
--- Korean War: 85
--- Vietnam War: 592
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 327
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 421
#14. Walworth County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (351 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 19
--- Vietnam War: 151
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 45
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 98
#13. Jerauld County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.8% (125 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 48
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 24
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 19
#12. Deuel County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (290 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 20
--- Vietnam War: 113
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 44
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 63
#11. Hughes County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.1% (1,214 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 85
--- Vietnam War: 384
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 238
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 352
#10. Harding County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.5% (81 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 3
--- Vietnam War: 28
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 19
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 29
#9. Day County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (408 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 39
--- Vietnam War: 161
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 74
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 79
#8. McPherson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10% (179 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 16
--- Vietnam War: 55
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 39
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 9
#7. Perkins County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.2% (241 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 15
--- Vietnam War: 134
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 27
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 33
#6. Lawrence County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.9% (2,401 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 188
--- Vietnam War: 861
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 716
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 474
#5. Buffalo County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.4% (128 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 5
--- Vietnam War: 28
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 45
#4. Pennington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.8% (10,954 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 70
--- Korean War: 285
--- Vietnam War: 3,751
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,288
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,158
#3. Meade County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.3% (2,971 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 102
--- Vietnam War: 611
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 621
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,325
#2. Custer County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15% (1,123 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 36
--- Vietnam War: 525
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 307
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 295
#1. Fall River County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.8% (943 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 67
--- Vietnam War: 441
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 211
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 147
