The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in South Dakota using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
You may also like: The truth about minimum coverage requirements in South Dakota
Runner1928 // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. McCook County
- Index: 0.079
- Total population: 5,548
- White: 96.0% (5,324)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (39)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (34)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (78)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (73)
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Clark County
- Index: 0.095
- Total population: 3,685
- White: 95.1% (3,504)
- Black or African American: 0.2% (8)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (6)
- Asian: 0.5% (17)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (84)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (66)
Matt Lemmon (mattlemmon) // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 50#48. Perkins County
- Index: 0.095
- Total population: 2,897
- White: 95.0% (2,753)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.7% (108)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (32)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (4)
Sdgjake // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 50#47. Douglas County
- Index: 0.097
- Total population: 2,929
- White: 95.0% (2,782)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (62)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (84)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (1)
AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50#46. Lincoln County
- Index: 0.107
- Total population: 56,826
- White: 94.5% (53,679)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (756)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (247)
- Asian: 1.1% (627)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (1,235)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (266)
You may also like: See the most extreme temperatures in South Dakota history
#45. Codington County
- Index: 0.110
- Total population: 28,026
- White: 94.3% (26,425)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (219)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (689)
- Asian: 0.5% (151)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (14)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (526)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (2)
#44. Lake County
- Index: 0.119
- Total population: 12,717
- White: 93.8% (11,930)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (52)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.4% (176)
- Asian: 1.6% (208)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (9)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (302)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (40)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 50#43. Union County
- Index: 0.121
- Total population: 15,368
- White: 93.7% (14,404)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (124)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.3% (198)
- Asian: 1.3% (194)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (301)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (147)
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50#42. Butte County
- Index: 0.121
- Total population: 10,225
- White: 93.7% (9,579)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (68)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.3% (337)
- Asian: 0.1% (12)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (181)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (48)
Jon Roanhaus // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 50#41. Grant County
- Index: 0.123
- Total population: 7,149
- White: 93.6% (6,688)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (33)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (75)
- Asian: 0.1% (8)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (85)
- Some other Race: 3.6% (260)
You may also like: Best public colleges in South Dakota
#40. Oglala Lakota County
- Index: 0.126
- Total population: 14,335
- White: 5.1% (737)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (11)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 93.3% (13,378)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (189)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (20)
Justinebelden // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Harding County
- Index: 0.128
- Total population: 1,306
- White: 93.3% (1,219)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (27)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (33)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (18)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (9)
puroticorico // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Custer County
- Index: 0.128
- Total population: 8,719
- White: 93.3% (8,131)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (22)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.0% (352)
- Asian: 0.3% (30)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (168)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (16)
#37. Lawrence County
- Index: 0.131
- Total population: 25,478
- White: 93.1% (23,732)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (230)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.3% (582)
- Asian: 1.0% (255)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (32)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (589)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (58)
Magicpiano // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Jones County
- Index: 0.133
- Total population: 793
- White: 92.9% (737)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (9)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 5.9% (47)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.0% (0)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
You may also like: Best colleges in South Dakota
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 50#35. Davison County
- Index: 0.141
- Total population: 19,871
- White: 92.6% (18,401)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (273)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.0% (393)
- Asian: 0.7% (145)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (400)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (259)
Jon Platek // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Brookings County
- Index: 0.144
- Total population: 34,601
- White: 92.4% (31,987)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (497)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.1% (380)
- Asian: 3.1% (1,060)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (499)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (178)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 50#33. Yankton County
- Index: 0.145
- Total population: 22,717
- White: 92.4% (20,983)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (357)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.3% (740)
- Asian: 0.2% (43)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (18)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (489)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (87)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Aurora County
- Index: 0.148
- Total population: 2,763
- White: 92.2% (2,548)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (46)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.3% (63)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (40)
- Some other Race: 2.4% (66)
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50#31. Potter County
- Index: 0.160
- Total population: 2,315
- White: 91.5% (2,119)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (58)
- Asian: 1.8% (41)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (82)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (15)
You may also like: Average South Dakota mortgage debt increased to $191,652 in 2024
#30. Stanley County
- Index: 0.169
- Total population: 3,017
- White: 91.0% (2,745)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 5.4% (164)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.2% (36)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (72)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
Jim Roberts // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Meade County
- Index: 0.175
- Total population: 27,717
- White: 90.7% (25,138)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (525)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.7% (755)
- Asian: 1.2% (339)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (20)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (747)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (193)
#28. Haakon County
- Index: 0.187
- Total population: 2,018
- White: 89.8% (1,813)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (1)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 7.5% (151)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (53)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
Winkelvi // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 50#27. Brown County
- Index: 0.199
- Total population: 38,915
- White: 89.3% (34,768)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (923)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.5% (1,363)
- Asian: 3.1% (1,217)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (590)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (54)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50#26. Bon Homme County
- Index: 0.211
- Total population: 6,929
- White: 88.5% (6,134)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (102)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 7.2% (498)
- Asian: 0.4% (28)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (127)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (40)
You may also like: Best private colleges in South Dakota
User:Magicpiano // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50#25. Clay County
- Index: 0.213
- Total population: 13,957
- White: 88.5% (12,357)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (260)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.0% (423)
- Asian: 2.9% (403)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (327)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (187)
J. Stephen Conn // Flickr
27 / 50#24. Hyde County
- Index: 0.213
- Total population: 1,319
- White: 88.4% (1,166)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (32)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.4% (85)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (33)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (3)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 50#23. Gregory County
- Index: 0.218
- Total population: 4,186
- White: 88.1% (3,689)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.7% (280)
- Asian: 1.8% (74)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (123)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (20)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50#22. Todd County
- Index: 0.222
- Total population: 10,195
- White: 8.3% (849)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (6)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 87.8% (8,949)
- Asian: 1.9% (189)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (183)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (19)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
30 / 50#21. Day County
- Index: 0.234
- Total population: 5,486
- White: 86.9% (4,765)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (5)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 10.5% (576)
- Asian: 0.1% (7)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (110)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (23)
You may also like: Countries to which South Dakota exports the most goods
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Marshall County
- Index: 0.235
- Total population: 4,891
- White: 87.1% (4,259)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (31)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 7.6% (371)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (73)
- Some other Race: 3.2% (157)
Wacekj // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Fall River County
- Index: 0.236
- Total population: 6,747
- White: 87.0% (5,873)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 6.5% (441)
- Asian: 1.6% (105)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.1% (276)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (52)
Amphibol // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Brule County
- Index: 0.242
- Total population: 5,258
- White: 86.4% (4,541)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (26)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 10.9% (571)
- Asian: 0.3% (15)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (99)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (6)
Seabear70// Wikimedia
34 / 50#17. Minnehaha County
- Index: 0.259
- Total population: 188,674
- White: 85.8% (161,852)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (10,709)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.1% (3,896)
- Asian: 2.1% (3,939)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (50)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (5,642)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (2,586)
Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 50#16. Buffalo County
- Index: 0.260
- Total population: 2,026
- White: 13.9% (282)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (3)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 84.9% (1,720)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (21)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
You may also like: Countries from which South Dakota imports the most goods
#15. Hughes County
- Index: 0.277
- Total population: 17,608
- White: 84.1% (14,808)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (24)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 12.3% (2,173)
- Asian: 0.0% (3)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (484)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (116)
tochichi//Wikicommons
37 / 50#14. Pennington County
- Index: 0.303
- Total population: 110,685
- White: 82.9% (91,710)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (1,336)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 8.9% (9,859)
- Asian: 1.3% (1,425)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (198)
- 2 or more races: 5.1% (5,593)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (564)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Tripp County
- Index: 0.325
- Total population: 5,458
- White: 81.1% (4,426)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 10.9% (593)
- Asian: 0.8% (44)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 7.2% (395)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
#12. Beadle County
- Index: 0.335
- Total population: 18,346
- White: 80.7% (14,813)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (216)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.4% (250)
- Asian: 9.1% (1,673)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (71)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (180)
- Some other Race: 6.2% (1,143)
Runner1928 // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Dewey County
- Index: 0.338
- Total population: 5,833
- White: 19.9% (1,161)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (5)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 78.9% (4,602)
- Asian: 0.1% (5)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (14)
- 2 or more races: 0.7% (41)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (5)
You may also like: How South Dakota's unbanked population compares to the rest of the US
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Walworth County
- Index: 0.343
- Total population: 5,457
- White: 80.1% (4,370)
- Black or African American: 5.0% (275)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 10.9% (593)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (180)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (39)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
42 / 50#9. Moody County
- Index: 0.348
- Total population: 6,507
- White: 79.6% (5,180)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (33)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 12.2% (796)
- Asian: 2.1% (138)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 5.3% (345)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (15)
Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50#8. Ziebach County
- Index: 0.381
- Total population: 2,791
- White: 23.5% (657)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 75.1% (2,096)
- Asian: 0.6% (17)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1)
- 2 or more races: 0.6% (16)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (4)
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. Corson County
- Index: 0.439
- Total population: 4,150
- White: 29.0% (1,202)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (14)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 69.1% (2,867)
- Asian: 0.0% (1)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (63)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (3)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50#6. Charles Mix County
- Index: 0.501
- Total population: 9,349
- White: 63.2% (5,906)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (8)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 31.3% (2,924)
- Asian: 0.1% (11)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (9)
- 2 or more races: 5.0% (471)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (20)
You may also like: Hottest Septembers in South Dakota since 1895
#5. Mellette County
- Index: 0.503
- Total population: 2,052
- White: 38.7% (795)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (3)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 58.9% (1,209)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (45)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
Rolf Blauert Dk4hb // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 50#4. Lyman County
- Index: 0.510
- Total population: 3,848
- White: 56.3% (2,167)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (4)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 41.6% (1,601)
- Asian: 0.6% (24)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (4)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (48)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Jackson County
- Index: 0.512
- Total population: 3,290
- White: 39.0% (1,282)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (10)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 57.9% (1,905)
- Asian: 0.4% (14)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (75)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (4)
Betsy Armour // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Roberts County
- Index: 0.519
- Total population: 10,287
- White: 57.7% (5,932)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (62)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 38.5% (3,962)
- Asian: 0.1% (11)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (229)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (91)
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Bennett County
- Index: 0.521
- Total population: 3,425
- White: 33.6% (1,151)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (2)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 60.3% (2,064)
- Asian: 0.4% (15)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 5.3% (183)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (10)
You may also like: Counties with the highest unemployment in South Dakota
