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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Clay County

South Dakota · 13,537 residents · 412 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County is a county of 13,537 people in South Dakota. The median age is 24.9, younger than the US median of 35.2. 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. 54% of homes are owner-occupied. 21.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $73,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 24.9
US median: 35.2
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

13,537
+3%since 1990
from 13,186 in 1990
1990 – 2025
24.9
+4%since 1990
from 24.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
412 sq mi
Population, 19902024
13K14K14K15K15K19902000201020202024Clay County
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.4%(729)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.2%(700)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.1%(688)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1912.3%(1,661)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2422.4%(3,034)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.3%(1,795)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4410.6%(1,430)
US avg: 16%
45 to 549.9%(1,337)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 645.9%(799)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.7%(637)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.7%(505)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.6%(222)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$27,535
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,392 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$14,452
+58%since 1990
from $9,160 in 1990
US average: $21,522
21.2%
−3.4 ptssince 1990
from 24.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$73,700
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $47,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$440
+15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $291 in 1990
US average: $602
54.4%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 52.9% in 1990
45.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(12,547)
Black0.3%(40)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(111)
Asian1.4%(180)
2000
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(12,498)
Black0.9%(128)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(120)
Asian1.9%(262)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(350)
Spaniard0.6%(95)
Colombian0.1%(20)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.4%(211)
Nepalese0.5%(81)
Chinese0.5%(73)
Vietnamese0.3%(44)
Burmese0.2%(26)
Korean0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.1%(19)
Samoan0.1%(11)
Tongan0.1%(11)
Ancestry
German34.1%(5,188)
Irish11.2%(1,701)
Norwegian9.1%(1,382)
English6.3%(960)
Danish4.2%(644)
Swedish3.9%(595)
American3%(449)
Czech2.6%(393)
Dutch2.5%(373)
French2.1%(324)
Italian1.7%(265)
Scottish1.5%(233)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish1.5%(232)
Welsh0.8%(115)
Finnish0.7%(113)
Polish0.7%(101)
Russian0.7%(101)
Nigerian0.3%(53)
British0.2%(37)
Ukrainian0.2%(25)
Slovak0.1%(21)
Austrian0.1%(19)
Romanian0.1%(19)
Croatian0.1%(12)
Ethiopian0.1%(10)
Belgian0.1%(8)
Arab0%(5)
Swiss0%(5)
Section 05

Education

38.7%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 36.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.5%
+5.2 ptssince 1990
from 84.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
17.4%
−2.1 ptssince 1990
from 19.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.6 min
−40%since 1990
from 22.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married45.9%(2,517)
Married49.2%(2,694)
Widowed1.2%(64)
Divorced3.8%(206)
Women 15+
Never married38.9%(2,290)
Married47.5%(2,799)
Widowed7.6%(447)
Divorced6%(353)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

9.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2013
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
56.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2020
from 62.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
13.1%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 13.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
14.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 12.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.7%
−6.1 ptssince 2020
from 80.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
26.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 23.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)29.8%(189)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.7%(150)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era22.1%(140)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War11.8%(75)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.5%(16)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 634 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, South Dakota?

Clay County, South Dakota has about 13,537 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Clay County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Clay County, South Dakota earns about $27,535 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, South Dakota expensive?

In Clay County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $73,700, and the typical rent is about $440 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, South Dakota?

About 38.7% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, South Dakota?

About 21.2% of people in Clay County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 351 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →