CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Dewey County

South Dakota · 5,523 residents · 2,302 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Dewey County is a county of 5,523 people in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 44.4%, above the 13.2% national rate. This skews young, with a median age of 26.0. The typical home is worth $23,100. 49% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 35% less than in South Dakota as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 26.0
US median: 33.0
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

5,523
−8%vs 2000
vs 5,972 in 2000
1990 – 2025
26.0
−2%vs 2000
vs 26.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
2,302 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K5K6K6K6K19902000201020202024Dewey County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 512.3%(680)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 911.5%(633)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1410.8%(594)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.3%(460)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.5%(305)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.7%(921)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4410.6%(585)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.1%(504)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 646.9%(382)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 744.7%(260)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843%(165)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.6%(34)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$14,599
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $23,272 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$6,515
−30%vs 2000
vs $9,251 in 2000
US average: $14,340
44.4%
+10.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 33.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$23,100
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$271
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $308 in 2000
US average: $450
49.2%
−6.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 55.2% in 2000
50.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic24.1%(1,438)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(51)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic33.2%(1,835)
Black0.2%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(22)
Asian0%(0)
Other66.6%(3,678)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.8%(44)
Puerto Rican0.2%(10)
Asian origin
Taiwanese0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German11.5%(600)
Irish4.3%(225)
American2.8%(144)
Norwegian1.9%(98)
English1.8%(94)
French0.7%(38)
Dutch0.6%(32)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(30)
Czech0.3%(16)
Swedish0.3%(16)
Italian0.3%(15)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.2%(9)
Russian0.2%(8)
Polish0.1%(7)
Danish0.1%(5)
Hungarian0.1%(5)
British0.1%(3)
Section 05

Education

10.4%
−1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
67.1%
−10.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
2.9%
−0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

30.2 min
+124%vs 2000
vs 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married46.6%(799)
Married34.9%(599)
Widowed4.8%(83)
Divorced13.7%(235)
Women 15+
Never married41%(734)
Married35.4%(633)
Widowed9.1%(162)
Divorced14.6%(261)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

21.2%
−13.1 ptssince 2013
from 34.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
29.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2020
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 8.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
11.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
37.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 38.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
37.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2020
from 31.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 48.1% 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)12.2%(17)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)30.9%(43)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36%(50)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.3%(6)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 139 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Dewey County

Head to head

Compare Dewey County to nearby counties

Frequently asked

How many people live in Dewey County, South Dakota?

Dewey County, South Dakota has about 5,523 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Dewey County, South Dakota earns about $14,599 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dewey County, South Dakota expensive?

In Dewey County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $23,100, and the typical rent is about $271 a month.

How educated are people in Dewey County, South Dakota?

About 10.4% of adults age 25 and over in Dewey County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 44.4% of people in Dewey County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →