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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Dewey County

South Dakota · 5,972 residents · 2,302 sq mi
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The short version

With 5,972 people, Dewey County is a county in South Dakota. This skews young, with a median age of 26.5. The poverty rate is 33.6%, above the 12.4% national rate. The typical home is worth $32,900. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 12% of adults. That trails the South Dakota median by roughly 34%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 26.5
US median: 35.2
Less educated
12% 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

5,972
+8%since 1990
from 5,523 in 1990
1990 – 2025
26.5
+2%since 1990
from 26.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
2,302 sq mi
Population, 19902024
5K5K6K6K6K19902000201020202024Dewey County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.2%(550)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 910.9%(650)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1411.6%(695)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1910.5%(628)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.7%(338)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.1%(723)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.1%(901)
US avg: 16%
45 to 549.7%(580)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.9%(413)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.2%(313)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.3%(136)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.8%(45)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$23,272
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $14,599 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$9,251
+42%since 1990
from $6,515 in 1990
US average: $21,522
33.6%
−10.8 ptssince 1990
from 44.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$32,900
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$308
−14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $271 in 1990
US average: $602
55.2%
+6.1 ptssince 1990
from 49.2% in 1990
44.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

12.2%
+1.7 ptssince 1990
from 10.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
77.4%
+10.3 ptssince 1990
from 67.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
3.3%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 2.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.5 min
−55%since 1990
from 30.2 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 married39.9%(790)
Married45.7%(905)
Widowed1.3%(25)
Divorced13.2%(261)
Women 15+
Never married32.8%(684)
Married42.2%(880)
Widowed12.1%(253)
Divorced12.8%(267)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Dewey County, South Dakota?

Dewey County, South Dakota has about 5,972 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Dewey County, South Dakota earns about $23,272 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 $32,900, and the typical rent is about $308 a month.

How educated are people in Dewey County, South Dakota?

About 12.2% 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 33.6% of people in Dewey County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dewey County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Dewey County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 449 residents, a change of about 8 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 →