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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

McPherson County

South Dakota · 2,904 residents · 1,137 sq mi
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The short version

McPherson County is home to 2,904 people in South Dakota. At a median age of 47.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $26,500. 83% of homes are owner-occupied. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Households here earn about 37% less than in South Dakota as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 47.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,904
−10%since 1990
from 3,228 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
47.6
+2%since 1990
from 46.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1,137 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K3K19902000201020202024McPherson County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.5%(160)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96%(175)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.5%(190)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.9%(172)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 242.8%(80)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.3%(242)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4411.7%(341)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.7%(341)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6411.8%(344)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7414%(408)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 8410.8%(314)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over4.7%(137)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,380
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $15,345 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,748
+45%since 1990
from $8,790 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
22.6%
+1.2 ptssince 1990
from 21.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$26,500
+34%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $14,999 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$253
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $177 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
83.1%
+1.8 ptssince 1990
from 81.3% in 1990
16.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.9%(3,224)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.1%(4)
2000
White, non-Hispanic99.2%(2,880)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(6)
Asian0.1%(4)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.1%(3)
Ancestry
German61.1%(1,310)
Russian11.4%(244)
Irish9.4%(202)
Dutch4.4%(95)
English3.9%(84)
Norwegian3.5%(76)
Ukrainian3.1%(66)
Austrian3%(65)
Swedish2.4%(52)
Danish1.9%(40)
French1.6%(34)
Polish1.3%(28)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
American0.9%(19)
Czech0.6%(12)
Scottish0.5%(11)
Portuguese0.2%(5)
Finnish0.2%(4)
Welsh0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.7%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 10.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
58.8%
+12.9 ptssince 1990
from 46.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
2.5%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 2.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
−70%since 1990
from 44.2 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 married19%(218)
Married73.3%(842)
Widowed3.4%(39)
Divorced4.4%(50)
Women 15+
Never married12.7%(156)
Married65.5%(804)
Widowed18.2%(224)
Divorced3.6%(44)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
1.9%
−9.2 ptssince 2013
from 11.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
43.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
37.8%
+9.4 ptssince 2020
from 28.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
30.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 29.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
10.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
6.2%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
77.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2020
from 72.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
40.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 37.6% 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)6.9%(14)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.4%(58)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era23%(47)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.9%(14)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.9%(6)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 204 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

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Head to head

Compare McPherson County to nearby counties

MCPHERSON COUNTY VS
McIntosh County
Income$64,419+188%
Home value$84,200+218%
Population2,451+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCPHERSON COUNTY VS
Edmunds County
Income$81,630+265%
Home value$163,300+516%
Population4,022+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCPHERSON COUNTY VS
Campbell County
Income$68,929+208%
Home value$115,900+337%
Population1,377−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCPHERSON COUNTY VS
Dickey County
Income$68,654+207%
Home value$162,400+513%
Population4,895+109%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McPherson County, South Dakota?

McPherson County, South Dakota has about 2,904 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in McPherson County, South Dakota earns about $22,380 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McPherson County, South Dakota expensive?

In McPherson County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $26,500, and the typical rent is about $253 a month.

How educated are people in McPherson County, South Dakota?

About 10.7% of adults age 25 and over in McPherson County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 22.6% of people in McPherson County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has McPherson County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, McPherson County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 324 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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1 census tract
Census Tract 9631

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

How we source and harmonize this data →