CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Union County

South Dakota · 12,584 residents · 461 sq mi
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The short version

With 12,584 people, Union County is a county in South Dakota. That is roughly 27% ahead of the South Dakota median. 2,395 more people live here than in 1990. 74% of homes are owner-occupied. Poverty is uncommon here, at 5.5% of people here. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $85,200.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 36.9
US median: 35.2
Average education
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

12,584
+24%since 1990
from 10,189 in 1990
1990 – 2025
36.9
+5%since 1990
from 35.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
461 sq mi
Population, 19902024
9K12K14K16K18K19902000201020202024Union County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.9%(868)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.8%(979)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(943)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.3%(922)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.8%(604)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.7%(1,601)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.7%(1,979)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415%(1,889)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.7%(1,097)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.8%(856)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.9%(622)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.8%(224)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$44,790
+53%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,274 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$24,355
+144%since 1990
from $9,997 in 1990
US average: $21,522
5.5%
−7.5 ptssince 1990
from 13.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$85,200
+72%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$505
+44%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $266 in 1990
US average: $602
74.4%
+1.7 ptssince 1990
from 72.7% in 1990
25.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.1%(10,096)
Black0.1%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(91)
Asian0.3%(34)
2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(12,081)
Black0.3%(40)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(158)
Asian1.3%(167)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(765)
Nicaraguan0.3%(53)
Cuban0%(2)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(81)
Asian Indian0.3%(51)
Laotian0.1%(20)
Korean0%(7)
Chinese0%(5)
Thai0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.1%(18)
Ancestry
German34.7%(5,920)
Irish14.2%(2,423)
Norwegian8.2%(1,406)
English8.2%(1,399)
American4.9%(829)
French4.5%(763)
Dutch4.3%(742)
Swedish4.2%(719)
Danish3.2%(549)
Czech2.2%(382)
Polish1.9%(316)
Scottish1.4%(237)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian1.2%(199)
Italian0.9%(160)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(90)
Welsh0.5%(80)
Swiss0.4%(62)
Russian0.2%(38)
British0.2%(26)
Armenian0.1%(24)
Belgian0.1%(22)
Croatian0.1%(16)
Arab0%(8)
Greek0%(6)
Section 05

Education

26.3%
+12.4 ptssince 1990
from 13.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
87.2%
+12.9 ptssince 1990
from 74.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
8.8%
+4.0 ptssince 1990
from 4.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

12.5 min
−55%since 1990
from 27.8 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 married24%(1,177)
Married65.2%(3,193)
Widowed2.4%(119)
Divorced8.4%(409)
Women 15+
Never married16.6%(813)
Married65.3%(3,204)
Widowed10.7%(526)
Divorced7.4%(365)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

5.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2013
from 5.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
66.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 64.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
18.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 17.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
7.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2020
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 79.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
26.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 27.4% 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)33.9%(332)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32%(313)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27.8%(272)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.6%(25)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.3%(13)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 979 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 Union County, South Dakota?

Union County, South Dakota has about 12,584 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Union County, South Dakota earns about $44,790 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Union County, South Dakota expensive?

In Union County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $85,200, and the typical rent is about $505 a month.

How educated are people in Union County, South Dakota?

About 26.3% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 5.5% of people in Union County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Union County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Union County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,395 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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

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