# Sanborn County, South Dakota

Sanborn County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,330. Its county seat and largest city is Woonsocket. The county was created by the Dakota Territorial legislature on May 1, 1883, with land partitioned from Miner County. It was fully organized by July 18, 1883.

## Geography

The terrain of Sanborn County consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. The James River flows southward through the east-central part of the county, and the SW part of the country is drained by Dry Run Creek. The terrain slopes to the south and to the southeast; its highest point is in its SW corner, at 1,358 ft (414 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 570 square miles (1,500 km$^2$), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km$^2$) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.

### Major highways

* South Dakota Highway 34
* South Dakota Highway 37
* South Dakota Highway 224

### Adjacent counties

* Beadle County - north
* Kingsbury County - northeast
* Miner County - east
* Hanson County - southeast
* Davison County - south
* Aurora County - southwest
* Jerauld County - west

### Protected areas

* McCoy Lake State Public Shooting Area

### Lakes and reservoirs

* Long Lake
* Twin Lakes (partial)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,330 people, 936 households, and 630 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km$^2$). There were 1,134 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,355 people, 975 households, and 630 families in the county. The population density was 4.1 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km$^2$). There were 1,172 housing units at an average density of 2.1 units per square mile (0.81 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry.
Of the 975 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 47.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,732 and the median income for a family was $56,304. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $23,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,055. About 7.7% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* Woonsocket (county seat)

### Towns

* Artesian
* Letcher

### Census-designated place

* Forestburg
* Upland Colony

### Unincorporated community

* Cuthbert

### Townships

* Afton
* Benedict
* Butler
* Diana
* Elliott
* Floyd
* Jackson
* Letcher
* Logan
* Oneida
* Ravenna
* Silver Creek
* Twin Lake
* Union
* Warren
* Woonsocket

## Politics

Sanborn County has been a swing county in the past, but in recent decades has tended to vote Republican. In 64% of the national elections since 1960, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020).
United States presidential election results for Sanborn County, South Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 929 | 76.65% | 259 | 21.37% | 24 | 1.98% |
| 2020 | 905 | 76.37% | 257 | 21.69% | 23 | 1.94% |
| 2016 | 819 | 72.93% | 241 | 21.46% | 63 | 5.61% |
| 2012 | 688 | 61.70% | 389 | 34.89% | 38 | 3.41% |
| 2008 | 669 | 55.43% | 500 | 41.43% | 38 | 3.15% |
| 2004 | 817 | 57.29% | 581 | 40.74% | 28 | 1.96% |
| 2000 | 767 | 60.49% | 468 | 36.91% | 33 | 2.60% |
| 1996 | 630 | 43.81% | 647 | 44.99% | 161 | 11.20% |
| 1992 | 595 | 36.96% | 632 | 39.25% | 383 | 23.79% |
| 1988 | 815 | 51.10% | 770 | 48.28% | 10 | 0.63% |
| 1984 | 1,080 | 63.72% | 611 | 36.05% | 4 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 1,178 | 60.97% | 628 | 32.51% | 126 | 6.52% |
| 1976 | 881 | 46.08% | 1,025 | 53.61% | 6 | 0.31% |
| 1972 | 1,064 | 49.60% | 1,074 | 50.07% | 7 | 0.33% |
| 1968 | 1,024 | 49.71% | 956 | 46.41% | 80 | 3.88% |
| 1964 | 912 | 39.43% | 1,401 | 60.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,254 | 50.10% | 1,249 | 49.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,327 | 50.48% | 1,302 | 49.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,761 | 66.05% | 905 | 33.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 990 | 48.03% | 1,046 | 50.75% | 25 | 1.21% |
| 1944 | 1,212 | 54.84% | 998 | 45.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 1,732 | 55.34% | 1,398 | 44.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,174 | 36.64% | 1,919 | 59.89% | 111 | 3.46% |
| 1932 | 860 | 26.21% | 2,398 | 73.09% | 23 | 0.70% |
| 1928 | 1,576 | 54.08% | 1,321 | 45.33% | 17 | 0.58% |
| 1924 | 1,184 | 47.34% | 327 | 13.07% | 990 | 39.58% |
| 1920 | 1,125 | 49.89% | 517 | 22.93% | 613 | 27.18% |
| 1916 | 711 | 42.00% | 898 | 53.04% | 84 | 4.96% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 577 | 37.13% | 977 | 62.87% |
| 1908 | 847 | 57.70% | 513 | 34.95% | 108 | 7.36% |
| 1904 | 1,013 | 74.05% | 265 | 19.37% | 90 | 6.58% |
| 1900 | 628 | 51.56% | 549 | 45.07% | 41 | 3.37% |
| 1896 | 530 | 50.72% | 500 | 47.85% | 15 | 1.44% |
| 1892 | 564 | 55.62% | 95 | 9.37% | 355 | 35.01% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Huron School District 02-2
* Mount Vernon School District 17-3
* Sanborn Central School District 55-5
* Wessington Springs School District 36-2
* Woonsocket School District 55-4