# Brookings County, South Dakota

Brookings County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,375, making it the fifth most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Brookings. The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1871.
Brookings County comprises the Brookings, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the location of South Dakota State University.

## History

The county was organized July 3, 1871, and was named for Wilmot Wood Brookings (1830-1905), a politician and pioneer of southeastern South Dakota. Medary was the first county seat, from 1871 to 1879, when it was moved to the city of Brookings.

## Geography

Brookings County is on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The Big Sioux River flows south-southeastward through the east central part of the county; its point of entry into Moody County marks Brookings County's lowest elevation: 1,568 ft (478 m) ASL.
The county terrain consists of sloped flatlands, marked by numerous lakes and ponds especially in the western part. The area is largely devoted to agricultural use. The county has a total area of 805 square miles (2,080 km$^2$), of which 782 square miles (2,030 km$^2$) is land and 13 square miles (34 km$^2$) (1.6%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 29
* U.S. Highway 14
* U.S. Highway 14 Bypass
* U.S. Highway 81
* South Dakota Highway 13
* South Dakota Highway 30
* South Dakota Highway 324

### Airports

* Brookings Regional Airport
* Arlington Municipal Airport

### Transit

* Jefferson Lines

### Adjacent counties

* Deuel County – north
* Lincoln County, Minnesota – east
* Pipestone County, Minnesota – southeast
* Moody County – south
* Lake County – southwest
* Kingsbury County – west
* Hamlin County – northwest

### Lakes

* Brush Lake
* Johnson Lake
* Lake Campbell
* Lake Goldsmith
* Lake Hendricks (partial)
* Lake Poinsett
* Lake Sinai
* Lake Tetonkaha
* Oak Lake
* Oakwood Lake

### Protected areas

* Aurora Prairie Nature Preserve
* Black Slough State Game Production Area
* Brookings County State Game Production Area
* Brookings Prairie Park
* Dakota Nature Park
* Deer Creek State Game Production Area
* Kvernmoe Slough State Game Production Area
* Lake Hendricks State Lakeside Use Area
* Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area
* Mehegan State Game Production Area
* Moe Slough State game Production Area
* Nelson State Game Production Area
* Oak Lake State Game Production Area
* Oakwood Lake State Game Production Area
* Oakwood Lakes State Park

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 34,375 people, 13,120 households, and 7,419 families residing in the county. The population density was 43.4 inhabitants per square mile (16.8/km$^2$). There were 14,849 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 31,965 people, 12,029 households, and 6,623 families in the county. The population density was 40.3 inhabitants per square mile (15.6/km$^2$). There were 13,137 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 2.7% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.9% were German, 24.3% were Norwegian, 11.9% were Irish, 6.9% were English, 6.1% were Dutch, and 2.0% were American.
Of the 12,029 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.9% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 26.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,134 and the median income for a family was $63,338. Males had a median income of $40,425 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,995. About 5.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Arlington (partial)
* Brookings (county seat)
* Bruce
* Elkton
* Volga
* White

### Towns

* Aurora
* Bushnell
* Sinai

### Census-designated places

* Lake Poinsett
* Newdale Colony
* Norfeld Colony
* Rolland Colony

### Unincorporated communities

* Ahnberg
* Medary
* Sunnyview

### Townships

* Afton
* Alton
* Argo
* Aurora
* Bangor
* Brookings
* Elkton
* Eureka
* Lake Hendricks
* Lake Sinai
* Laketon
* Medary
* Oaklake
* Oakwood
* Oslo
* Parnell
* Preston
* Richland
* Sherman
* Sterling
* Trenton
* Volga
* Winsor

## Politics

Typical of the Great Plains, Brookings County voters are reliably Republican, even for a county with politics influenced by a college town. In only two national elections since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Despite being reliably Republican territory, no Republican has taken over 60% of the vote since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
United States presidential election results for Brookings County, South Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 8,575 | 57.40% | 5,978 | 40.02% | 386 | 2.58% |
| 2020 | 8,000 | 54.92% | 6,110 | 41.94% | 457 | 3.14% |
| 2016 | 6,748 | 53.22% | 4,879 | 38.48% | 1,053 | 8.30% |
| 2012 | 6,220 | 50.16% | 5,827 | 46.99% | 353 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | 6,431 | 46.12% | 7,207 | 51.68% | 307 | 2.20% |
| 2004 | 7,662 | 57.29% | 5,443 | 40.70% | 270 | 2.02% |
| 2000 | 6,212 | 56.55% | 4,546 | 41.39% | 226 | 2.06% |
| 1996 | 5,112 | 45.35% | 5,105 | 45.29% | 1,055 | 9.36% |
| 1992 | 4,698 | 39.14% | 4,645 | 38.70% | 2,659 | 22.15% |
| 1988 | 5,394 | 52.34% | 4,860 | 47.16% | 51 | 0.49% |
| 1984 | 6,679 | 61.76% | 4,089 | 37.81% | 46 | 0.43% |
| 1980 | 5,727 | 52.15% | 3,934 | 35.83% | 1,320 | 12.02% |
| 1976 | 5,278 | 52.64% | 4,685 | 46.73% | 63 | 0.63% |
| 1972 | 5,182 | 52.26% | 4,701 | 47.41% | 33 | 0.33% |
| 1968 | 4,674 | 57.84% | 3,202 | 39.62% | 205 | 2.54% |
| 1964 | 3,692 | 46.83% | 4,191 | 53.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,710 | 65.75% | 2,974 | 34.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,293 | 66.89% | 2,620 | 33.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 5,988 | 76.29% | 1,861 | 23.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 3,975 | 57.39% | 2,907 | 41.97% | 44 | 0.64% |
| 1944 | 4,136 | 66.61% | 2,073 | 33.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 5,016 | 65.25% | 2,671 | 34.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 3,899 | 53.40% | 3,161 | 43.29% | 242 | 3.31% |
| 1932 | 3,231 | 48.96% | 3,247 | 49.20% | 121 | 1.83% |
| 1928 | 4,586 | 70.05% | 1,915 | 29.25% | 46 | 0.70% |
| 1924 | 4,708 | 48.51% | 1,010 | 10.41% | 3,987 | 41.08% |
| 1920 | 2,743 | 68.64% | 564 | 14.11% | 689 | 17.24% |
| 1916 | 1,638 | 51.79% | 1,385 | 43.79% | 140 | 4.43% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 740 | 30.90% | 1,655 | 69.10% |
| 1908 | 1,697 | 63.58% | 588 | 22.03% | 384 | 14.39% |
| 1904 | 2,220 | 76.18% | 353 | 12.11% | 341 | 11.70% |
| 1900 | 1,707 | 57.36% | 1,084 | 36.42% | 185 | 6.22% |
| 1896 | 1,263 | 48.71% | 1,288 | 49.67% | 42 | 1.62% |
| 1892 | 1,082 | 51.57% | 189 | 9.01% | 827 | 39.42% |