# Custer County, South Dakota

Custer County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,318. Its county seat is Custer. The county was created in 1875, and was organized in 1877. It was named after General George Armstrong Custer.
Custer County is home to two of the three longest caves in the United States: Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park.

## Geography

Custer County lies on the west line of South Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Wyoming. The Cheyenne River flows northeastward along the upper portion of the county's east boundary. Battle Creek flows southeastward in the upper eastern part of the county, discharging into Cheyenne River along the county's northeastern boundary line. Spring Creek flows northeastward through the upper eastern part of the county, discharging into the river just north of the county border. The county terrain is mountainous, especially its western portion. The terrain slopes to the east; its lowest point is its NE corner at 2,461 ft (750 m) above sea level (ASL). Its highest point is a mountain crest along the north boundary line, at 6,657 ft (2,029 m) ASL.
Custer County has a total area of 1,559 square miles (4,040 km$^2$), of which 1,557 square miles (4,030 km$^2$) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km$^2$) (0.1%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 16
* U.S. Highway 385
* U.S. Highway 16A
* South Dakota Highway 36
* South Dakota Highway 40
* South Dakota Highway 79
* South Dakota Highway 87
* South Dakota Highway 89

### Adjacent counties

* Pennington County - north
* Oglala Lakota County - southeast
* Fall River County - south
* Niobrara County, Wyoming - southwest
* Weston County, Wyoming - west

### Protected areas

* Black Hills National Forest (part)
** Black Elk Wilderness (part)
* Buffalo Gap National Grassland (part)
* Custer State Park
* Jewel Cave National Monument
* Wind Cave National Park

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,318 people, 3,794 households, and 2,552 families residing in the county. The population density was 5.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km$^2$). There were 4,837 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,216 people, 3,636 households, and 2,427 families in the county. The population density was 5.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km$^2$). There were 4,628 housing units at an average density of 3.0 units per square mile (1.2 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 2.9% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 42.1% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 11.4% were English, 10.8% were Norwegian, and 7.9% were American.
Of the 3,636 households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.3% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 50.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,743 and the median income for a family was $58,253. Males had a median income of $39,194 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,353. About 4.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* Custer (county seat)

### Towns

* Buffalo Gap (Population: 131)
* Fairburn (Population: 60)
* Hermosa (Population: 382)
* Pringle (Population: 109)

### Unincorporated communities

* Dewey
* Four Mile

### Townships

The county is divided into two areas of territory:
* East of Custer State Park
* West of Custer State Park

## Politics

Custer County voters are strongly Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
United States presidential election results for Custer County, South Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,313 | 71.87% | 1,567 | 26.11% | 121 | 2.02% |
| 2020 | 3,852 | 70.11% | 1,522 | 27.70% | 120 | 2.18% |
| 2016 | 3,293 | 69.75% | 1,121 | 23.74% | 307 | 6.50% |
| 2012 | 3,062 | 67.74% | 1,335 | 29.54% | 123 | 2.72% |
| 2008 | 2,909 | 64.54% | 1,475 | 32.73% | 123 | 2.73% |
| 2004 | 2,922 | 67.89% | 1,272 | 29.55% | 110 | 2.56% |
| 2000 | 2,495 | 69.83% | 955 | 26.73% | 123 | 3.44% |
| 1996 | 1,740 | 51.83% | 1,122 | 33.42% | 495 | 14.75% |
| 1992 | 1,422 | 42.28% | 1,078 | 32.05% | 863 | 25.66% |
| 1988 | 1,806 | 59.49% | 1,180 | 38.87% | 50 | 1.65% |
| 1984 | 2,183 | 71.27% | 858 | 28.01% | 22 | 0.72% |
| 1980 | 2,057 | 69.61% | 708 | 23.96% | 190 | 6.43% |
| 1976 | 1,373 | 57.09% | 995 | 41.37% | 37 | 1.54% |
| 1972 | 1,476 | 64.48% | 798 | 34.86% | 15 | 0.66% |
| 1968 | 1,143 | 55.38% | 727 | 35.22% | 194 | 9.40% |
| 1964 | 1,142 | 49.27% | 1,176 | 50.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,533 | 63.58% | 878 | 36.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,514 | 63.96% | 853 | 36.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,725 | 72.57% | 652 | 27.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,217 | 56.66% | 917 | 42.69% | 14 | 0.65% |
| 1944 | 1,288 | 64.40% | 712 | 35.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 1,796 | 60.94% | 1,151 | 39.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,365 | 46.88% | 1,519 | 52.16% | 28 | 0.96% |
| 1932 | 977 | 38.05% | 1,548 | 60.28% | 43 | 1.67% |
| 1928 | 1,464 | 66.85% | 715 | 32.65% | 11 | 0.50% |
| 1924 | 833 | 53.36% | 236 | 15.12% | 492 | 31.52% |
| 1920 | 784 | 60.82% | 383 | 29.71% | 122 | 9.46% |
| 1916 | 392 | 42.11% | 488 | 52.42% | 51 | 5.48% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 419 | 45.89% | 494 | 54.11% |
| 1908 | 487 | 49.39% | 428 | 43.41% | 71 | 7.20% |
| 1904 | 536 | 65.53% | 228 | 27.87% | 54 | 6.60% |
| 1900 | 483 | 53.37% | 415 | 45.86% | 7 | 0.77% |
| 1896 | 429 | 45.30% | 515 | 54.38% | 3 | 0.32% |
| 1892 | 503 | 49.27% | 166 | 16.26% | 352 | 34.48% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Custer School District 16-1
* Elk Mountain School District 16-2
* Hot Springs School District 23-2