# Grant County, South Dakota

Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,556. The county seat is Milbank. The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1878. It is named for Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.

## Geography

Grant County lies on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The terrain consists of rolling hills, sloping to the northeast. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The highest point of the terrain is on the county's south boundary line, towards its southwest corner, at 2,014 ft (614 m) ASL.
Grant County has a total area of 688 square miles (1,780 km$^2$), of which 681 square miles (1,760 km$^2$) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km$^2$) (0.9%) is water.
The lowest point in the state of South Dakota is located on Big Stone Lake at Big Stone City in Grant County, adjacent to Ortonville, Minnesota, where the lake flows into the Minnesota River.

### Major highways

* Interstate 29
* U.S. Route 12
* U.S. Route 81
* South Dakota Highway 15
* South Dakota Highway 20
* South Dakota Highway 109
* South Dakota Highway 123
* South Dakota Highway 158

### Adjacent counties

* Roberts County—north
* Big Stone County, Minnesota—northeast
* Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota—east
* Deuel County—south
* Codington County—southwest
* Day County—west

### Protected areas

* Mazeppa State Public Shooting Area
* Mud Lake State Public Shooting Area

### Lakes

Source:
* Big Stone Lake (adjacent)
* Crooked Lake
* LaBolt Lake
* Lake Albert
* Lake Farley
* Lonesome Lake (partial)
* Mud Lake
* Myers Lake
* Summit Lake
* Twin Lakes

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 7,556 people, 3,103 households, and 2,014 families residing in the county. The population density was 11.1 inhabitants per square mile (4.3/km$^2$). There were 3,426 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,356 people, 3,089 households, and 2,076 families in the county. The population density was 10.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km$^2$). There were 3,526 housing units at an average density of 5.2 units per square mile (2.0 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 1.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 49.9% were German, 16.8% were Norwegian, 8.9% were Irish, 6.7% were Swedish, 5.6% were English, and 5.2% were American.
Of the 3,089 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 45.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,625 and the median income for a family was $56,250. Males had a median income of $36,204 versus $25,567 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,887. About 7.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Big Stone City
* Milbank (county seat)

### Towns

* Albee
* La Bolt
* Marvin
* Revillo
* Stockholm
* Strandburg
* Twin Brooks

### Unincorporated communities

* Troy

### Townships

* Adams
* Alban
* Big Stone
* Blooming Valley
* Farmington
* Georgia
* Grant Center
* Kilborn
* Lura
* Madison
* Mazeppa
* Melrose
* Osceola
* Stockholm
* Troy
* Twin Brooks
* Vernon

## Education

School districts include:
* Big Stone City School District 25-1
* Deuel School District 19-4
* Florence School District 14-1
* Milbank School District 25-4
* Summit School District 54-6
* Watertown School District 14-4
* Waubay School District 18-3
* Waverly School District 14-5
* Wilmot School District 54-7

## Politics

Grant County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only three national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
United States presidential election results for Grant County, South Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,594 | 71.46% | 946 | 26.06% | 90 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | 2,618 | 69.91% | 1,056 | 28.20% | 71 | 1.90% |
| 2016 | 2,382 | 66.84% | 971 | 27.24% | 211 | 5.92% |
| 2012 | 2,034 | 56.41% | 1,493 | 41.40% | 79 | 2.19% |
| 2008 | 1,951 | 50.94% | 1,786 | 46.63% | 93 | 2.43% |
| 2004 | 2,392 | 58.48% | 1,633 | 39.93% | 65 | 1.59% |
| 2000 | 2,235 | 58.36% | 1,475 | 38.51% | 120 | 3.13% |
| 1996 | 1,782 | 43.64% | 1,805 | 44.21% | 496 | 12.15% |
| 1992 | 1,595 | 38.81% | 1,484 | 36.11% | 1,031 | 25.09% |
| 1988 | 2,148 | 51.49% | 1,988 | 47.65% | 36 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 2,738 | 62.80% | 1,606 | 36.83% | 16 | 0.37% |
| 1980 | 2,691 | 58.58% | 1,602 | 34.87% | 301 | 6.55% |
| 1976 | 2,051 | 45.95% | 2,398 | 53.72% | 15 | 0.34% |
| 1972 | 2,247 | 50.04% | 2,231 | 49.69% | 12 | 0.27% |
| 1968 | 2,259 | 51.81% | 1,890 | 43.35% | 211 | 4.84% |
| 1964 | 1,854 | 41.78% | 2,583 | 58.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,611 | 55.26% | 2,114 | 44.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,621 | 55.87% | 2,070 | 44.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,234 | 68.31% | 1,500 | 31.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,972 | 48.57% | 2,052 | 50.54% | 36 | 0.89% |
| 1944 | 2,278 | 60.70% | 1,475 | 39.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,981 | 59.38% | 2,039 | 40.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,847 | 45.50% | 2,101 | 51.76% | 111 | 2.73% |
| 1932 | 1,515 | 33.88% | 2,887 | 64.56% | 70 | 1.57% |
| 1928 | 2,508 | 59.49% | 1,656 | 39.28% | 52 | 1.23% |
| 1924 | 1,227 | 42.02% | 202 | 6.92% | 1,491 | 51.06% |
| 1920 | 1,813 | 59.99% | 350 | 11.58% | 859 | 28.42% |
| 1916 | 1,098 | 55.31% | 772 | 38.89% | 115 | 5.79% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 619 | 39.13% | 963 | 60.87% |
| 1908 | 1,122 | 59.87% | 628 | 33.51% | 124 | 6.62% |
| 1904 | 1,454 | 77.05% | 309 | 16.38% | 124 | 6.57% |
| 1900 | 1,305 | 62.86% | 716 | 34.49% | 55 | 2.65% |
| 1896 | 1,029 | 52.72% | 902 | 46.21% | 21 | 1.08% |
| 1892 | 605 | 40.74% | 188 | 12.66% | 692 | 46.60% |