Hamlin County, South Dakota

Hamlin County, South Dakota
Hamlin County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,164. Its county seat is Hayti. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1878. It was named for Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice-president.
Geography
The terrain of Hamlin County consists of low rolling hills, dotted with small lakes and ponds. The land is largely dedicated to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south-southeast, and its highest point is on the eastern boundary line, near its NE corner, at ASL.
Hamlin County has a total area of , of which is land and (5.7%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 29
U.S. Highway 81
South Dakota Highway 21
South Dakota Highway 22
South Dakota Highway 28
Adjacent counties
Codington County - north
Deuel County - east
Brookings County - southeast
Kingsbury County - southwest
Clark County - west
Protected areas
Baxter Slough State Public Shooting Area
Bochek State Public Shooting Area
Eidsness State Public Shooting Area
Hamlin State Public Shooting Area
Harju State Public Shooting Area
Hayes Slough State Public Shooting Area
Johnsons Slough State Public Shooting Area
McShane State Public Shooting Area
Opdahl Slough State Public Shooting Area
Rasmussen State Public Shooting Area
Lakes
Clear Lake
Dry Lake
Lake Albert (partial)
Lake Marsh
Lake Mary
Lake Norden
Lake Poinsett
Lake Saint John
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 6,164 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,903 people, 2,108 households, and 1,483 families in the county. The population density was . There were 2,760 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 24.0% were Norwegian, 7.0% were English, 6.1% were Irish, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.3% were American.
Of the 2,108 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 36.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,439 and the median income for a family was $54,483. Males had a median income of $36,921 versus $24,645 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,558. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Bryant
Castlewood
Estelline
Lake Norden
Towns
Hayti (county seat)
Hazel
Census-designated place
Claremont Colony
Lake Poinsett (part)
Poinsett Colony
Unincorporated communities
Baxter Slough
Dempster
Thomas
Townships
Brantford
Castlewood
Cleveland
Dempster
Dixon
Estelline
Florence
Garfield
Hamlin
Hayti
Norden
Opdahl
Oxford
Politics
Hamlin County voters have usually voted Republican. In only one national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
Notable people
Nicholas Egbert Knight (1866–1946), politician
Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamlin County, South Dakota
References
Watertown, South Dakota micropolitan area
1878 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1878