Turner County, South Dakota

Turner County, South Dakota
Turner County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,673. Its county seat is Parker. The county was established in 1871, and was named for Dakota Territory official John W. Turner.
Turner County is a part of the Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
The terrain of Turner County consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is along its west boundary line, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.1%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 18
U.S. Highway 81
South Dakota Highway 19
South Dakota Highway 44
South Dakota Highway 46
South Dakota Highway 19A
Adjacent counties
Minnehaha County - northeast
Lincoln County - east
Clay County - southeast
Yankton County - southwest
Hutchinson County - west
McCook County - northwest
Protected areas
Miller Waterfowl Production Area
Peterson Waterfowl Production Area
Plucker Waterfowl Production Area
Lakes
Mud Lake
Swan Lake
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 8,673 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,347 people, 3,452 households, and 2,363 families in the county. The population density was . There were 3,939 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.7% were German, 18.4% were Norwegian, 11.3% were Danish, 9.4% were Irish, 8.5% were Dutch, and 2.7% were American.
Of the 3,452 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 43.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,068 and the median income for a family was $57,881. Males had a median income of $37,622 versus $27,459 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,871. About 4.7% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
Turner County hosts the oldest county fair in the Dakotas. It held its first fair on October 13–16, 1880. The Turner County Agriculture Society was organized in March 1880. Its stated purpose was to showcase the agricultural successes of the new county. The fair was held at various locations over the years, but has been at its current location east of Parker for well over half a century.
Communities
Cities
Centerville
Hurley
Irene (partial)
Marion
Parker (county seat)
Viborg
Towns
Chancellor
Davis
Dolton
Monroe
Census-designated place
Cameron Colony
Unincorporated communities
Hooker
Naomi
Turkey Ridge
Townships
Brothersfield
Centerville
Childstown
Daneville
Dolton
Germantown
Home
Hurley
Marion
Middleton
Monroe
Norway
Parker
Rosefield
Salem
Spring Valley
Swan Lake
Turner
Politics
Turner County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Turner County, South Dakota
External links
Turner County Sheriff's Office
References
1871 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1871
Sioux Falls, South Dakota metropolitan area