McCook County, South Dakota

McCook County, South Dakota
McCook County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. At the 2020 census, the population was 5,682. Its county seat is Salem. The county was established in 1873, and was organized in 1878. It was named for the former governor of the Dakota Territory and Civil War general Edwin Stanton McCook.
McCook County is part of the Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
The terrain of McCook County consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and southwest; its highest point is near its northeast corner, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 81
South Dakota Highway 38
South Dakota Highway 42
Adjacent counties
Lake County - northeast
Minnehaha County - east
Turner County - southeast
Hutchinson County - southwest
Hanson County - west
Miner County - northwest
Protected areas
Ediger State Game Production Area
Forsch Lake State State Game Production Area
Lake Vermillion State Recreation Area
Lehrman Slough State Game production Area
Tschetter Slough State Game Production Area
Lakes
East Vermillion Lake AKA Lake Vermillion
Island Lake
Lake Ell
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 5,682 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,618 people, 2,168 households, and 1,535 families in the county. The population density was . There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 61.5% were German, 12.8% were Irish, 11.1% were Norwegian, 7.4% were Swedish, 6.2% were Dutch, 5.2% were English, and 3.5% were American.
Of the 2,168 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 42.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,022 and the median income for a family was $57,287. Males had a median income of $35,951 versus $29,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,502. About 5.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
McCook County voters usually vote Republican. Although the county was one only 130 nationwide to support favorite son George McGovern in 1972, it has selected the Democratic nominee in only six other elections since South Dakota's statehood, and none since 1980.
Communities
Cities
Bridgewater
Canistota
Montrose
Salem (county seat)
Spencer
Census-designated places
Golden View Colony
Orland Colony
Unincorporated communities
Stanley Corner
Unityville
Townships
The county is divided into sixteen townships:
Benton
Bridgewater
Brookfield
Canistota
Emery
Grant
Greenland
Jefferson
Pearl
Montrose
Union
Ramsey
Richland
Salem
Spring Valley
Sun Prairie
Other places
Laurent - (proposed / abandoned housing development)
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in McCook County, South Dakota
References
Sioux Falls, South Dakota metropolitan area
1878 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1878