South Dakota is a state in the middle part of the United States. It’s divided into 66 counties, each with its own leaders and services for people living there.
These counties differ in size, population, and landscape. Some of the most crowded ones are Minnehaha, Meade, Pennington, and Clay. Here, we’ll look at the five counties that have lost the most people since 2010, according to the World Population Review.
These are Hyde County (-9.85%), Jones County (-8.21%), Miner County (-6.78%), Campbell County (-6.39%), and Clark County (-5.17%). We’ll talk about why these populations have decreased and how it impacts the residents’ lives.
Hyde County
Hyde County is situated on the historic trails of the Dakota Sioux, connecting important Dakota sites: the pipestone quarries in southwestern Minnesota and the Sioux Crossing of the Three Rivers near present-day Fort Thompson.
Established in 1873 and organized in 1883, Hyde County, as of 2020, had a population of 7,057 people, making it one of the least populated counties in South Dakota. The primary reason for Hyde County’s declining population is its low birth rate and high death rate.
In 2020, Hyde County’s birth rate was 8.9 births per 1,000 people, lower than both the South Dakota (10.1) and national (11.7) averages. Additionally, its death rate was 13 deaths per 1,000 people in 2020, higher than both the South Dakota (10) and national (8) averages, contributing to the overall population decline.
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Jones County
Jones County is in South Dakota, and it was established in 1873 and organized in 1880. In 2020, it had 8,057 people, making it one of the least populated counties in the state.
The main reason for Jones County’s population decline is similar to Hyde County. This decline is because of a low number of births and a high number of deaths. In 2020, Jones County had 8 births per 1,000 people, which is lower than the averages for South Dakota (10) and the whole country (11).
Additionally, the death rate in Jones County was 14 deaths per 1,000 people in 2020, higher than both South Dakota (10) and the national (8) averages.
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Miner County
Miner County is situated along a railroad line that linked Minneapolis to Chicago through St. Paul and Fargo. It was established in 1873 and officially organized in 1880.
In the year 2020, the county had a population of 2,298 individuals, ranking it among the least populated counties in South Dakota. The primary reasons for the decrease in Miner County’s population include a low number of births, a high number of deaths, and a scarcity of economic opportunities and services for its residents.
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Campbell County
Campbell County is in the northern part of South Dakota, next to North Dakota along the Missouri River. It was established in 1873 and organized in 1884.
In 2020, it had a population of 1,377 people, making it the least populated county in South Dakota. The main reasons for the decline in Campbell County’s population are its low birth rate, high death rate, and a shortage of economic opportunities and services for its residents.
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Clark County
Clark County is on a piece of land that sticks out into Lake Traverse, close to Watertown and Aberdeen. It was formed in 1873 and set up in 1880.
In 2020, about 3,837 people lived there, and it ranked as the 44th most populated county in South Dakota. The population has gone down because not many babies are born, and there are more deaths. Also, there aren’t many jobs or services for the people who live there.
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Final Words
Here, We looked at the five South Dakota counties that have seen the fastest drop in population since 2010: Hyde, Jones, Miner, Campbell, and Clark.
The main causes for these declines were the low number of births and high number of deaths among the residents. Additionally, the lack of job opportunities and services in the rural areas played a role. The shrinking population had adverse effects on the social life, cultural heritage, and potential for future growth in these counties.
