Brookings County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,375, making it the fifth most populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Brookings. The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1871.

Brookings County comprises the Brookings, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the location of South Dakota State University.

History The county was organized July 3, 1871, and was named for Wilmot Wood Brookings (1830-1905), a politician and pioneer of southeastern South Dakota. Medary was the first county seat, from 1871 to 1879, when it was moved to the city of Brookings.

Geography

Brookings County is on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The Big Sioux River flows south-southeastward through the east central part of the county; its point of entry into Moody County marks Brookings County's lowest elevation: ASL.

The county terrain consists of sloped flatlands, marked by numerous lakes and ponds especially in the western part. The area is largely devoted to agricultural use.Brookings County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) The county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.6%) is water.

Major highways

Interstate 29 U.S. Highway 14

U.S. Highway 14 Bypass U.S. Highway 81 South Dakota Highway 13 South Dakota Highway 30 South Dakota Highway 324

Airports Brookings Regional Airport Arlington Municipal Airport

Transit Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

Deuel County – north Lincoln County, Minnesota – east Pipestone County, Minnesota – southeast Moody County – south Lake County – southwest Kingsbury County – west Hamlin County – northwest

Lakes

Brush Lake Johnson Lake Lake Campbell Lake Goldsmith Lake Hendricks (partial) Lake Poinsett Lake Sinai Lake Tetonkaha Oak LakeOak Lake, Brookings County, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Oakwood Lake

Protected areas

Aurora Prairie Nature PreserveAurora Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Black Slough State Game Production Area Brookings County State Game Production Area Brookings Prairie ParkBrookings Prairie Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Dakota Nature ParkDakota Nature Park Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Deer Creek State Game Production Area Kvernmoe Slough State Game Production Area Lake Hendricks State Lakeside Use Area Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area Mehegan State Game Production Area Moe Slough State game Production Area Nelson State Game Production Area Oak Lake State Game Production Area Oakwood Lake State Game Production Area Oakwood Lakes State Park

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 34,375 people, 13,120 households, and 7,419 families residing in the county. The population density was .

Of the residents, 21.0% were under the age of 18 and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 29.7 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.9 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.1% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, 1.9% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.2% of the population.

There were 13,120 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 14,849 housing units, of which 11.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.4% were owner-occupied and 40.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.9%.

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 31,965 people, 12,029 households, and 6,623 families in the county. The population density was . There were 13,137 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 2.7% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.9% were German, 24.3% were Norwegian, 11.9% were Irish, 6.9% were English, 6.1% were Dutch, and 2.0% were American.

Of the 12,029 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.9% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 26.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,134 and the median income for a family was $63,338. Males had a median income of $40,425 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,995. About 5.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities Cities

Arlington (partial) Brookings (county seat) Bruce Elkton Volga White

Towns Aurora Bushnell Sinai

Census-designated places Lake Poinsett Newdale Colony Norfeld Colony Rolland Colony

Unincorporated communities Ahnberg

Medary Sunnyview

Townships

Afton Alton Argo Aurora Bangor Brookings Elkton Eureka Lake Hendricks Lake Sinai Laketon Medary Oaklake Oakwood Oslo Parnell Preston Richland Sherman Sterling Trenton Volga Winsor

Politics Typical of the Great Plains, Brookings County voters are reliably Republican, even for a county with politics influenced by a college town. In only two national elections since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Despite being reliably Republican territory, no Republican has taken over 60% of the vote since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

Education School districts include: - Text list

Arlington School District 38-1 Brookings School District 05-1 Deubrook School District 05-6 Elkton School District 05-3 Estelline School District 28-2 Sioux Valley School District 05-5

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Brookings County, South Dakota

References

External links

Brookings County, SD government website