Hand County, South Dakota

SD_26

Hand County

General Information
Name
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	U.S. county
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates	{{{1}}}°{{{2}}} {{{3}}}°{{{4}}}
Map
Population
Total	3191
Density	per km²
Area
Total	km²
Land	km²
Water	km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC
DST	UTC

Hand County is a county located in the state of South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,191. The county seat is Miller, which is also the largest city in the county.

History

Hand County was created in 1873 and organized in 1882. It was named for George H. Hand, a prominent figure in the Dakota Territory.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,440 square miles (3,730 km²), of which 1,438 square miles (3,720 km²) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Spink County (north)
• Clark County (northeast)
• Kingsbury County (east)
• Beadle County (southeast)
• Jerauld County (south)
• Buffalo County (southwest)
• Hyde County (west)
• Faulk County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,191 people, 1,451 households, and 872 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.85/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of other races.

Communities

City

• Miller

Towns

• St. Lawrence
• Ree Heights

Unincorporated communities

• Vayland
• Rockham

Economy

The economy of Hand County is primarily based on agriculture, with significant production of crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Livestock farming is also an important part of the local economy.

Education

Hand County is served by several school districts, including the Miller School District and the Highmore-Harrold School District.

Transportation

Major highways in Hand County include:

• U.S. Route 14
• South Dakota Highway 26
• South Dakota Highway 45

See also

• List of counties in South Dakota
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hand County, South Dakota

External links

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