Aurora County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,747. The county was created in 1879, and was organized in 1881.
History
Aurora County, named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territory on October 1, 1879. It was organized on August 29, 1881, when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of former counties Cragin and Wetmore, which had both been formed in 1873. The three county commissioners met on August 29, 1881, and named Plankinton the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. The northern portion of Aurora County was partitioned off on April 17, 1883, and established as Jerauld County.
Geography
The terrain of Aurora County consists of low rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with small lakes and ponds. The highest point is the upper west boundary line, and the terrain slopes east-northeastward; the lowest point is the county's northeast corner at ASL.
The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 90
- 20px U.S. Highway 281
- 20px South Dakota Highway 42
Adjacent counties
- Jerauld County – north
- Sanborn County – northeast
- Davison County – east
- Douglas County – south
- Charles Mix County – southwest
- Brule County – west
Protected areas
- Crystal Lake Public Shooting Area
- Hanson Lake State Public Shooting Area
- Kimball State Public Shooting Area
- Koch Waterfowl Production Area
- Kramer Slaugh Public Shooting Area
- Krell Waterfowl Production Area
- Lutz Waterfowl Production Area
- Maine Waterfowl Production Area
- National Waterfowl Production Area
- Pleasant Lake State Public Shooting Area
- Schute Waterfowl Production Area
- Sorenson Waterfowl Production Area
- Wilmarth Lake Game Production Area
Demographics
<!-- PresRow should be -->
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South Dakota