Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,556. The county seat is Milbank. The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1878. It is named for Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.

Geography

thumb|right|Soils of Grant County

Grant County lies on the east side of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. The terrain consists of rolling hills, sloping to the northeast. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The highest point of the terrain is on the county's south boundary line, towards its southwest corner, at ASL.

Grant County has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

The lowest point in the state of South Dakota is located on Big Stone Lake at Big Stone City in Grant County, adjacent to Ortonville, Minnesota, where the lake flows into the Minnesota River.

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 29
  • 20px U.S. Route 12
  • 20px U.S. Route 81
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 15
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 20
  • 23px South Dakota Highway 109
  • 23px South Dakota Highway 123
  • 23px South Dakota Highway 158

Adjacent counties

  • Roberts County—north
  • Big Stone County, Minnesota—northeast
  • Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota—east
  • Deuel County—south
  • Codington County—southwest
  • Day County—west

Protected areas

  • Mazeppa State Public Shooting Area
  • Mud Lake State Public Shooting Area

Lakes

Source:

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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<br>1790–1960 1900–1990<br>1990–2000 2010–2020

The racial makeup of the county was 90.6% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 3.5% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.4% of the population.

Of the residents, 22.8% were under the age of 18 and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.8 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.5 males.

  • Big Stone City School District 25-1
  • Deuel School District 19-4
  • Florence School District 14-1
  • Milbank School District 25-4
  • Summit School District 54-6
  • Watertown School District 14-4
  • Waubay School District 18-3
  • Waverly School District 14-5
  • Wilmot School District 54-7

Politics

Grant County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only three national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Grant County, South Dakota

References