Hand County, South Dakota

Hand County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,145. Its county seat is Miller.

History

Hand County was named for George A. Hand, territorial secretary. It was created in 1873 by the Dakota territorial legislature. The boundaries were finalized in 1882, the year it was organized.

Geography

The terrain of Hand County consists of rolling hills, dotted with infrequent ponds and small lakes. Most of the area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and northeast; its highest point is on the lower part of the county's west boundary line, at ASL. The county contains a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

20px U.S. Highway 14
23px U.S. Highway 212
20px South Dakota Highway 26
20px South Dakota Highway 45

Adjacent counties

Faulk County – north
Spink County – northeast
Beadle County – east
Jerauld County – southeast
Buffalo County – southwest
Hyde County – west

Protected areas

Collins State Game Production Area
Dakota State Game Production Area
East Pearl State Game Production Area
Hawkins State Game Production Area
Lake Jones State Game Production Area
Lake Louise State Game Production Area
Lake Louise State Recreation Area
Lechtenberg State Game Production Area
Reinhardt State Game Production Area
Rosehill State Game Production Area
Spring Lake State Game Production Area
West Pearl State Game Production Area

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,145, 1,348 households, and 891 families residing in the county. Of the residents, 21.7% were under the age of 18 and 26.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 46.9 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.9 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 1.1% from some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.