Jones County, South Dakota

Jones County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 917, making it the least populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Murdo. Created in 1916 and organized in 1917, it is the most recently established county in South Dakota.

It was named after Granville Whittington Jones, an Arkansas-born clergyman/lawyer, who moved to Chamberlain, SD and became a noted Chautauqua speaker.

Geography

The terrain of Jones County consists of semi-arid rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. The Bad River flows north easterly through the northwest corner of the county, and the White River forms the county's southern boundary. The southern areas of the county are carved with gullies and drainages flowing to the White River. The terrain generally slopes to the northeast, and its highest point is on the lower western boundary, at ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.1%) is water.

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Jones County is one of the SD counties to observe Central Time.

Major highways

20px Interstate 90
20px U.S. Highway 83

Adjacent counties

Stanley County – north
Lyman County – east
Mellette County – south
Jackson County – southwest (observes Mountain Time)
Haakon County – northwest (observes Mountain Time)

Protected area

Buxcel State Game Production Area
Fort Pierre National Grassland (part)

Lakes

Sheriff Reservoir

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 917 people, 399 households, and 245 families; the population density was . Of the residents, 24.6% were under the age of 18 and 23.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females there were 113.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.9 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 5.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% Asian, 0.2% from some other race, and 9.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.