Miner County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,298. Its county seat is Howard. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1880.

History

The area is situated on the site of Dakota Sioux trails that connected two sites of cultural significance to the Dakota people, the pipestone quarries in southwestern Minnesota and the Sioux Crossing of the Three Rivers, near present-day Fort Thompson. South Dakota Highway 34 now roughly follows this route.

The Fort Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road, also known as Nobles Trail, the first road in Dakota Territory, passed through the area. It was made in 1857, connecting Fort Ridgley, Minnesota with South Pass in Wyoming Territory, along the Oregon Trail. The Minnesota and Powder River Road of 1865 also passed through the county. It was named for Ephriam Miner, a territorial legislator, and Nelson Miner, a territorial legislator and captain in the 1st Dakota Cavalry. At the time, Miner County spanned the southern half of present-day Miner and Sanborn counties; Bramble County (now extinct) spanned the northern portion of these counties. In 1879 the legislature combined Miner, Bramble, and portions of Wetmore counties, and eliminated the latter two. The new Miner County was organized the following year with Forestburg as the county seat. In 1883 the county was divided; the western portion being renamed Sanborn County, and the eastern portion retaining the name Miner County. Howard was named the county seat of Miner County.

In 1881, the Milwaukee Road railroad opened tracks in Miner County that followed Fort Ridgely Road from east to west, connecting Madison to Woonsocket. The Chicago and North Western railroad opened tracks from Hawarden, Iowa, to Iroquois, crossing northwest across the county in 1882.

On August 28, 1884, the second known photograph of a tornado was taken in Miner County. See 1884 Howard, South Dakota tornado.

The current Miner County Courthouse was built in 1938 at a cost of $107,000 by the Great Depression-era Public Works Administration and was dedicated on September 26, 1938.

Geography

The terrain of Miner County consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, and generally devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and southwest, with its highest point occurring along the north boundary line in the northeast part of the county, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

  • 20px U.S. Route 81
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 25
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 34

Adjacent counties

  • Kingsbury County – north
  • Lake County – east
  • McCook County – southeast
  • Hanson County – southwest
  • Sanborn County – west

Protected areas

  • Bitter Lake Public Shooting Area
  • Burke Slough Public Shooting Area
  • Morris Lake Public Shooting Area
  • Twin Lakes Public Shooting Area

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,298 people, 943 households, and 570 families residing in the county. The population density was .

Of the residents, 22.7% were under the age of 18 and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.0 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.

There were 943 households in the county, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

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Education

School districts include:

  • Hanson School District 30-1
  • Howard School District 48-3
  • McCook Central School District 43-7
  • Oldham-Ramona-Rutland School District 39-6
  • Sanborn Central School District 55-5

The Oldham-Ramona School District 39-5, in the county,