Roberts County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,280. Its county seat is Sisseton. The county was named for S. G. Roberts of Fargo, North Dakota.

Geography

thumb|right|Soils of Roberts County

Roberts County is at South Dakota's northeastern corner. Its eastern boundary abuts Minnesota (across the Bois de Sioux River), and its northern boundary abuts North Dakota. The Cottonwood Slough flows southward, draining the upper portion of the county into the River. The terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east; its highest point is on its upper western boundary line, at ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.1%) is water. It is the 26th largest county in South Dakota by total area. The Traverse Gap is in eastern Roberts County along the Minnesota border. The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation covers most of the county.

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 29
  • 20px U.S. Route 12
  • 20px U.S. Route 81
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 10
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 15
  • 20px South Dakota Highway 25
  • 25px South Dakota Highway 106
  • 25px South Dakota Highway 109
  • 25px South Dakota Highway 123
  • 25px South Dakota Highway 127

Transit

  • Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

  • Richland County, North Dakota – north
  • Traverse County, Minnesota – northeast
  • Big Stone County, Minnesota – southeast
  • Grant County – south
  • Day County – southwest
  • Marshall County – west

Protected areas

Source:

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,280 people, 3,844 households, and 2,568 families residing in the county. The population density was , and there were 4,788 housing units, of which 19.7% were vacant; among occupied units, 69.1% were owner-occupied and 30.9% were renter-occupied, with homeowner and rental vacancy rates of 1.0% and 4.9%, respectively.

Of the residents, 28.1% were under the age of 18 and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.5 males.

There were 3,844 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

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Notable people

  • Sleepy Eye, Sisseton Sioux chief
  • Gene Okerlund, wrestling announcer

Education

School districts include:

  • Big Stone City School District 25-1
  • Milbank School District 25-4
  • Rosholt School District 54-4
  • Sisseton School District 54-2
  • Summit School District 54-6
  • Waubay School District 18-3
  • Wilmot School District 54-7

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Roberts County, South Dakota
  • Roberts County, South Dakota (Official site)

References