Aurora County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,747. The county was created in 1879, and was organized in 1881.

History Aurora County, named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territory on October 1, 1879. It was organized on August 29, 1881, when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of former counties Cragin and Wetmore, which had both been formed in 1873. The three county commissioners met on August 29, 1881, and named Plankinton the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. The northern portion of Aurora County was partitioned off on April 17, 1883, and established as Jerauld County.

Geography The terrain of Aurora County consists of low rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with small lakes and ponds.Aurora County SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) The highest point is the upper west boundary line, and the terrain slopes east-northeastward; the lowest point is the county's northeast corner at ASL.

The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.

Major highways Interstate 90 U.S. Highway 281 South Dakota Highway 42

Adjacent counties

Jerauld County – north Sanborn County – northeast Davison County – east Douglas County – south Charles Mix County – southwest Brule County – west

Protected areas

Crystal Lake Public Shooting AreaCrystal Lake Public Shooting Area, Stickney SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Hanson Lake State Public Shooting AreaHanson Lake State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Kimball State Public Shooting AreaKimball State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Koch Waterfowl Production AreaKoch Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Kramer Slaugh Public Shooting AreaKramer Slaugh Public Shooting Area, White Lake SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Krell Waterfowl Production AreaKrell Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Lutz Waterfowl Production AreaLutz Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Maine Waterfowl Production AreaMaine Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) National Waterfowl Production AreaNational Waterfowl Production Area, White Lake, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Pleasant Lake State Public Shooting AreaPleasant Lake State Public Shooting Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Schute Waterfowl Production AreaSchulte Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Sorenson Waterfowl Production AreaSorenson Waterfowl Production Area Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019) Wilmarth Lake Game Production AreaWilmarth Lake Game Production Area, Wessington Springs, SD Google Maps (accessed January 30, 2019)

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 2,747 people, 1,096 households, and 746 families residing in the county. The population density was . Of the residents, 25.8% were under the age of 18 and 22.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.2 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 5.1% from some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.0% of the population.

There were 1,096 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,260 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 2,710 people, 1,102 households, and 736 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 1.8% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.3% were German, 13.7% were Dutch, 11.8% were Norwegian, 8.7% were Irish, 7.2% were English, and 4.9% were American.

Of the 1,102 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,230 and the median income for a family was $55,588. Males had a median income of $30,185 versus $27,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,291. About 4.5% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities Cities Plankinton (county seat) White Lake

Town Stickney

Census-designated places Aurora Center Storla

Townships

Aurora Township Belford Township Bristol Township Center Township Cooper Township Crystal Lake Township Dudley Township Eureka Township Firesteel Township Gales Township Hopper Township Lake Township Palatine Township Patten Township Plankinton Township Pleasant Lake Township Pleasant Valley Township Truro Township Washington Township White Lake Township

Politics Aurora County at one time favored the Democratic Party and was one of just 130 counties nationwide to be won by South Dakota favorite son George McGovern, who grew up in adjacent Davison County. However, with the “Reagan Revolution” of the 1980s it has gradually turned into a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to win a majority in Aurora County was Michael Dukakis in the 1988 election.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South Dakota

References