Box Elder, South Dakota

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.858 sqmi, of which 14.834 sqmi is land and 0.024 sqmi (0.16%) is water.

Box Elder is located near Ellsworth Air Force Base which surrounds it on three sides.

Climate

|Jan record high F = 76 |Feb record high F = 75 |Mar record high F = 83 |Apr record high F = 93 |May record high F = 98 |Jun record high F = 109 |Jul record high F = 111 |Aug record high F = 107 |Sep record high F = 104 |Oct record high F = 94 |Nov record high F = 83 |Dec record high F = 75 |year record high F= 111 |Jan record low F = −27 |Feb record low F = −31 |Mar record low F = −21 |Apr record low F = 1 |May record low F = 18 |Jun record low F = 31 |Jul record low F = 39 |Aug record low F = 38 |Sep record low F = 18 |Oct record low F = −2 |Nov record low F = −19 |Dec record low F = −30 |year record low F= −31

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 4,311 estimated households in Box Elder with an average of 2.82 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $73,698. Approximately 7.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Box Elder has an estimated 65.8% employment rate, with 29.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.2% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.0%), Spanish (1.1%), Indo-European (0.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.0%), and Other (0.5%).

The median age in the city was 28.6 years.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,746 people, 4,123 households, and 2,992 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.73 PD/sqmi. There were 4,373 housing units at an average density of 301.38 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.61% White, 3.62% African American, 7.39% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.35% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from some other races and 11.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.73% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,800 people, 2,443 households, and 1,968 families residing in the city. The population density was 561.15 PD/sqmi. There were 2,828 housing units at an average density of 203.45 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 79.51% White, 5.10% African American, 4.45% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from some other races and 6.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.95% of the population.

There were 2,443 households, 55.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 19.4% were non-families. 15.1% of households were one person, and 2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.26.

The median age was 23.5 years. 33.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 20.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.3% were from 25 to 44; 13% were from 45 to 64, and 2.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 2,841 people, 993 households, and 750 families residing in the city. The population density was 489.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,072 housing units at an average density of 184.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 83.42% White, 2.29% African American, 5.60% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from some other races and 5.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.56% of the population.

There were 993 households, 48.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 17.3% of households were one person, and 1.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.20.

The age distribution was 34.6% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income was $32,344 and the median family income was $35,020. Males had a median income of $24,596 versus $17,313 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,692. About 13.0% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those aged 65 or over.

Education

Douglas School District 51-1 serves families in most portions of Box Elder, and those living on Ellsworth AFB. The school district operates six schools in Box Elder:

• Carrousel (Pre-Kindergarten)
• Badger Clark Elementary (Kindergarten - 3rd grade)
• Francis Case Elementary (Kindergarten - 3rd grade)
• Vandenberg Elementary (4th - 5th grade)
• Douglas Middle School (6th - 8th grade)
• Douglas High School (9th - 12th grade) The school's athletics teams are the Douglas Patriots.

A portion of Box Elder is in Rapid City School District 51-4.

Points of interest

• South Dakota Air and Space Museum

Notable people

• Jeffrey W. Hayzlett, author, speaker, businessman
• Nellie Zabel Willhite, first deaf woman to earn a pilot's license

References

References

1. "City Council". City of Box Elder, South Dakota.
2. "Origins of Box Elder, South Dakota · Dakota Life". [[South Dakota Public Broadcasting]].
3. "About the Box Elder and Ellsworth Communities". Box Elder Area Chamber of Commerce.
4. "SD Towns". [[South Dakota State Historical Society]].
5. "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. (December 29, 2022). "2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications". [[Federal Register]].
7. {{GNIS. 1267290
8. "South Dakota Department of Revenue · Municipal Tax Guide".
9. Ullrich, Jan F.. (2014). "New Lakota Dictionary". Lakota Language Consortium.
10. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
11. Chicago and North Western Railway Company. (1908). "A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways".
12. "Climate Statistics for Box Elder, SD". [[The Weather Channel]]/[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
13. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau.
15. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Box Elder city, South Dakota".
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Box Elder city, South Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Box Elder city, South Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Box Elder city, South Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau.
20. "How many people live in Box Elder city, South Dakota". USA Today.
21. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Pennington County, SD". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Meade County, SD". [[United States Census Bureau]].
23. "Douglas School District".
24. "Douglas School District 51-1 | Ellsworth AFB School Liaison Officer".