Roberts County, South Dakota

Geography

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 2,047 ft ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1135.777 sqmi, of which 1101.055 sqmi is land and 34.722 sqmi (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

• [[Image:I-29.svg|20px]] Interstate 29
• [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 12
• [[Image:US 81.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 81
• [[Image:SD 10.svg|20px]] South Dakota Highway 10
• [[Image:SD 15.svg|20px]] South Dakota Highway 15
• [[Image:SD 25.svg|20px]] South Dakota Highway 25
• [[Image:SD 106.svg|25px]] South Dakota Highway 106
• [[Image:SD 109.svg|25px]] South Dakota Highway 109
• [[Image:SD 123.svg|25px]] South Dakota Highway 123
• [[Image:SD 127.svg|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:

• Big Stone Island State Nature Area
• Crawford State Game Production Area
• Knutson State Game Production Area
• Harmon State Game Production Area
• Hartford Beach State Park
• Peever Slough State Game Production Area
• Sica Hollow State Park (part)
• White Rock State Game Production Area

Lakes and rivers

Source:

• Big Stone Lake
• Bois de Sioux River
• Clubhouse Lake
• Cottonwood Lake
• Dobberstien Slough
• Drywood Lakes
• Hurricane Lake
• Lake Bdesska
• Lake Traverse
• Little Minnesota River
• Oneroad Lake
• Owl Lake
• Round Lake
• Whetstone River (North fork)
• Whitestone Lake

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

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 9.3 PD/sqmi, 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.

The racial makeup of the county was 54.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 39.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.7% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.

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.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 10,149 people, 3,823 households, and 2,655 families residing in the county. The population density was 9.2 PD/sqmi. There were 4,905 housing units at an average density of 4.5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 61.7% white, 34.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.3% were German, 19.2% were Norwegian, 6.3% were Irish, and 3.8% were American.

Of the 3,823 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 39.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,708 and the median income for a family was $46,146. Males had a median income of $34,080 versus $28,423 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,825. About 14.3% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Sisseton (county seat)
• Wilmot

Towns

• Claire City
• Corona
• New Effington
• Ortley
• Peever
• Rosholt
• Summit
• White Rock

Census-designated places

• Agency Village
• Goodwill (former)
• Long Hollow
• Peever Flats
• White Rock Colony

Unincorporated communities

Source:

• Hammer
• Hartford Beach
• Hiawatha Beach
• Lindon Beach
• Shady Beach
• Victor

Townships

• Agency
• Alto
• Becker
• Bossko
• Bryant
• Dry Wood Lake
• Easter
• Enterprise
• Garfield
• Geneseo
• Goodwill
• Grant
• Harmon
• Hart
• Lake
• Lawrence
• Lee
• Lien
• Lockwood
• Long Hollow
• Minnesota
• Norway
• One Road
• Rosholt
• Ortley
• Sisseton
• Springdale
• Spring Grove
• Summit
• Victor
• White Rock

Notable people

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

Politics

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

References

References

1. ''Legislative Manual'', South Dakota, 2005, p. 597
2. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". [[National Association of Counties]].
4. It was created on March 8, 1883, and fully organized by August 6 of that year. Its boundary was altered once, in 1885.[https://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm ''South Dakota County Histories/Roberts County'' (accessed February 8, 2019)]
5. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Roberts+County,+SD/@45.7732811,-96.9511851,58724m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cc5c42873ac93b:0x78b1263ac00b90b5!8m2!3d45.611639!4d-97.0335771 ''Roberts County SD'' Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)]
6. ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)".
7. "2024 County Gazetteer Files – South Dakota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024".
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. (2007). "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. Forstall, Richard L.. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Roberts County, South Dakota".
14. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Roberts County, SD". [[United States Census Bureau]].