Deuel County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,295. Its county seat is Clear Lake. The county was created in 1862, and was organized in 1878. It is named for Jacob Deuel, a legislator in 1862.
Geography
Deuel County lies on the east line of South Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota. Its terrain consists of rolling hills, sloped to the northeast. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The county's highest elevation occurs on its upper west boundary line, at 1,936' (590m) ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.2%) is water.
Major highways
20px Interstate 29
23px U.S. Highway 212
20px South Dakota Highway 15
20px South Dakota Highway 22
20px South Dakota Highway 28
23px South Dakota Highway 101
Adjacent Counties
Grant County - north
Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota - northeast
Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota - east
Lincoln County, Minnesota - southeast
Brookings County - south
Hamlin County - southwest
Codington County - northwest
Lakes
Bullhead Lake
Clear Lake
East Coteau Lake
Fish Lake
Lake Alice
Lake Cochrane
Lake Francis
Lake Oliver
Lone Tree Lake
North Coteau Lake
Round Lake
Rush Lake
Salt Lake (part)
School Lake
South Coteau Lake
Wigdale Lake
Protected areas
Altamont State Public Shooting Area
Astoria State Wildlife Management Area
Briggs Lake State Public Shooting Area
Crystal Springs State Public Shooting Area
Lake Cochrane State Recreation Area
Lake Francis State Public Shooting Area
Lone Tree Lake State Public Shooting Area
Mitchell State Public Shooting Area
Mud Lake State Public Shooting Area
Nelson State Wildlife Management Area
Rome State Wildlife Management Area
Round Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Runge State Wildlife Management Area
Rush Lake State Public Shooting Area
Sharp State Public Shooting Area
Singsaas Slough State Wildlife Management Area
Sokota State Wildlife Management Area (partial)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 4,498 people, 1,843 households, and 1,258 families in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,172 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.51% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 46.9% were of German and 29.1% Norwegian ancestry.
There were 1,843 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.97.
The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,788, and the median income for a family was $39,511. Males had a median income of $26,306 versus $19,282 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,977. About 6.90% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,364 people, 1,819 households, and 1,228 families in the county. The population density was . There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 50.4% were German, 25.4% were Norwegian, 8.0% were Irish, 6.6% were Dutch, 5.5% were English, and 2.9% were American.
Of the 1,819 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 43.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,000 and the median income for a family was $55,439. Males had a median income of $35,197 versus $26,020 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,276. About 3.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Clear Lake (county seat)
Gary
Towns
Altamont
Astoria
Brandt
Goodwin
Toronto
Unincorporated communities
Bemis
Moritz
Tunerville
Townships
Altamont
Antelope Valley
Blom, Brandt
Clear Lake
Glenwood
Goodwin
Grange
Havana
Herrick
Hidewood
Lowe
Norden
Portland
Rome
Scandinavia
Politics
Deuel County is a typical eastern South Dakota county in its political history, which is somewhat akin to the Midwestern states of Iowa and Minnesota. It was strongly Republican in its early years, with no Democrat except William Jennings Bryan gaining forty percent up to 1928. Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 became the first Democrat to carry the county, but lost it to Alf Landon in 1936, whilst – like most of the Midwest – the county showed a powerful anti-Roosevelt trend in 1940 and 1944 due to opposition to World War II. From 1964, the county showed a strong trend towards the Democratic Party – so much so that it was one of only 130 counties nationwide to support South Dakota native George McGovern in 1972 against Richard Nixon, and one of only five nationwide to have supported both landslide losers Landon and McGovern.
Between 1976 and 2010, Deuel was a competitive swing county, voting for the winning candidate in every election until 2008 when Barack Obama lost by 34 votes. Over the past two elections, however, Deuel – in common with many rural counties nationwide – has shown an abrupt swing towards the Republican Party. Donald Trump’s 2016 win was the largest since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952.
