Meade County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 29,852. Its county seat is Sturgis. The county was created in 1889 and named for Fort Meade, which was garrisoned as a United States military post in the area in 1878 and itself named for General George Meade.
Meade County is part of the Rapid City Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
The upper part of Meade County is drained by Cherry Creek. The Cheyenne River flows northeastward along the southeast boundary of the county. The county terrain has mountain ridges in the west and southwest areas, with the remainder consisting of semi-arid rolling hills, partly dedicated to agriculture. The county terrain slopes to the east and northeast; its highest point Flagstaff Mountain is near the southwest corner, at 5,421' (1566m) ASL.
The county has an area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water. It is South Dakota's largest county by area.
Major highways
20px Interstate 90
20px U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 14A
23px U.S. Highway 212
20px South Dakota Highway 34
20px South Dakota Highway 73
20px South Dakota Highway 79
Adjacent counties
Perkins County - north
Ziebach County - east
Haakon County -southeast
Pennington County - south
Lawrence County - southwest
Butte County - northwest
Protected areas
Bear Butte Lake State Lakeside Use Area
Bear Butte National Wildlife Refuge
Bear Butte State Park
Black Hills National Cemetery
Black Hills National Forest (partial)
Curlew Lake State Game Production Area
Marcotte State Game Production Area
Tisdale Lake State Game Production Area
Opal Lake State Game Production Area
Lakes
Bear Butte Lake
Curlew Lake
Durkee Lake
Opal Lake
Tisdale Dam
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 24,253 people, 8,805 households, and 6,700 families in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 10,149 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.65% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 2.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,805 households, out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.05.
The county population contained 28.40% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,992, and the median income for a family was $40,537. Males had a median income of $26,572 versus $20,517 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,680. About 7.90% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,434 people, 9,903 households, and 7,067 families in the county. The population density was . There were 11,000 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% white, 2.3% American Indian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.5% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 13.2% were Norwegian, 11.3% were English, and 6.9% were American.
Of the 9,903 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 35.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,180 and the median income for a family was $54,200. Males had a median income of $34,113 versus $27,548 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,045. About 6.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Box Elder (part)
Faith
Piedmont
Sturgis (county seat)
Summerset
Census-designated places
Blackhawk
Blucksberg Mountain
Ellsworth AFB (former)
Unincorporated communities
Bend
Boneita Springs
Cedar Canyon
Dalzell
Elm Springs
Enning
Fairpoint
Fox Ridge
Haydraw
Hereford
Howes
Marcus
Maurine
Mud Butte
Opal
Plainview
Redowl
Stoneville
Tilford
Union Center
Viewfield
White Owl
Postville
Townships
Dakota
Eagle
Elm Springs
Howard
Lakeside
Smithville
Upper Red Owl
Unorganized territories
Belle Fourche-Cheyenne Valleys
North Meade
Southwest Meade
Politics
Like most of the Black Hills, Meade County is heavily Republican. It last supported a Democrat for president in 1964. As a measure of how Republican the county is, Franklin Roosevelt carried it in 1936 with only a plurality during his 46-state landslide, and Lyndon Johnson only won it by 183 votes in 1964.
