Turner County, South Dakota

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Turner County

| state = South Dakota

| seal =

| founded year = 1871

| founded date =

| seat wl = Parker

| largest city wl = Parker

| area_total_sq_mi = 618

| area_land_sq_mi = 617

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.6

| area percentage = 0.1

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 8673

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 9087 {{increase}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| web = turner.sdcounties.org

| named for = John W. Turner

| ex image = Turner County CH South Dakota 5.jpg

| ex image cap = Turner County Courthouse in Parker

| district = At-large

}}

Turner County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,673.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/turnercountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2024}} Its county seat is Parker.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The county was established in 1871, and was named for Dakota Territory official John W. Turner.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA994|title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|publisher=Routledge|date=May 13, 2013|access-date=November 30, 2013|author=Hellmann, Paul T.|pages=994|isbn=978-1135948597}}

Turner County is a part of the Sioux Falls metropolitan area.

Geography

The terrain of Turner County consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Turner+County,+SD/@43.2900517,-97.1337173,17014m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x878f23021a6d0a33:0x905d233d5c6242e1!8m2!3d43.3355563!4d-97.179026 Turner County SD Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019)] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is along its west boundary line, at {{convert|1,578|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find at Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 8, 2019) |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }} The county has a total area of {{convert|618|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|617|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_46.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Minnehaha County - northeast
Lincoln County - east
Clay County - southeast
Yankton County - southwest
Hutchinson County - west
McCook County - northwest

=Protected areas<ref name=TCSD/>=

Miller Waterfowl Production Area
Peterson Waterfowl Production Area
Plucker Waterfowl Production Area

=Lakes<ref name=TCSD/>=

Mud Lake
Swan Lake

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1880= 5320

|1890= 10256

|1900= 13175

|1910= 13840

|1920= 14871

|1930= 14891

|1940= 13270

|1950= 12100

|1960= 11159

|1970= 9872

|1980= 9255

|1990= 8576

|2000= 8849

|2010= 8347

|2020= 8673

|estyear=2024

|estimate=9087

|estref={{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 15, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}} 1900–1990{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}
1990–2000{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}} 2010–2020

}}

Image:Swan-lake-sd.jpg]]

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,673 people, 3,467 households, and 2,359 families residing in the county.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Turner%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 20, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|14.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,871 housing units.

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,347 people, 3,452 households, and 2,363 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|13.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,939 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.7% were German, 18.4% were Norwegian, 11.3% were Danish, 9.4% were Irish, 8.5% were Dutch, and 2.7% were American.

Of the 3,452 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 43.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,068 and the median income for a family was $57,881. Males had a median income of $37,622 versus $27,459 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,871. About 4.7% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Turner County hosts the oldest county fair in the Dakotas. It held its first fair on October 13–16, 1880. The Turner County Agriculture Society was organized in March 1880. Its stated purpose was to showcase the agricultural successes of the new county. The fair was held at various locations over the years, but has been at its current location east of Parker for well over half a century.{{cite web|title=Turner County Fair|url=http://www.turnercountyfair.com| access-date=January 23, 2008}}

Communities

=Cities=

Centerville
Hurley
Irene (partial)
Marion
Parker (county seat)
Viborg

=Towns=

=Census-designated place=

Cameron Colony

=Unincorporated communities<ref name=TCSD/>=

Hooker
Naomi
Turkey Ridge

=Townships=

Brothersfield
Centerville
Childstown
Daneville
Dolton
Germantown
Home
Hurley
Marion
Middleton
Monroe
Norway
Parker
Rosefield
Salem
Spring Valley
Swan Lake
Turner

Politics

Turner County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

{{PresHead|place=Turner County, South Dakota|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 15, 2018}}}}

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46125_turner/DC20SD_C46125.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Turner County, SD|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 13, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st46_sd/schooldistrict_maps/c46125_turner/DC20SD_C46125_SD2MS.txt Text list]