Aurora County, South Dakota

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Aurora_Co,_SD,_courthouse_from_NE_1

Aurora County, South Dakota

Aurora County, South Dakota is a county located in the state of South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,747. The county seat is Plankinton. The county was created in 1879 and organized in 1881. It was named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,847 km²), of which 708 square miles (1,834 km²) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km²) (0.7%) is water.

Major Highways

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Route 281
• South Dakota Highway 42

Adjacent Counties

• Jerauld County (north)
• Sanborn County (northeast)
• Davison County (east)
• Douglas County (south)
• Charles Mix County (southwest)
• Brule County (west)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,747 people, 1,200 households, and 800 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.9 people per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 1,400 housing units at an average density of 2.0 per square mile (0.8/km²).

The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.6% from two or more races. 0.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Communities

Cities

• Plankinton
• White Lake

Towns

• Stickney

Unincorporated Communities

• Aurora Center

Government and Politics

Aurora County is governed by a board of commissioners. The county is part of South Dakota's At-large congressional district.

Education

Aurora County is served by several school districts, including the Plankinton School District and the White Lake School District.

Economy

The economy of Aurora County is primarily based on agriculture, with corn, soybeans, and livestock being the main products.

See Also

• List of counties in South Dakota
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Aurora County, South Dakota