Day County, South Dakota

Day County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Established in 1879, it was named in honor of Merritt H. Day, a pioneer and 1879 Dakota Territory legislator. The county seat and largest city is Webster.

Geography

Day County encompasses an area of 1092 square miles, of which 1012 square miles is land and 80 square miles is water. It is part of the Glacial Lakes Region, characterized by numerous lakes and rolling prairies.

Adjacent counties

• Marshall County (north)
• Roberts County (northeast)
• Grant County (east)
• Codington County (southeast)
• Clark County (south)
• Spink County (southwest)
• Brown County (west)

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Day County was 5,410. The population density was low, reflecting the rural nature of the region.

Economy

The economy of Day County is primarily based on agriculture, including crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, as well as livestock farming. The presence of numerous lakes also makes tourism and recreational fishing significant economic contributors.

Communities

Cities

• Webster (county seat)
• Waubay

Towns

• Bristol
• Pierpont
• Roslyn
• Andover

Unincorporated communities

• Butler
• Grenville
• Lily

Education

Day County is served by several school districts, which provide education from elementary through high school levels.

Transportation

Major highways such as South Dakota Highway 25 and South Dakota Highway 27 facilitate travel and commerce within the county and connect it to neighboring areas.

See also

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