Fall River County, South Dakota

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Demography_Fall_River_County

Fall River County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,973. The county seat is Hot Springs. The county was founded in 1883 and named for the Fall River which runs through it.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,749 square miles (4,530 km²), of which 1,740 square miles (4,510 km²) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Custer County - north
• Oglala Lakota County - northeast
• Shannon County - east
• Dawes County, Nebraska - south
• Sioux County, Nebraska - southwest
• Niobrara County, Wyoming - west

Major highways

• U.S. Route 18
• U.S. Route 385
• South Dakota Highway 71

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,973 people, 3,200 households, and 1,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km²). There were 4,000 housing units at an average density of 2.3 per square mile (0.89/km²).

Communities

City

• Hot Springs

Towns

• Edgemont
• Oelrichs

Unincorporated communities

• Smithwick

Government and politics

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

Education

The county is served by several school districts, including the Hot Springs School District and the Edgemont School District.

Attractions

Fall River County is home to several attractions, including the Mammoth Site, a museum and paleontological site, and the Angostura Reservoir, a popular spot for fishing and boating.

Related pages

• South Dakota
• Hot Springs, South Dakota
• Custer County, South Dakota
• Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota
• Dawes County, Nebraska
• Sioux County, Nebraska
• Niobrara County, Wyoming