Hughes County, South Dakota

Hughes_County_Courthouse

Hughes County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
Founded	1873
Seat	Pierre
Area
• Total	801 sq mi (2,070 km2)
• Land	742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
• Water	59 sq mi (150 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,765
• Density	23.9/sq mi (9.2/km2)
Website	www.hughescounty.org

Hughes County is a county located in the state of South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,765. Its county seat is Pierre, which is also the state capital.

History

Hughes County was created in 1873 and was named for Alexander Hughes, a legislator. The county has a rich history tied to the development of the state and the establishment of Pierre as the state capital.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 801 square miles, of which 742 square miles is land and 59 square miles (7.4%) is water. The Missouri River forms the eastern boundary of the county.

Adjacent counties

• Stanley County (west)
• Sully County (north)
• Hyde County (east)
• Lyman County (south)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 17,765 people, 7,000 households, and 4,500 families residing in the county. The population density was 23.9 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with significant Native American and smaller African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations.

Government and Politics

Hughes County is governed by a board of commissioners. The county is part of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area. Politically, the county tends to lean Republican in national elections.

Economy

The economy of Hughes County is diverse, with significant contributions from government services, agriculture, and tourism. The presence of the state capital in Pierre provides numerous government-related jobs.

Education

Hughes County is served by the Pierre School District, which includes several elementary schools, a middle school, and T.F. Riggs High School.

Communities

City

• Pierre

Unincorporated communities

• Canning
• De Grey

Notable People

• Peter Norbeck, former Governor of South Dakota and U.S. Senator
• George McGovern, former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate

See also

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

External links

• [www.hughescounty.org Official Hughes County Website]