Hughes County, South Dakota

Hughes County
Hughes County
U.S. county
	Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
	South Dakota's location within the U.S.
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Country	United States ;
State	Template:Country data 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_Courthouse

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Demographics[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.