McPherson County, South Dakota

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McPherson_County_Courthouse_NRHP_86003020_McPherson_County,_SD

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McPherson 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	Leola
Area
• Total	1,152 sq mi (2,980 km2)
• Land	1,137 sq mi (2,940 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (40 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,459
• Density	2.2/sq mi (0.8/km2)

McPherson County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,459. Its county seat is Leola. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1884. It is named after James B. McPherson, a Union Army general during the American Civil War.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,152 square miles (2,980 km²), of which 1,137 square miles (2,940 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (1.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Dickey County, North Dakota (north)
• Brown County, South Dakota (east)
• Edmunds County, South Dakota (south)
• Campbell County, South Dakota (west)
• McIntosh County, North Dakota (northwest)

Major highways

• U.S. Route 12
• South Dakota Highway 10
• South Dakota Highway 45

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 2,459 people, 1,145 households, and 715 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.85/km²). There were 1,545 housing units at an average density of 1.4 per square mile (0.54/km²).

Communities

Cities

• Eureka
• Leola

Towns

• Long Lake

Unincorporated communities

• Wetonka

Politics

McPherson County is a predominantly Republican county in presidential elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

See also

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