Dewey County Population Highlights

• From 1990 to 2000, Dewey County gained 449 residents, which is an 8.1% increase in its total population.

• From 1990 to 2000, Dewey County lost 489 residents to out-migration, which is an 8.9% decrease in its total population.

• From 1990 to 2000, Dewey County had 938 more births than deaths, which explains why their population increased despite having a high out-migration figure.

• 38.91% of Dewey County’s residents are under the age of 18, while 8.27% are aged 65+.

• Dewey County’s median age is 26.5.  This is younger than Corson, but older than Ziebach.

• Dewey County’s sex ratio is 95.87, meaning there are about males for every 100 females.  This is lower than both Corson and Ziebach counties

• Dewey County’s fertility rate is 117.8 births for every 1,000 females aged 15-44.

Race/Ethnicity in Dewey County

Dewey County Agriculture in 2002

• Dewey County had 449 farms, which was an 8.1% increase from 1997.

• Dewey County’s average farm size was 4,546 acres.  This is larger than Corson, but smaller than Ziebach.

• Dewey County’s average net farm income is $15,168.  This is lower than both Corson and Ziebach counties.

Dewey County Economics in 2000

• Dewey County’s per capita income is $9,251.  This is higher than both Corson and Ziebach counties.

• Dewey County’s median household income is $23,272.  This is higher than both Corson and Ziebach counties

• 12.2% of Dewey County’s residents aged 25+ had received a B.S. degree or higher.  This is higher than both Corson and Ziebach counties.

• 33.57% of Dewey County’s residents are living at or below the official poverty line.  This compares with 13.18% for the state of South Dakota, 40.99% for Corson County, and 49.86% for Ziebach County.

• 45.33% of Dewey County’s children under the age of 5 are living at or below the official poverty line.  This compares with 13.18% for the state of South Dakota, 44.02% for Corson County, and 68.38% for Ziebach County.

• 5.7% of Dewey County’s working aged population commutes to another county to work.  This is much lower than Corson and Ziebach counties.  This serves as a benefit to Dewey County because it raises human capital by keeping local residents in local jobs.

Dewey County Employment by Industry

Income Distribution

Data compiled by:

W. Trevor Brooks

Rural Life and Census Data Center

South Dakota State University

Sources:

South Dakota Data Center (Vermillion, SD)

South Dakota Labor Market

U.S. Census of Agriculture (2002)

U.S. Census Bureau (2000)