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For Immediate Release
For More Information: Bob Mercer or Mike Mueller, 773-3212
Janklow Releases Census Figures
(Pierre) -- Gov. Bill Janklow has released South Dakota county population numbers from the United States Census Bureau.
South Dakota’s total population grew from 696,004 in 1990 to 754,844 in 2000. Counties with the greatest population increases were Minnehaha (+24,472), Lincoln (+8,704) and Pennington (+7,222). The most decreases occurred in Beadle (-1,230) and Day (-711) counties.
Janklow said, "These numbers are a snapshot in time every ten years, but they do confirm what most South Dakotans already knew. We have fewer people living in the upper James River valley and more people are living in the Black Hills, along the eastern border and in counties directly served by Interstates 29 and 90."
Janklow added, "While these numbers are interesting, the age breakouts by county and town that we will receive in June will be much more helpful to local leaders in our 310 cities and towns as they make plans for the future of their communities."
By percentage, the fastest growing South Dakota Counties were Lincoln (+56%), Shannon (+26%), Union (+23%) and Minnehaha (+20). The fastest declining counties were Harding (-19%), Haakon (-16%) and Potter (-16%).
South Dakota’s 8.5% growth was higher than North Dakota (0.5%), Iowa (5.4%), and Nebraska (8.4%). Higher percentage population increases occurred in Wyoming (8.9%), Minnesota (12.4%) and Montana (12.9%)
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See the tables and maps comparing 1990 and 2000 census data.