Lawrence County, SD

County

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2022 Population

26,047

1.4% 1-year growth

US Senator

John Thune

Republican Party

US Senator

Mike Rounds

Republican Party

US Representative

Dusty Johnson

Republican Party

2022 Median Age

1.65% 1-year increase

2022 Poverty Rate

11.1%

16.4% 1-year decrease

2022 Median Household Income

$62,977

12.1% 1-year growth

2022 Median Property Value

$267,900

12.9% 1-year growth

2022 Employed Population

14,306

3.69% 1-year growth

About

In 2022, Lawrence County, SD had a population of 26k people with a median age of 43 and a median household income of $62,977. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Lawrence County, SD grew from 25,687 to 26,047, a 1.4% increase and its median household income grew from $56,166 to $62,977, a 12.1% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Lawrence County, SD are White (Non-Hispanic) (89.4%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.29%), White (Hispanic) (2.05%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (1.95%), and Other (Hispanic) (0.837%).

None of the households in Lawrence County, SD reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.6% of the residents in Lawrence County, SD are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lawrence County, SD are Black Hills State University (539 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2022, the median property value in Lawrence County, SD was $267,900, and the homeownership rate was 65.7%.

Most people in Lawrence County, SD drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 19.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Lawrence County, SD was 2 cars per household.

Lawrence County, SD borders Butte County, SD, Meade County, SD, Pennington County, SD, Crook County, WY, and Weston County, WY.

United States South Dakota Spearfish, SD

Population & Diversity

Lawrence County, SD is home to a population of 26k people, from which 98.6% are citizens. As of 2022, 2.55% of Lawrence County, SD residents were born outside of the country (665 people).

In 2022, there were 27.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (23.3k people) in Lawrence County, SD than any other race or ethnicity. There were 858 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 535 White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.6%

2022 Citizenship

98.4%

2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 98.6% of Lawrence County, SD residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Lawrence County, SD was 98.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Lawrence County, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lawrence County, SD

White (Non-Hispanic)
23.3k ± 113
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
858 ± 241
White (Hispanic)
535 ± 136

3.77%

Hispanic Population

981 people

3.77% of the people in Lawrence County, SD are hispanic (981 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Lawrence County, SD as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for South Dakota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,032 ± 1,350 people
Guatemala
2,803 ± 1,298 people
Ethiopia
2,418 ± 1,206 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Dakota was Mexico, the natal country of 3,032 South Dakota residents, followed by Guatemala with 2,803 and Ethiopia with 2,418.

Foreign-Born Population

2.55%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

665 people

2.62%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

672 people

As of 2022, 2.55% of Lawrence County, SD residents (665 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Lawrence County, SD was 2.62%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Lawrence County, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
884 ± 170
Gulf War (1990s)
437 ± 155
Gulf War (2001-)
316 ± 126

Lawrence County, SD has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.02 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Lawrence County, SD employs 14.3k people. The largest industries in Lawrence County, SD are Accommodation & Food Services (2,132 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,635 people), and Retail Trade (1,472 people), and the highest paying industries are Wholesale Trade ($106,927), Utilities ($92,266), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($90,544).

Males in South Dakota have an average income that is 1.29 times higher than the average income of females, which is $52,552. The income inequality in South Dakota (measured using the Gini index) is 0.438, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

14.3k

2022 Value

± 884

3.69%

1 Year growth

± 8.52%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Lawrence County, SD grew at a rate of 3.69%, from 13.8k employees to 14.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lawrence County, SD, are Management Occupations (1,690 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,514 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,446 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lawrence County, SD.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Dakota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

14.3k

2022 Value

± 884

3.69%

1 Year growth

± 8.52%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Lawrence County, SD grew at a rate of 3.69%, from 13.8k employees to 14.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lawrence County, SD, are Accommodation & Food Services (2,132 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,635 people), and Retail Trade (1,472 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Lawrence County, SD, though some of these residents may live in Lawrence County, SD and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,270

Median earning men ± $6,292

$28,257

Median earning women ± $3,250

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($81,607), Wholesale Trade ($73,571), and Information ($71,310).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Public Administration ($52,523), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($43,631), and Information ($42,763).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

Y-Axis

2.37%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 450k people employed in South Dakota. This represents a 2.37% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 8.96%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in South Dakota.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

250
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
232
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
224
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation and Accommodation & Food Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Lawrence County, SD went to Donald J. Trump with 63.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (32.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (3.89%).

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing the state of South Dakota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Lawrence County, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (63.3%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (32.8%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (3.89%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Lawrence County, SD for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from South Dakota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

John Thune

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Mike Rounds

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing South Dakota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Dakota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Lawrence County, SD

Dusty Johnson

South Dakota at-large Representative

Republican Party

Lawrence County, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson (Republican Party).

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the member for Lawrence County, SD have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Lawrence County, SD awarded 539 degrees. The student population of Lawrence County, SD in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,252 male students and 2,173 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lawrence County, SD are White (468 and 87.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17 and 3.18%), Two or More Races (17 and 3.18%), and Unknown (10 and 1.87%).

The largest universities in Lawrence County, SD by number of degrees awarded are Black Hills State University (539 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Lawrence County, SD are General Business Administration & Management (87 and 16.1%), Elementary Education & Teaching (54 and 10%), and General Biological Sciences (45 and 8.35%).

The median tuition cost in Lawrence County, SD for a public four year colleges is $7,616 for in-state students and $10,718 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Lawrence County, SD, the percentage of applicants admitted was 96.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 31.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 3,425 (36.6% men and 63.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 3,425 students enrolled in Lawrence County, SD, 36.6% men and 63.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,905 records, of which 63.9% were women and 36.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
71 degrees awarded
Elementary Education & Teaching
54 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
27 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Lawrence County, SD was General Business Administration & Management with 71 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Lawrence County, SD according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Black Hills State University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

539 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Black Hills State University with 539 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 177 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lawrence County, SD, which is 0.489 times less than the 362 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 468 degrees mean that there were 27.5 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 17 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($7,616) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,300) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

Measure

In 2022, 0.574% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.482% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (206k), Some college (148k), and Bachelors Degree (133k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Lawrence County, SD was $267,900 in 2022, which is 0.95 times smaller than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $237,200 to $267,900, a 12.9% increase. The homeownership rate in Lawrence County, SD is 65.7%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Lawrence County, SD have an average commute time of 19.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Lawrence County, SD is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2023, 15.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lawrence County, SD. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.29%.

Housing

Property

$267,900

Median Property Value 2022

±$15,901

$7,482

Median Property Taxes

±$605

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Lawrence County, SD the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Lawrence County, SD compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

65.7%

Homeownership

2022

63.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2022

In 2022, 65.7% of the housing units in Lawrence County, SD were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Lawrence County, SD compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9663.01
Census Tract 9662

The following map shows all of the tracts in Lawrence County, SD colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$62,977

Median Household Income

± $5,473

11.4k

Number of Households

± 794

In 2022, the median household income of the 11.4k households in Lawrence County, SD grew to $62,977 from the previous year's value of $56,166.

The following chart displays the households in Lawrence County, SD distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Lawrence County, SD is from South Dakota.

0.438

2022 Wage GINI in South Dakota

0.439

2021 Wage GINI in South Dakota

In 2022, the income inequality in South Dakota was 0.438 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.26% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for South Dakota was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Dakota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Dakota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022

Drove Alone (79.9%)
Carpooled (8.69%)
Worked At Home (6.22%)

In 2022, 79.9% of workers in Lawrence County, SD drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.69%) and those who worked at home (6.22%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

19.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lawrence County, SD have a shorter commute time (19.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 1.77% of the workforce in Lawrence County, SD have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Lawrence County, SD compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Lawrence County, SD distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Lawrence County, SD have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 15.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lawrence County, SD. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.29%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

11.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lawrence County, SD (2.79k out of 25.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Males 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Lawrence County, SD is White, followed by Two Or More and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 14.2% of the children was living in poverty in Lawrence County, SD. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

89.2% of the population of Lawrence County, SD has health coverage, with 42.1% on employee plans, 8.32% on Medicaid, 16.3% on Medicare, 19.9% on non-group plans, and 2.64% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Lawrence County, SD see 1093 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.76% decrease from the previous year (1124 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1635 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 467 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.3% were men and 50.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,093 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lawrence County, SD

Primary care physicians in Lawrence County, SD see an average of 1,093 patients per year. This represents a 2.76% decrease from the previous year (1,124 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Lawrence County, SD in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 18.8% under 18 years, 21.6% between 18 and 34 years, 36.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 23.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.3% were men and 50.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

10.8%

Uninsured

42.1%

Employer Coverage

8.32%

Medicaid

16.3%

Medicare

19.9%

Non-Group

2.64%

Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lawrence County, SD grew by 1.99% from 10.6% to 10.8%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Lawrence County, SD changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 121 in Lawrence County, SD.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lawrence County, SD.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 28.9% in Lawrence County, SD.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lawrence County, SD.