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What are the largest counties in South Dakota?

Minnehaha County is the largest county in South Dakota, with 212,691 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Pennington County (116,792) and Lincoln County (77,145) come next.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 65 ranked South Dakota counties

South Dakota counties ranked by population
RankCountyResidents 2025Change 2020–25
1Minnehaha County212,691+7.6%
2Pennington County116,792+6.6%
3Lincoln County77,145+17.5%
4Brookings County37,635+9.6%
5Brown County37,561−1.7%
6Meade County30,711+2.7%
7Codington County29,562+4.3%
8Lawrence County29,459+14.0%
9Yankton County23,635+1.5%
10Davison County20,069+0.5%
11Beadle County19,624+2.4%
12Hughes County17,570−0.9%
13Union County17,402+3.2%
14Clay County15,031+0.2%
15Oglala Lakota County13,338−2.3%
16Lake County10,993−0.2%
17Butte County10,856+5.5%
18Roberts County10,255−0.1%
19Custer County9,431+13.2%
20Turner County9,314+7.3%
21Charles Mix County9,303−0.5%
22Todd County8,863−4.9%
23Grant County7,534−0.0%
24Fall River County7,467+7.1%
25Hutchinson County7,413−0.1%
26Bon Homme County7,244+3.8%
27Hamlin County6,900+11.8%
28Moody County6,632+4.5%
29Spink County6,155−3.0%
30McCook County5,964+5.2%
31Tripp County5,708+1.8%
32Day County5,484+0.8%
33Dewey County5,419+3.8%
34Kingsbury County5,284+1.6%
35Brule County5,278+0.5%
36Walworth County5,217−1.4%
37Marshall County4,426+2.9%
38Deuel County4,408+2.6%
39Gregory County4,037+1.1%
40Clark County4,031+4.7%
41Edmunds County4,022+1.0%
42Corson County3,781−2.8%
43Lyman County3,694−0.1%
44Hanson County3,456−0.3%
45Bennett County3,307−2.6%
46Hand County3,121−0.7%
47Stanley County3,018+1.8%
48Douglas County2,888+1.9%
49Perkins County2,853+0.8%
50Aurora County2,801+2.6%
51Jackson County2,666−4.8%
52Ziebach County2,389−0.1%
53Sanborn County2,388+2.5%
54Potter County2,377−3.8%
55McPherson County2,347−2.2%
56Miner County2,281−0.8%
57Faulk County2,178+2.3%
58Mellette County2,137+11.5%
59Haakon County1,802−3.6%
60Buffalo County1,802−6.8%
61Jerauld County1,654+0.6%
62Sully County1,479+1.9%
63Campbell County1,377−0.1%
64Harding County1,331+2.1%
65Hyde County1,191−4.6%

How this is ranked

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.

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Questions

What is the largest county in South Dakota?

Minnehaha County is the largest county in South Dakota, with 212,691 residents in 2025 (Census PEP). Pennington County (116,792) and Lincoln County (77,145) come next.

How is this ranking calculated?

The Census Bureau's July 1 resident population estimates for 2025, largest first, with the change since 2020. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents are not ranked. Areas without an estimate for the same year as the others are not ranked.

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