Buffalo County, South Dakota
Buffalo County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,948. Its county seat is Gann Valley which, at 10 people, is the least populous county seat in the United States. The county was created in 1864, and was organized in 1871 as part of the Dakota Territory.
Buffalo County | |
|---|---|
Fort Thompson Big Bend Dam. | |
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota | |
South Dakota's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 44°05′N 99°12′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| Founded | 1864 (created) 1871 (organized) |
| Named for | American buffalo |
| Seat | Gann Valley |
| Largest community | Fort Thompson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 488 sq mi (1,260 km2) |
| • Land | 471 sq mi (1,220 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 3.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,948 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 1,884 |
| • Density | 4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
In 2010, the center of population of South Dakota was located in eastern Buffalo County. The Crow Creek Indian Reservation, inhabited by the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, makes up the majority of Buffalo County.
According to the 2013 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau, about 41% of county residents live in poverty, making it the fifth-poorest county in South Dakota. This is a far higher poverty rate than the national poverty rate of 15.8%. Median household income in 2013 was $21,572, making it the lowest-earning county in South Dakota and the United States.
In March 2019, the county unemployment rate was 3.9%; its ten-year peaks occurred in December 2006 (18.1%) and December 2009 (17.2%). As of 2002, many homes lack kitchens and indoor plumbing.