County population in 2016: 25,279 (63% urban, 37% rural); it was 21,802 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,109 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,663 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,755 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,764 (it was 3,126 in 2000)
% of renters here:
35%
State:
32%
Land area: 800 sq. mi.
Water area: 0.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 32 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Lawrence County: 83.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (34.2%), Construction (11.8%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (11.7%), Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.4%).
Estimated median household income in 2016: $50,432 ($31,755 in 1999)
This county:
$50,432
South Dakota:
$54,467
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $575 (lower quartile is $435, upper quartile is $783)
This county:
$575
State:
$601
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $208,132 (it was $82,300 in 2000)
Lawrence:
$208,132
South Dakota:
$160,700
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $113,228 - $311,582
Mean price in 2016:
Detached houses: $247,794
Here:
$247,794
State:
$188,004
Townhouses or other attached units: $240,161
Here:
$240,161
State:
$199,867
In 2-unit structures: $210,839
Here:
$210,839
State:
$156,148
In 3-to-4-unit structures: $184,259
Here:
$184,259
State:
$125,675
In 5-or-more-unit structures: $882,271
Here:
$882,271
State:
$136,653
Mobile homes: $59,465
Here:
$59,465
State:
$55,898
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,321 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $469
Institutionalized population: 152
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 1
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 0
Burglaries: 21
Thefts: 47
Auto thefts: 1
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 4
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 4
Burglaries: 32
Thefts: 54
Auto thefts: 3
Health of residents in Lawrence County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2012:
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.5. This is about average. 71.7% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average. 51.2% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is more than average. 57.6% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is less than average. Average weight of males is 197 pounds. This is about average. Average weight of females is 154 pounds. This is less than average.
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $2,637 (1.2%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $2,400 (1.2%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 11.4%
Lawrence County:
11.4%
South Dakota:
13.3%
(9.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 43.8% for Black residents, 20.9% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 46.2% for American Indian residents, 5.7% for other race residents, 40.5% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 41.4 years old
(Males: 40.3 years old, Females: 42.7 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 44.2 years old, Black residents: 18.4 years old, American Indian residents: 23.3 years old, Asian residents: 26.8 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 22.5 years old, Other race residents: 24.9 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Lawrence County is $416 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $512 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $713 a month.
Current college students: 2,245 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 94.1% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33.3%
Number of foreign born residents: 825 (47.2% naturalized citizens)
Lawrence County:
3.3%
Whole state:
3.6%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 413
2000 to 2009: 137
1990 to 1999: 91
1980 to 1989: 38
1970 to 1979: 44
Before 1970: 81
Note: State values scaled to Lawrence County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 17.7 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 82.2%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 8,722
One, attached: 529
Two: 250
3 or 4: 485
5 to 9: 483
10 to 19: 665
20 to 49: 660
50 or more: 263
Mobile homes: 1,557
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 20
Housing units in Lawrence County with a mortgage: 3,754 (33 second mortgage, 375 home equity loan, 6 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 3,205
Here:
50.0% with mortgage
State:
56.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Lawrence County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
4,900
25
Mainline Protestant
3,283
12
Catholic
2,153
3
Other
12
2
None
13,749
-
Lawrence County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 5
Lawrence County:
2.14 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.84 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 1
This county:
0.43 / 10,000 pop.
South Dakota:
0.65 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 12
Lawrence County:
5.13 / 10,000 pop.
South Dakota:
6.68 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 32
This county:
13.68 / 10,000 pop.
State:
9.21 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Lawrence County:
6.6%
South Dakota:
7.7%
Adult obesity rate:
Lawrence County:
23.0%
State:
27.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
8.7%
State:
14.9%
Agriculture in Lawrence County:
Average size of farms: 589 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $41,804 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $55.64 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 90.05% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $39,303 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 12.69% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 22.84% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $38,251 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 85.77% Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 9.14 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 2.78% Vegetables: 22 harvested acres
Earthquake activity:
Lawrence County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above South Dakota state average. It is 11% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/18/1959 at 06:37:13, a magnitude 7.7 (7.7 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 338.4 miles away from Lawrence County center, causing $26,000,000 total damage On 10/28/1983 at 14:06:06, a magnitude 7.3 (6.2 MB, 7.3 MS, 7.0 MW) earthquake occurred 495.8 miles away from the county center, causing 2 deaths (2 shaking deaths) and 3 injuries, causing $15,000,000 total damage On 10/18/1984 at 15:30:23, a magnitude 5.5 (5.4 MB, 5.1 MS, 5.5 ML, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 164.6 miles away from the county center On 9/8/1984 at 00:59:31, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MB) earthquake occurred 105.8 miles away from the county center On 5/29/1984 at 20:18:32, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB) earthquake occurred 107.8 miles away from Lawrence County center On 6/30/1975 at 18:54:13, a magnitude 6.1 (5.6 MB, 5.9 MS, 6.1 UK, 6.1 ML, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII - IX) earthquake occurred 342.4 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
South Dakota Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding, Incident Period: October 03, 2013 to October 17, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4155: November 08, 2013, FEMA Id: 4155, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Winter Storm, Flood
South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 24, 2013 to May 31, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4125: June 28, 2013, FEMA Id: 4125, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
South Dakota Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: June 02, 2008 to June 12, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1774: July 09, 2008, FEMA Id: 1774, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Boxelder Fire, Incident Period: July 19, 2007 to July 31, 2007, Fire Management Assistance Declared: July 21, 2007, FEMA Id: 2716, Natural disaster type: Fire
South Dakota Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: September 06, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3234: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3234, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
South Dakota Camp Five Fire, Incident Period: April 17, 2005, Fire Management Assistance Declared: April 19, 2005, FEMA Id: 2557, Natural disaster type: Fire
South Dakota Grizzly Gulch Fire, Incident Period: June 29, 2002 to July 17, 2002, Fire Management Assistance Declared: June 29, 2002, FEMA Id: 2434, Natural disaster type: Fire
South Dakota Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 03, 1997 to May 24, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1173: April 07, 1997, FEMA Id: 1173, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Severe Winter Storms/Blizzards, Incident Period: January 03, 1997 to January 31, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1156: January 10, 1997, FEMA Id: 1156, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Blizzard
South Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, Incident Period: March 01, 1995 to June 20, 1995, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1052: May 26, 1995, FEMA Id: 1052, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
3 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Lawrence County (13) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 9 Emergencies Declared: 1
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 7, Storms: 4, Fires: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Flash Flood: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Tornado: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Food preparation and serving related occupations (7%)
Transportation occupations (6%)
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (20%)
Education, training, and library occupations (11%)
Sales and related occupations (10%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (8%)
Management occupations (8%)
Personal care and service occupations (8%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (7%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Canada (9%)
Philippines (9%)
Korea (9%)
Other Eastern Europe (9%)
Ethiopia (7%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (5%)
Switzerland (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Lawrence County (%):
German (31%)
Norwegian (8%)
American (8%)
English (6%)
Irish (5%)
Swedish (3%)
Scandinavian (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 9,006 (72.1%)
Carpooled: 1,669 (13.4%)
Bus or trolley bus: 9 (0.1%)
Ferryboat: 10 (0.1%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 92 (0.7%)
Bicycle: 34 (0.3%)
Walked: 1,071 (8.6%)
Worked at home: 595 (4.8%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Lawrence County, South Dakota in 2000:
607 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
206 people in job corps and vocational training facilities
193 people in nursing homes
67 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
22 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
15 people in unknown juvenile institutions
12 people in schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded
12 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
7 people in other nonhousehold living situations
6 people in religious group quarters
People in group quarters in Lawrence County, South Dakota in 2010:
649 people in college/university student housing
239 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
85 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
31 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
30 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
29 people in group homes intended for adults
6 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
2 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $50,166.
8.96% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($34,018 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
8.96%
South Dakota average:
7.96%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.31% relocated from other counties in South Dakota ($13,307 average AGI)
4.65% relocated from other states ($20,710 average AGI)
Lawrence County:
4.65%
South Dakota average:
3.76%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
8.62% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($30,196 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
8.62%
South Dakota average:
7.77%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.07% relocated to other counties in South Dakota ($13,336 average AGI)
4.55% relocated to other states ($16,860 average AGI)
Lawrence County:
4.55%
South Dakota average:
3.55%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Lawrence County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 4,154 (3,579 aged, 575 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 412 (8%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Lawrence County, South Dakota in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (201)
Atherosclerotic heart disease (166)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (134)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (118)
Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (81)
Congestive heart failure (75)
Breast, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (67)
Pneumonia, unspecified (65)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 12% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 10%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 8.97 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9,287 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 260 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 36,807
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,179 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,067 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 27
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 36 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 125
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 22
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 212.5. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 135.2
Other - 77.3
Household type by relationship:
Households: 25,279
In family households: 18,263 (3,849 male householders, 2,578 female householders)
5,271 spouses, 5,429 children (4,836 natural, 189 adopted, 406 stepchildren), 199 grandchildren, 218 brothers or sisters, 143 parents, 187 other relatives, 285 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 5,653 (1,973 male householders (1,363 living alone)), 2,362 female householders (2,068 living alone)), 1,321 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 1,381
Size of family households: 3,506 2-persons, 1,144 3-persons, 1,317 4-persons, 389 5-persons, 54 6-persons, 62 7-or-more-persons.
3,295 married couples with children.
1,092 single-parent households (495 men, 597 women).
96.2% of residents of Lawrence speak English at home.
1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home (86% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 1% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
1.0% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (74% speak English very well, 18% speak English well, 8% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (28% speak English very well, 52% speak English well, 21% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak other language at home (73% speak English very well, 27% speak English well, 1% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $127,950,000 ($5,738 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $11,636,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $62,657,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $24,302,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $141,000 Federal grants: $21,523,000 Federal procurement contracts: $3,992,000 ($489,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $15,334,000 ($6,607,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $1,896,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $11,069,000 Federal Government insurance: $16,347,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,226
Here:
55 per 1000 residents
State:
72 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,023
Here:
46 per 1000 residents
State:
48 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +10
Here:
+0 per 1000 residents
State:
+5 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +424
Here:
+19 per 1000 residents
State:
-1 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Lawrence County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 3.40 millions of gallons per day (51% from ground, 49% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.7
State:
6.9
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.1
State:
4.2
Year house built
2014 or later: 374
2010 to 2013: 505
2000 to 2009: 2,812
1990 to 1999: 1,704
1980 to 1989: 1,886
1970 to 1979: 1,906
1960 to 1969: 922
1950 to 1959: 627
1940 to 1949: 321
1939 or earlier: 2,612
Note: State values scaled to Lawrence population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Lawrence County, South Dakota
Note: State values scaled to Lawrence County population
no vehicle: 167
1 vehicle: 1,254
2 vehicles: 2,800
3 vehicles: 1,727
4 vehicles: 653
5+ vehicles: 356
no vehicle: 878
1 vehicle: 1,608
2 vehicles: 1,015
3 vehicles: 318
4 vehicles: 51
5+ vehicles: 5
80% of Lawrence County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 28% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 48% lived in South Dakota.
Lawrence County:
80.4%
State average:
84.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 14,091
Other state: 10,056
Northeast: 318
Midwest: 5,051
South: 901
West: 3,843
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Lawrence County
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41.4 years
36.8 years
(49.7%)
(50.3%)
, Crawford County, Michigan 
