County population in 2012: 2,439 (all rural); it was 2,904 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 236 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 597 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 1,021 Renter-occupied apartments: 192 (it was 206 in 2000)
% of renters here:
17%
State:
32%
Land area: 1137 sq. mi. Water area: 14.9 sq. mi.
Population density: 2 people per square mile
(very low).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in McPherson County: 76.7 (low, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (24.7%), Educational,health and social services (22.0%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $580 (1.0%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $745 (2.0%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 19.2%
(19.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 23.1% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 50 years old
(Males: 49 years old, Females: 52 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 51 years old, Black residents: 45 years old, American Indian residents: 53 years old, Asian residents: 54 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 18 years old, Other race residents: 9 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
22.6%
Whole state:
13.2%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
8.9%
Whole state:
5.8%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in McPherson County is $368 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $484 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $639 a month.
Cemeteries: Wolff Cemetery (1), Aman Cemetery (2), Arena Valley Cemetery (3), Zion Cemetery (4), Bertsch Cemetery (5), Bethel Number 2 Cemetery (6), Friedens Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Klooz Lake (A), Feinstein Lake (B), Schumacher Lake (C), Alkali Lake (D), Hausauer Lake (E), Rath Lake (F), Long Lake (G), Heupel Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in McPherson County include: Schumacher State Public Shooting Area (1), South Jackson Public Shooting Area (2), Odessa Number 2 State Public Shooting Area (3), Odessa Number 1 State Public Shooting Area (4), Rosenthal State Public Shooting Area (5), Pfeiffle State Public Shooting Area (6), Neuharth State Public Shooting Area (7), Moscow State Public Shooting Area (8), North Jackson State Public Shooting Area (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 23 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 58.8% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.7%
Number of foreign born residents: 24 (42% naturalized citizens)
McPherson County:
0.8%
Whole state:
1.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 9
1990 to 1994: 0
1985 to 1989: 0
1980 to 1984: 0
1975 to 1979: 0
1970 to 1974: 0
1970 to 1974: 3
1965 to 1969: 12
Mean travel time to work (commute): 16.4 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 83.9%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 1,224
One, attached: 28
Two: 23
3 or 4: 46
5 to 9: 33
10 to 19: 2
20 or more: 17
Mobile homes: 92
Housing units in McPherson County with a mortgage: 146 (1 second mortgage, 5 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 508
Here:
22.3% with mortgage
State:
60.6% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 93.77%
Here
93.8%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 2,723 Total congregations: 15
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
Reformed Church in the United States
Other
Adherents
1,034 (38.0%)
489 (18.0%)
306 (11.2%)
291 (10.7%)
603 (22.1%)
Congregations
3 (20.0%)
2 (13.3%)
2 (13.3%)
2 (13.3%)
6 (40.0%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 1300 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $146,208 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $37.40 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.00% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 89.15% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $116,158 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 32.63% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.42% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $92,230 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 87.89% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 13.69 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 1.58% Corn for grain: 14611 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 21906 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 20829 harvested acres
Tornado activity:
McPherson County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is near South Dakota state average. It is 1.0 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one injury recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 8/24/2006, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado injured one person.
Most recent natural disasters:
South Dakota Flooding, Incident Period: March 10, 2010 to June 20, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1915): May 13, 2010, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1915, Natural disaster type: Flood
South Dakota Severe Winter Storm, Incident Period: January 20, 2010 to January 26, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1887): March 10, 2010, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1887, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
South Dakota Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: March 11, 2009 to July 6, 2009, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1844): June 16, 2009, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1844, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: September 6, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3234): September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3234, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
South Dakota Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 3, 1997 to May 24, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1173): April 7, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1173, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Severe Winter Storms/Blizzards, Incident Period: January 3, 1997 to January 31, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1156): January 10, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1156, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Blizzard
South Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, Incident Period: March 1, 1995 to June 20, 1995, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1052): May 26, 1995, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1052, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Severe Winter Storms, Incident Period: January 13, 1995 to February 10, 1995, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1045): March 14, 1995, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1045, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
South Dakota Severe Storm, Flooding, Incident Period: March 1, 1994 to July 29, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1031): June 21, 1994, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1031, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Dakota Flooding, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Incident Period: May 6, 1993 to September 10, 1993, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-999): July 19, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-999, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
2 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in McPherson County (12) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10 Emergencies Declared: 2
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 5, Storms: 5, Winter Storms: 3, Floods: 2, Blizzard: 1, Tornado: 1, Drought: 1, Hurricane: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Carpenters (3%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (2%)
Farmers and farm managers (8%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (8%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (7%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (6%)
Cooks and food preparation workers (5%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Canada (83%)
France (8%)
Germany (8%)
Most common first ancestries reported in McPherson County (%):
German (75%)
United States or American (6%)
Norwegian (4%)
English (3%)
Russian (3%)
Irish (2%)
Polish (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 646 (55%)
Carpooled: 127 (11%)
Motorcycle: 2 (0%)
Bicycle: 6 (1%)
Walked: 133 (11%)
Other means: 3 (0%)
Worked at home: 264 (22%)
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
58 people in nursing homes
10 people in wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
292 people in other noninstitutional facilities
55 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $38,138.
4.66% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($25,140 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.66%
South Dakota average:
8.40%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.49% relocated from other counties in South Dakota ($14,395 average AGI)
2.17% relocated from other states ($10,767 average AGI)
McPherson County:
2.17%
South Dakota average:
3.82%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
5.99% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($31,500 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.99%
South Dakota average:
8.34%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
3.85% relocated to other counties in South Dakota ($21,125 average AGI)
2.14% relocated to other states ($10,375 average AGI)
McPherson County:
2.14%
South Dakota average:
3.78%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.1 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.0
Births per 1000 population in McPherson County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 14.0 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 14.7
Deaths per 1000 population in McPherson County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 3.9 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 0.0
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in McPherson County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 537 (511 aged, 26 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 12% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 14%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 36.51 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 6535.230 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 219.060 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 9638.550
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 687.810 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1643.100 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 38.21
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 36.52
Household type by relationship:
Households: 2,112
In family households: 1,696 (553 male householders, 79 female householders)
555 spouses, 451 children (418 natural, 7 adopted, 26 stepchildren), 16 grandchildren, 11 brothers or sisters, 10 parents, 7 other relatives, 12 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 416 (185 male householders (173 living alone)), 208 female householders (199 living alone)), 23 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 347 (55 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 412 2-persons, 102 3-persons, 57 4-persons, 36 5-persons, 19 6-persons, 6 7-or-more-persons.
Size of nonfamily households: 372 1-person, 20 2-persons, 1 4-persons.
67.3% of residents of McPherson County speak English at home.
0.1% of residents speak Spanish at home (100% speak English very well).
32.7% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (55% speak English very well, 42% speak English well, 3% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $25,288,000 ($9233 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $237,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $5,420,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $3,653,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $9,130,000 Federal grants: $6,064,000 Federal procurement contracts: $182,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $838,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $1,010,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,258,000 Federal Government insurance: $21,069,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 134
Here:
51 per 1000 residents
State:
72 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 212
Here:
81 per 1000 residents
State:
48 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: 0
Here:
0 per 1000 residents
State:
+5 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -192
Here:
-73 per 1000 residents
State:
-1 per 1000 residents
Population growth in McPherson County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.03 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.1
State:
6.3
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.3
State:
4.1
Year house built
2005 or later: 19
2000 to 2004: 7
1990 to 1999: 95
1980 to 1989: 133
1970 to 1979: 249
1960 to 1969: 139
1950 to 1959: 110
1940 to 1949: 140
1939 or earlier: 635
Rooms in houses/apartments in McPherson County, South Dakota
74% of McPherson County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 54% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 63% lived in South Dakota.
McPherson County:
73.6%
State average:
56.2%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 2325
Northeast: 23
Midwest: 391
South: 30
West: 79
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $9,999
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 5%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in McPherson County
50.0 years
36.0 years
(57.1%)
(42.9%)
, Dickey County, North Dakota 
, Campbell County 
, Edmunds County 
, McIntosh County, North Dakota 
, Walworth County 
.
