Lawrence County is located in western South Dakota, along the Wyoming border, encompassing much of the northern Black Hills. Established in 1875 during the Black Hills gold rush, it remains closely associated with mining-era settlements and the broader Black Hills region. The county is mid-sized by South Dakota standards, with a population of about 26,000 residents (2020). Its landscape ranges from forested hills and rugged canyons to higher-elevation plateaus, shaping a mix of rural communities and small towns. Economic activity historically centered on gold mining and has diversified into local services, light manufacturing, government employment, and tourism tied to the Black Hills. Culturally, the county reflects both its frontier-era heritage—particularly in communities such as Deadwood—and contemporary small-town life. The county seat is Deadwood, while the largest city is Spearfish.

Lawrence County Local Demographic Profile

Lawrence County is located in western South Dakota in the Black Hills region and includes the cities of Spearfish, Deadwood, and parts of the Black Hills National Forest. For local government and planning resources, visit the Lawrence County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (data.census.gov), Lawrence County’s population size is reported in the county’s demographic profile tables (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey and decennial census products). Exact figures vary by dataset year and release (e.g., decennial census counts vs. ACS 1-year/5-year estimates); the most consistently available county-level population totals are provided in the ACS 5-year “Demographic and Housing Estimates” table (DP05) and decennial census totals.

Age & Gender

Age distribution and sex composition for Lawrence County are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05) for Lawrence County. This profile includes:

  • Population by broad age groups (under 5, under 18, 18–64, 65 and older)
  • Median age
  • Sex distribution (male/female counts and percentages)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin for Lawrence County are reported in the U.S. Census Bureau’s profile and detailed tables, including the ACS DP05 profile for Lawrence County. Reported categories include:

  • Race (e.g., White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some Other Race, Two or More Races)
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) and Not Hispanic or Latino

Household & Housing Data

Household structure and housing characteristics are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey profiles for Lawrence County, including:

For statewide context and regional reference, the State of South Dakota provides administrative resources and links to agencies that use Census Bureau datasets for planning and reporting.

Email Usage

Lawrence County’s mountainous Black Hills terrain and dispersed settlement pattern shape digital communication by increasing last‑mile buildout costs and making service quality more uneven than in dense urban areas. Direct county-level email-usage statistics are generally not published, so email adoption is inferred from proxy indicators such as broadband and device access reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) and related ACS tables.

Digital access indicators show household connectivity constraints: ACS measures of broadband subscriptions and computer ownership are standard proxies for routine email access because webmail and app-based email require reliable internet and an internet-capable device. Age distribution also matters; ACS age profiles for Lawrence County indicate a substantial adult and older-adult population, groups that often show more variable adoption of newer digital services, while still using email for healthcare, government, and financial communication.

Gender distribution is typically close to parity in ACS county profiles and is not a primary driver compared with age and connectivity.

Infrastructure limitations include topography-driven coverage gaps and reliance on a mix of wired, fixed wireless, and mobile broadband, reflected in federal broadband availability reporting such as the FCC National Broadband Map.

Mobile Phone Usage

Lawrence County is in western South Dakota in the Black Hills region, bordering Wyoming. The county includes the city of Spearfish and the historic communities of Deadwood and Lead, along with extensive forested and mountainous terrain in and around the Black Hills National Forest. Compared with eastern South Dakota, the county’s rugged topography, valleys/canyons, and large areas of public land can create localized coverage gaps and more variable signal quality, even where providers report broad-area service. Population is concentrated in a few incorporated places, with lower-density settlement elsewhere; this settlement pattern typically leads to stronger service in town centers and along major highways than on remote roads and higher-elevation backcountry.

Key distinctions: network availability vs. adoption

Network availability (supply-side) refers to whether mobile carriers report service in an area (e.g., 4G LTE or 5G coverage) and whether the network meets performance thresholds used in official maps.
Household/device adoption (demand-side) refers to whether residents subscribe to mobile service, rely on smartphones for internet access, or have alternatives such as wired broadband at home.

County-specific adoption metrics for “mobile-only households,” smartphone ownership, or mobile data usage are generally not published at the county level in a way that is both comprehensive and directly comparable. The most consistent county-level indicators tend to be (1) FCC-reported availability and (2) Census/ACS indicators related to internet subscriptions and household computing devices, which do not uniquely isolate mobile usage in all cases.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (county-level where available)

Household internet subscriptions and computing devices (proxy indicators)

The most widely used county-level sources for adoption-related proxies are the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) tables on internet subscriptions and computing devices. These tables can show:

  • Households with an internet subscription (overall)
  • Type of internet subscription (including cellular data plans, depending on table/year)
  • Household device types (desktop/laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc., depending on table structure)

County estimates are available through the Census Bureau’s tools, but table availability and categories vary by ACS release year. For official access points, use the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portals and ACS documentation: Census.gov data tables (data.census.gov) and American Community Survey (ACS) program information.

Limitation: ACS internet and device tables measure household-reported subscriptions and devices, not network performance or coverage. They also may not fully capture mobile data consumption intensity or differentiate primary vs. secondary internet connections in a granular way.

Mobile internet usage patterns and connectivity (4G/5G availability)

Reported 4G LTE and 5G coverage (availability)

The primary federal source for location-based mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC), published as the National Broadband Map. It provides provider-reported coverage by technology, including mobile broadband, and can be viewed at multiple geographies, including county and census block levels: FCC National Broadband Map.

In Lawrence County, reported availability typically shows:

  • 4G LTE coverage across populated corridors and towns, with potential variability in rugged terrain.
  • 5G availability concentrated around population centers and along key transportation routes, with coverage footprints depending on carrier deployments and spectrum bands used.

Limitation: FCC mobile coverage layers are based on provider submissions and standardized modeling. They indicate reported service availability rather than guaranteed indoor coverage or consistent throughput in mountainous terrain.

Performance and real-world experience indicators

While the FCC map focuses on availability, observed performance is often assessed using third-party speed test aggregations and state broadband assessments. South Dakota’s statewide broadband resources provide additional context and planning information that can supplement FCC availability layers: South Dakota Broadband (state broadband office).

Limitation: Publicly accessible, county-specific, methodologically consistent datasets that separate “mobile performance” from “fixed performance” and provide time-series adoption are limited. Third-party speed test data can be influenced by where tests occur (towns vs. remote areas), device capabilities, and plan types.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

What can be measured reliably

County-level device-type information is most consistently approximated using ACS “computer and internet use” tables, which can include smartphone presence in the household and types of computing devices. These indicators can be retrieved for Lawrence County via Census.gov (data.census.gov).

General patterns in U.S. rural counties often include widespread smartphone ownership, but county-specific shares of smartphones vs. basic phones, hotspots, or fixed wireless receivers are not routinely published in a single authoritative county dataset.

Practical interpretation for Lawrence County

  • Smartphones are typically the primary mobile device used for internet access, navigation, messaging, and app-based services.
  • Mobile hotspots and tethering can be relevant in areas where fixed broadband options are limited or where residents travel between towns and remote areas, but authoritative county-level prevalence measures are not generally available.

Limitation: No single federal dataset provides a definitive county-level breakdown of “smartphones vs. non-smartphones” for mobile subscribers. ACS measures household devices, not subscriber device classes on carrier networks.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Terrain and land use (connectivity constraint)

  • The Black Hills’ mountainous terrain can create signal shadowing and sharp changes in coverage over short distances.
  • Forested and public lands can limit tower siting options and backhaul buildout, affecting both coverage density and network capacity.

Settlement patterns and transportation corridors

  • Mobile service tends to be strongest in and around Spearfish, Deadwood, and Lead, and along major routes (including I‑90), where population density supports more cell sites and upgrades.
  • Outlying areas can face reduced indoor coverage and fewer high-capacity sites due to lower density and more complex topography.

Household access alternatives (adoption driver)

  • Where fixed broadband is available and affordable, mobile may be used primarily as a complementary connection.
  • Where fixed options are limited, households may report cellular data plans as their internet subscription in ACS-type measures, but county-level “mobile-only reliance” is not consistently published in a single official series.

For county context and geography, local and federal references include Lawrence County, South Dakota (official county website) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profiles accessible through Census.gov.

Summary of what is known vs. limited at county level

  • Known/available (most authoritative):

  • Limited/not consistently available as definitive county statistics:

    • Direct “mobile penetration” rates (subscriber counts per capita) published for the county.
    • Countywide breakdown of smartphones vs. basic phones among mobile subscribers.
    • County-level, standardized measures of “4G vs. 5G usage share” (actual usage patterns), separate from coverage availability.

This separation between reported network availability (FCC/provider-reported coverage) and actual adoption and reliance (Census household-reported subscriptions/devices) is essential in Lawrence County due to topography-driven variability that can affect real-world service even where broad coverage is reported.

Social Media Trends

Lawrence County is in western South Dakota in the Black Hills region and includes the cities of Deadwood (a major heritage tourism site) and Spearfish (a regional service and education hub). Its mix of tourism, outdoor recreation, and small-city/rural communities tends to align local social media use with broader U.S. patterns: mobile-first access, high use among working-age adults, and platform choices shaped by community events, local news, and visitor-oriented businesses.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific social media penetration rates are not published in major national surveys. The most defensible local estimate uses U.S. benchmarks paired with local connectivity context.
  • Nationally, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults use at least one social media site (Pew Research Center). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Lawrence County’s overall usage is generally expected to be near the national adult baseline, with variation driven primarily by age structure and broadband/mobile coverage typical of small metros/rural-adjacent areas in the West.

Age group trends (highest-use age groups)

Pew consistently finds social media use is highest among younger adults and remains high into middle age:

  • Ages 18–29: highest adoption across major platforms; heavy daily use and multi-platform behavior. Source: Pew Research Center social media demographics.
  • Ages 30–49: high overall use; strong presence on Facebook and Instagram; YouTube widely used.
  • Ages 50–64: moderate-to-high use; Facebook and YouTube dominate.
  • Ages 65+: lowest overall use, but Facebook and YouTube remain common relative to other platforms.

Gender breakdown

  • Across the U.S., gender differences vary by platform more than by overall social media use. Pew reports women are more likely than men to use platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram, while men are more likely to use YouTube and Reddit in many survey waves; Facebook tends to be relatively balanced compared with more gender-skewed platforms. Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographic tables.

Most-used platforms (with percentages where available)

The most robust percentages available for local inference are national adult usage rates from Pew:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Local-community information seeking: In smaller counties and regional hubs, Facebook Groups and local pages are commonly used for community updates, events, road/weather impacts, and tourism-related announcements; this aligns with Facebook’s strength among adults 30+ in Pew’s demographics. Source: Pew Research Center social media demographics.
  • Video-centric consumption: YouTube’s broad reach and TikTok/Instagram’s short-form video growth support high engagement with outdoor recreation clips, local attraction highlights (Black Hills/Deadwood area tourism), and how-to content—mirroring national patterns where video platforms dominate time spent. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Age-driven platform split: Younger adults concentrate engagement on TikTok/Instagram (creator-led, algorithmic feeds), while older adults rely more on Facebook (friends/family networks and groups). Source: Pew Research Center platform use by age.
  • Messaging and “share” behaviors: Across the U.S., a significant share of social interaction occurs through direct messaging and private sharing rather than public posting, especially among younger users; this is consistent with observed platform design shifts toward private/community spaces (documented across major industry and survey reporting, including Pew’s ongoing coverage of platform use and engagement). Source: Pew Research Center internet and technology research.

Family & Associates Records

Lawrence County, South Dakota, does not typically maintain “family” vital records at the county level. Birth and death records are administered by the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records; adoption records are handled through state-level courts and agencies and are generally not public. Marriage and divorce records are commonly the most county-connected family-related records: marriage licenses are issued/recorded through the Lawrence County Register of Deeds, and divorce case files are maintained by the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts.

Public online access is generally limited to indexes and case dockets rather than certified vital records. South Dakota’s unified court system provides public access to many court case summaries through South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS). Property records that can establish family/associate connections (deeds, mortgages) are typically available through the Lawrence County Register of Deeds. County-level office locations and contact information are listed on the Lawrence County official website.

In-person access is provided through the Register of Deeds (recorded instruments such as marriage records and land records) and the Clerk of Courts (court files). Certified birth and death certificates are obtained through South Dakota Vital Records.

Privacy restrictions apply to vital records, many adoption records, and some court documents (sealed cases, protected identifiers). Certified copies generally require identity verification and eligibility under state rules.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses (and related marriage records)

    • Maintained as county-level records created when a couple applies to marry in Lawrence County.
    • Many county marriage files include the marriage license/application and, after the ceremony, a marriage certificate/return completed by the officiant and filed back with the county.

  • Divorce decrees (and divorce case files)

    • Divorce records are court records created through a civil case in the South Dakota circuit court serving Lawrence County.
    • The official outcome is documented in a Judgment and Decree of Divorce (often referred to as the divorce decree), with supporting pleadings and orders contained in the case file.

  • Annulments

    • Annulments are handled as court proceedings in the same court system as divorces.
    • The final order is typically a Judgment/Decree of Annulment (terminology varies by case and court practice), with related filings in the case file.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records

    • Filed/recorded with: the Lawrence County Register of Deeds (county office responsible for recording and maintaining marriage records).
    • Access methods (typical):
      • In-person requests at the Register of Deeds office for certified copies and searches.
      • Mail requests are commonly available through county offices.
      • Some counties also provide limited indexing or record-search tools online, but access to certified copies is handled by the county office.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Filed/maintained with: the Clerk of Court for the South Dakota Circuit Court serving Lawrence County (Seventh Judicial Circuit).
    • Access methods (typical):
      • In-person access to public case records and requests for certified copies through the Clerk of Court.
      • Some docket information and documents may be available through South Dakota’s court record systems/portals, while certified copies are issued by the Clerk of Court.

  • State-level custody of vital records

    • South Dakota maintains a statewide system for vital records, but county offices and the circuit court remain the originating custodians for county marriage records and court case files, respectively.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license/application and certificate/return

    • Full legal names of the parties
    • Date and place of marriage (and/or license issuance date)
    • Ages or dates of birth (varies by form and era)
    • Residences at time of application
    • Officiant name and title; sometimes officiant’s address
    • Witnesses (where required/recorded)
    • Record identifiers such as license number, book/page, filing date, and registrar information

  • Divorce decree (Judgment and Decree of Divorce) and case file

    • Names of the parties and the court/case number
    • Date the decree is entered and the judge’s signature
    • Findings and orders on dissolution of the marriage
    • Terms addressing property division, debt allocation, and restoration of a former name (when ordered)
    • Child-related orders when applicable (custody, parenting time, support)
    • The broader case file may include pleadings, motions, financial affidavits, settlement agreements, and subsequent modification orders

  • Annulment decree/order and case file

    • Names of the parties and the court/case number
    • Date and nature of the court’s order declaring the marriage void/voidable under law
    • Any associated orders (name change, property-related determinations where applicable)
    • Supporting filings in the case file similar in structure to other civil domestic relations matters

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage records are generally treated as public records, but certified copies are issued under office procedures and may require identification and fees.
    • Some personally identifying details on modern forms may be subject to redaction or limited disclosure under public-records practices.

  • Divorce and annulment court records

    • Case dockets and final judgments are generally public court records, but specific documents or information may be restricted by statute, court rule, or court order.
    • Courts can seal parts of a file or restrict access to protect confidential information (commonly involving minors, financial account numbers, abuse-related protections, and other sensitive data).
    • Certified copies of decrees and orders are issued by the Clerk of Court under court administrative procedures and fee schedules.

Education, Employment and Housing

Lawrence County is in western South Dakota along the Wyoming border, anchored by the Black Hills communities of Spearfish, Deadwood, Sturgis, Lead, and Belle Fourche. The county includes a mix of historic mining/tourism towns and rural ranchland, with a population a little over 25,000 (recent American Community Survey estimates). Housing and commuting patterns reflect this blend: relatively compact town neighborhoods around schools and services, plus lower-density homes and acreages outside municipal areas.

Education Indicators

Public school systems and schools (names)

Public K–12 education is primarily delivered through several districts serving the county’s main communities. A complete, current school roster is maintained via the South Dakota Department of Education district/school directory (the most reliable source for names and openings/closures): see the South Dakota Department of Education district information and the South Dakota Report Card (district and school profiles).

Commonly listed public districts serving Lawrence County include:

  • Spearfish School District
  • Lead-Deadwood School District
  • Sturgis Brown School District
  • Belle Fourche School District

School counts and exact school names vary over time due to grade reconfigurations; the state report card provides the most current official list by district.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: The county’s public-school ratios generally track close to South Dakota averages (often in the mid-teens students per teacher). For district-specific ratios, use the district pages in the South Dakota Report Card, which reports staffing and enrollment in a standardized format.
  • Graduation rates: High school graduation rates in Lawrence County districts generally align with the state’s relatively high graduation performance. The most recent, district-level cohort graduation rates are published in the South Dakota Report Card.

(Countywide aggregation of these metrics is not consistently published; district-level values are the most recent and precise public data.)

Adult educational attainment

Adult education levels are best represented by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Lawrence County is typically in the high-80% to low-90% range in recent ACS 5‑year estimates (proxy range; confirm the latest table values in the county profile).
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Lawrence County typically falls around the upper-20% to mid-30% range in recent ACS 5‑year estimates (proxy range; confirm the latest table values in the county profile).

Primary source: U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov (search “Lawrence County, South Dakota educational attainment”).

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP)

Across Lawrence County districts, commonly available program types include:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): South Dakota districts participate in CTE pathways (trade/technical, agriculture, business/industry-aligned coursework). State CTE framework information is summarized by the South Dakota Department of Education CTE office.
  • Dual credit / postsecondary coordination: Many South Dakota high schools offer dual-credit options through regional postsecondary partners (availability varies by district and year; district course catalogs provide the definitive current list).
  • Advanced coursework: Advanced Placement (AP) and other advanced offerings (such as honors) exist in portions of the region but are not uniform across districts; the most defensible public reference for advanced-course participation and outcomes is district reporting and the state report card where available.

Safety measures and counseling resources

School safety and student supports are typically documented at the district level (handbooks/board policies) rather than in countywide datasets. Common measures across South Dakota districts include controlled building access, visitor management, emergency operations planning, and coordinated response with local law enforcement. Counseling resources usually include school counselors and, in some cases, school-based mental health partnerships; district websites and the state report card provide staffing context where reported. State-level context for student supports is available through the South Dakota Department of Education.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent)

The most current official unemployment estimates are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Lawrence County’s unemployment rate is typically low relative to national levels and fluctuates seasonally with tourism and construction. The definitive most recent annual and monthly values are available via the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) (select South Dakota → counties → Lawrence County).

Major industries and employment sectors

Lawrence County’s employment base reflects Black Hills regional patterns:

  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade
  • Accommodation and food services (tourism-driven, including Deadwood and Black Hills visitation)
  • Construction
  • Educational services
  • Public administration
  • Manufacturing and transportation/warehousing (smaller but locally significant in specific communities)

Industry composition can be quantified using ACS “industry by occupation” tables and commuting flows; the most direct source is data.census.gov (Lawrence County, SD; industry by employed civilian population 16+).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groups in the county generally include:

  • Service occupations (food service, hospitality, protective services)
  • Sales and office
  • Management, business, and financial
  • Construction and extraction
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Education, healthcare practitioners and support

The ACS provides the most recent standardized county occupational distribution (see data.census.gov, occupation tables for Lawrence County, SD).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Typical patterns: A large share of residents commute within the county to the main towns (Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood/Lead, Belle Fourche), with notable cross-county commuting into Meade County (Sturgis/Rapid City regional economy) and Pennington County (Rapid City employment hub).
  • Mean commute time: Lawrence County commute times are typically in the low- to mid-20-minute range in recent ACS estimates (proxy range; confirm current “mean travel time to work” in ACS).

Primary source: ACS commuting tables via data.census.gov.

Local employment vs out-of-county work

The most defensible measure is the Census Bureau’s OnTheMap/LEHD data on resident workers and workplace locations, which shows inflows/outflows between Lawrence County and nearby counties. See Census OnTheMap (LEHD) for the county’s “Inflow/Outflow” and “Work Area/Residence Area” summaries. In the Black Hills region, a meaningful minority of workers typically travel to larger employment centers outside their home county, especially toward Rapid City (Pennington County).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership vs renting

Lawrence County’s tenure mix generally indicates a majority owner-occupied housing stock, with renting concentrated in the larger towns and in areas with tourism/seasonal employment. The most recent owner/renter shares are in the ACS “tenure” tables for Lawrence County, SD on data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: County median values have trended upward in recent years, consistent with statewide and Mountain West spillover pressures plus Black Hills amenity demand. The most recent county median value is reported in ACS “median value (dollars)” tables (owner-occupied units) via data.census.gov.
  • Trend (proxy characterization): Recent years have generally shown appreciation, with variability by town (stronger in Spearfish-area neighborhoods and in locations with easier access to I‑90 and services; more mixed in rural or older-housing submarkets). For transactional price trends, private-market sources exist but are not consistent public records; ACS remains the standard public benchmark for county medians.

Typical rent prices

Median gross rent is published in ACS tables on data.census.gov. Rents typically run higher in the more supply-constrained towns and near major employers/college access (Spearfish) and can be influenced by seasonal demand in tourism-oriented areas (Deadwood/Lead).

Housing types

Housing stock commonly includes:

  • Single-family detached homes (dominant in most neighborhoods)
  • Manufactured housing (present in portions of the county and rural edges)
  • Small multifamily buildings and apartments concentrated in Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood/Lead, and Belle Fourche
  • Rural lots/acreages outside town limits, often with longer travel times to schools, clinics, and retail

The ACS “units in structure” tables provide the most recent countywide distribution by housing type (via data.census.gov).

Neighborhood characteristics (schools and amenities)

Neighborhood form differs by community:

  • Spearfish and Sturgis: More contiguous residential areas with shorter drives to schools, groceries, clinics, and employers; proximity to I‑90 shapes accessibility.
  • Deadwood/Lead: Older, hill terrain neighborhoods with tighter street grids, variable parking, and strong proximity to tourism employment centers.
  • Belle Fourche and rural areas: More dispersed development patterns; larger lots are common outside town centers, increasing reliance on driving for school and services.

Property tax overview

South Dakota relies on local property taxes with state-set classification rules and local levies. A practical overview is provided by the South Dakota Department of Revenue property tax page. Typical homeowner tax bills vary primarily by:

  • Assessed value (market value-based assessment for owner-occupied housing)
  • Local levies (school district, municipality, county)

Countywide “average effective property tax rate” is not published as a single official figure in a way that stays stable across years; the most accurate homeowner cost uses local assessed value and the applicable levy rates for the property’s jurisdiction (county + school + municipal where relevant).

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Other Counties in South Dakota