Minnehaha County is a county on the eastern border of the state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 197,214, making it the state's most populous county, and was estimated to be 212,691 in 2025. It contains over 22.56% of the state's population.Based on the 2024 Estimate: 208,639 / 924,669 (SD pop.) = 22.56% Its county seat is Sioux Falls, South Dakota's most populous city. The county was created on April 5, 1862 and organized in 1868. Its name was derived from the Sioux word Mnihaha, meaning "rapid water," or "waterfall" (often incorrectly translated as "laughing water").
Minnehaha County is part of the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, the state's largest.
Geography
Minnehaha County lies on the east side of South Dakota. Its eastern boundary abuts Minnesota as well as the northern and western boundaries of Iowa. The Big Sioux River flows south-southeast through the east central part of the county. Its terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture except around built-up areas, and dotted with lakes and ponds in its western portion. Its terrain generally slopes southward, and the east and west edges slope to the river valley through the center of the county. Its highest point is in the northwest corner, at ASL.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water. It is the 13th largest county in South Dakota by total area.
Major highways
I-229 Downtown South Dakota Highway 11 South Dakota Highway 19 South Dakota Highway 38 South Dakota Highway 42 South Dakota Highway 115
Transit Jefferson Lines at Sioux Falls Bus Station Sioux Area Metro
Airports Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) Wheelborg Landing Field, a small airport in Dell Rapids
Adjacent counties
Moody County – north Pipestone County, Minnesota – northeast Rock County, Minnesota – east Lyon County, Iowa – southeast Lincoln County – south Turner County – southwest McCook County – west Lake County – northwest
Protected areas
Beaver Creek State Recreation Area Big Sioux State Recreation Area Diamond Lake State Game Production Area Falls Park Island Lake State Game Production Area (part) Palisades State Park Pederson State Game Production Area Scott Lake State Game Production Area Twin Lakes State Game Production Area Wall Lake State Lakeside Use Area
Lakes, rivers and streams Source:
Beaver Creek Beaver Lake Big Sioux River Buffalo Lake Clear Lake Covell Lake Diamond Lake Fenstrman Slough Grass Lake Island Lake (partial) Lake Lorane Loss Lake Lost Lake Rehfeldt Slough Scott Lake Skunk Creek Split Rock Creek Twin Lake Wall Lake
Demographics
Minnehaha County, South Dakota – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 White alone (NH) 107,032(97.80%) 120,047(96.96%) 136,632(92.14%) 146,159(86.25%) 155,740(78.97%) Black or African American alone (NH) 268(0.24%) 739(0.60%) 2,217(1.50%) 6,326(3.73%) 11,411(5.79%) Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,118(1.02%) 1,645(1.33%) 2,678(1.81%) 3,933(2.32%) 4,807(2.44%) Asian alone (NH) 345(0.32%) 689(0.56%) 1,480(1.00%) 2,489(1.47%) 4,568(2.32%) Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 55(0.04%) 76(0.04%) 71(0.04%) Other race alone (NH) 204(0.19%) 41(0.03%) 98(0.07%) 189(0.11%) 554(0.28%) Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 1,934(1.30%) 3,314(1.96%) 8,029(4.07%) Hispanic or Latino (any race) 468(0.43%) 648(0.52%) 3,187(2.15%) 6,982(4.12%) 12,034(6.10%) Total 109,435(100.00%) 123,809(100.00%) 148,281(100.00%) 169,468(100.00%) 197,214(100.00%)
Recent estimates As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Minnehaha County was $305,100.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 82,394 estimated households in Minnehaha County with an average of 2.37 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $76,074. Approximately 9.7% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Minnehaha County has an estimated 74.2% employment rate, with 34.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.1% holding a high school diploma.
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (87.2%), Spanish (5.6%), Indo-European (2.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.4%), and Other (3.4%).
2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 197,214 people, 78,715 households, and 48,690 families residing in the county.
Of the residents, 25.0% were under the age of 18 and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males. The population density was . There were 83,717 housing units at an average density of . Of those units, 6.0% were vacant, 62.5% of occupied units were owner-occupied, and 37.5% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.
The racial makeup of the county was 80.3% White, 5.8% Black or African American, 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% Asian, 2.9% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.1% of the population.
Of the 78,715 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 30.4% were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 169,468 people, 67,028 households, and 42,052 families in the county. The population density was . There were 71,557 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.05% White, 3.78% African American, 2.48% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from some other races and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.12% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 43.8% were German, 17.7% were Norwegian, 11.6% were Irish, 6.8% were Dutch, 6.3% were English, and 3.2% were American.
Of the 67,028 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.3% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 34.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $51,799 and the median income for a family was $64,645. Males had a median income of $40,187 versus $31,517 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,392. About 6.9% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Politics Minnehaha is somewhat conservative for an urban county. Only four Democratic presidential candidates in five different elections have carried the county since 1940, and in only two of those elections did the Democrat obtained a majority of the county's vote.
In the South Dakota Legislature, Sioux Falls falls into Districts 9-15, with each district electing two Representatives and one Senator. Only two out of seven districts (10th and 15th) are represented by Democrats.
Communities Cities
Baltic Brandon Colton Crooks Dell Rapids Garretson Hartford Sioux Falls (county seat and largest community; small portion extends to Lincoln County) Valley Springs
Towns Humboldt Sherman
Census-designated places Anderson Lyons Meadow View Addition Pine Lakes Addition Renner Corner Rowena
Unincorporated communities Source:
Andy's Acres Benclare Booge Corson Ellis Huntimer Midway Morefield Renner
Townships
Benton Brandon Buffalo Burk Clear Lake Dell Rapids Edison Grand Meadow Hartford Highland Humboldt Logan Lyons Mapleton Palisade Red Rock Sioux Falls Split Rock Sverdrup Taopi Valley Springs Wall Lake Wayne Wellington
Historical townsites
East Sioux Falls Eminija South Sioux Falls West Sioux Falls Wingert
Education School districts in the county include: - Text list
Baltic School District 49-1 Brandon Valley School District 49-2 Canton School District 41-1 Chester School District 39-1 Dell Rapids School District 49-3 Garretson School District 49-4 Harrisburg School District 41-2 Lennox School District 41-4 Montrose School District 43-2 Parker School District 60-4 Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Tea Area School District 41-5 Tri-Valley School District 49-6 West Central School District 49-7
Various rural schools operated in the county's history.
See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Minnehaha County, South Dakota
References
External links
Minnehaha County, SD government website Envision 2045 Comprehensive Plan webpage