Bennett County, South Dakota

Bennett County, South Dakota
Art Deco style Inland Theater at Martin, SD.
Map of South Dakota highlighting Bennett County
Location in the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded 1912
Named for John E. Bennett or Granville G. Bennett
Seat Martin
Largest city Martin
Area
 • Total 1,191 sq mi (3,085 km2)
 • Land 1,185 sq mi (3,069 km2)
 • Water 5.8 sq mi (15 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2016) 3,460
 • Density 2.9/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC−7/−6

Bennett County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,431.[1] Its county seat is Martin.[2] The county lies completely within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. [3] To the east is the Rosebud Indian Reservation, occupied by Sicangu Oyate, also known the Upper Brulé Sioux Nation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST), a branch of the Lakota people.

The North American continental pole of inaccessibility is in Bennett County, located 1650 km (1024 mi) from the nearest coastline, between Allen and Kyle (Oglala Lakota County) at 43°22′N 101°58′W / 43.36°N 101.97°W / 43.36; -101.97 (Pole of Inaccessibility North America).[4]

Bennett County lies entirely within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

History

This land has for centuries been the traditional territory of the Oglala Lakota, also known as the Sioux and have been part of their legally defined territory since the treaty of 1851 and has remained within its legal boundaries through various other Treaties and Acts that reduced their land base to the current boundaries of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation when the reservation was created by the Act of March 2nd, 1889 25 Stat. 888.[5] Despite its reservation status, most of the county was opened up for settlement by the Act of May 27th, 1910 where the US Congress "authorized and directed the Secretary of Interior to sell and dispose of all that portion of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in the State of South Dakota, lying and being in Bennett County. Open settlement was ended by Secretarial Order dated June 10, 1936 which restored "to tribal ownership of all lands which are now, or may hereafter be, classified as undisposed-of surplus opened lands of the Pine Ridge Reservation....[6]

The county was created in 1909 and organized in 1912.[7] The land was part of Fall River County until the European-American organization of Bennett County in 1912. That year on April 27, its first board of county commissioners was elected. In November 1912, residents chose the town of Martin as the county seat.

Dispute Over Reservation Status

In 1975 in Cook v. Parkinson 525 F.2d 120 (8th Cir. 1975) ruled that Bennett County was not considered part of the Pine Ridge Reservation. However, "the United States participated only as amicus before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cook v. Parkinson, 525 F.2d 120 (8th Cir. 1975) and is not bound by that decision because it did not participate in the litigation. The United States was a party in United States v. Bennett County, 394 F.2d 8 (8th Cir. 1968), in which the State of South Dakota had to obtain permission from the Department of Interior in order to fix roads or condemn property in Bennett County, consistent with the property's reservation status [8]" as well as Putnam v. United States 248 F.2d 292 (8th Cir. 1957) which ruled that "Bennett County is within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation created by the Act of Congress of March 2, 1889, 25 Stat. 888." The Federal Government recognizes Bennett County as being entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. More recently in 2004, in State of South Dakota v. Acting Great Plains Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs Docket Number IBIA3-24-A the State of South Dakota argued against an Oglala Sioux Tribal member's application to the BIA to return a 10-acre tract of land in Bennett County into Federal Trust arguing it was outside of the Boundary of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The judge ruled in favor of the applicant and Bureau of Indian Affairs' affirmint that Bennett County is indeed within the boundaries of the Reservation.[9]

Native/Non-Native Relations

Both Lakota and European Americans have worked during recent decades to improve relations between the groups, which residents commonly refer to as full-bloods, mixed-bloods (usually both identified as Native American) and whites. Intermarriage continues between the groups and cooperation has been increasing.[10] In the mid-1990s, residents co-sponsored a concurrent powwow and rodeo in the county.[11] Historically ranching and dry land farming have been the chief agricultural pursuits possible given climate and soil conditions.

By the 1990s, people of Native American descent comprised the majority of county residents. In the 2000 Census, 5.7% of the people in Bennett County identified as mixed-race Native American-European American (more Lakota socially identify as having mixed-race ancestry)[11] This is the highest percentage of any county within US boundaries, except northeastern Oklahoma and White Earth Indian Reservation in northwestern Minnesota.[11]

The area made national headlines in 2014 when the entire township of Swett was put up for sale. The township's two residents listed six acres and all property in the township for sale for nearly $400,000.[12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,191 square miles (3,080 km2), of which 1,185 square miles (3,070 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (0.5%) is water.[13]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191096—
19201,9241,904.2%
19304,590138.6%
19403,983−13.2%
19503,396−14.7%
19603,053−10.1%
19703,0881.1%
19803,044−1.4%
19903,2065.3%
20003,57411.5%
20103,431−4.0%
Est. 20173,454[14]0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]
1990-2000[18] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 3,574 people, 1,123 households, and 818 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,278 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 40.91% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 52.07% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 6.38% from two or more races. 2.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.2% were of German and 6.1% of Irish ancestry.

There were 1,123 households out of which 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.60% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.74.

In the county, the population was spread out with 36.30% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 18.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males. The county's per-capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $28,363. Males had a median income of $26,042 versus $17,472 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,106. About 30.30% of families and 39.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.80% of those under age 18 and 23.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,431 people, 1,090 households, and 766 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 2.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 1,263 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.42/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 61.5% American Indian, 33.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 20.9% were German, 5.1% were Swedish, and 1.9% were American.[22]

Of the 1,090 households, 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.73. The median age was 28.7 years.[20]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,841 and the median income for a family was $38,487. Males had a median income of $40,158 versus $31,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,153. About 24.3% of families and 32.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.[23]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Other places (non-governmental)

Territorial places

The county is divided into two areas of unorganized territory: East Bennett and West Bennett

Historic places

Census-designated places

Politics

Bennett is a solidly Republican county in Presidential elections. It has not been carried by a Democratic Presidential nominee since Lyndon Johnson’s landslide of 1964, although vis-à-vis most West River counties it has a sizeable Democratic vote due to its substantial Native American population, so that both John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008 – probably aided by local opposition to the “War on Terrorism” – came within five percentage points of carrying the county. However, as with most Native American counties, Bennett County was to show a substantial swing towards Donald Trump in 2016.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 58.0% 666 35.9% 412 6.2% 71
2012 52.0% 626 45.6% 548 2.4% 29
2008 50.8% 614 46.1% 557 3.1% 37
2004 51.1% 833 46.6% 759 2.3% 38
2000 63.8% 712 33.8% 377 2.4% 27
1996 47.1% 539 44.3% 507 8.6% 99
1992 46.5% 556 34.5% 413 19.0% 228
1988 52.5% 663 45.9% 579 1.6% 20
1984 65.1% 856 34.4% 453 0.5% 7
1980 69.4% 919 26.4% 350 4.2% 55
1976 54.9% 610 43.3% 481 1.8% 20
1972 62.8% 808 37.0% 476 0.2% 2
1968 53.9% 665 37.1% 457 9.0% 111
1964 44.6% 624 55.4% 775
1960 56.2% 779 43.8% 607
1956 52.1% 746 47.9% 685
1952 62.9% 873 37.2% 516
1948 38.1% 477 60.5% 758 1.4% 17
1944 46.6% 494 53.4% 566
1940 51.6% 915 48.5% 860
1936 39.3% 530 59.8% 807 0.9% 12
1932 23.7% 453 73.9% 1,410 2.4% 45
1928 58.2% 766 41.3% 544 0.5% 7
1924 57.1% 444 13.1% 102 29.8% 232
1920 48.7% 220 44.0% 199 7.3% 33
1916 22.6% 67 74.8% 222 2.7% 8
1912 70.8% 179 29.3% 74

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Suzanne R. Schaeffer, Assistant Solicitor, Environment, Land and Minerals Branch, Division of Indian Affairs
  4. ↑ Garcia-Castellanos, D.; U. Lombardo (2007). "Poles of Inaccessibility: A Calculation Algorithm for the Remotest Places on Earth" (PDF). Scottish Geographical Journal. 123 (3): 227–233. doi:10.1080/14702540801897809. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2008. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) () - p. 231: "Region: America, North Longitude (deg. E.) -101.97 Latitude (deg. N.) 43.36 distance (km) 1639 uncertainty (km) +14 Altitude (m) 1030"
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ Suzanne R. Schaeffer, Assistant Solicitor, Environment, Land and Minerals Branch, Division of Indian Affairs
  9. ↑ "State of South Dakota and Bennett County, South Dakota v. Acting Great Plains Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affair" (PDF). oha.doi.gov. October 3rd, 2018. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ↑ Gwen Florio, "Indians Show Political Clout; Natives Throng Polls in 'White' S.D. County", The Denver Post, January 8, 2003, accessed 8 June 2011
  11. 1 2 3 Sterling Fluharty, "Review of Wagoner, Paula L., 'They Treated Us Just Like Indians': The Worlds of Bennett County, South Dakota", H-AmIndian, H-Net Reviews, March 2004, accessed 8 June 2011
  12. ↑ "Buy a town: Swett, South Dakota for sale". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  13. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  19. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  20. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  21. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  22. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  23. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  24. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-04-13.

Coordinates: 43°11′N 101°40′W / 43.18°N 101.66°W / 43.18; -101.66

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