Hughes County, South Dakota

Hughes County
Hughes County Courthouse in Pierre
Map of South Dakota highlighting Hughes County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°23′N 99°59′W / 44.39°N 99.99°W / 44.39; -99.99
Country United States
State South Dakota
FoundedJanuary 8, 1873 (created)
November 26, 1880 (organized)
Named forAlexander Hughes
SeatPierre
Largest cityPierre
Area
 • Total801 sq mi (2,070 km2)
 • Land742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Water59 sq mi (150 km2)  7.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,765
 • Estimate 
(2023)
17,624 Decrease
 • Density22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.hughescounty.org

Hughes County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,765, making it the least populous capital county in the nation, and the 12th most populous county in South Dakota.[1] Its county seat is Pierre,[2] which is also the state capital. The county was created in 1873, and was organized in 1880. It was named for Alexander Hughes, a legislator.[3] On June 4, 1891, the county's area was increased by the addition of Farm Island, in the Missouri River downstream of Pierre.[4]

Hughes County is part of the Pierre, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 162.
  4. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2015.