Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota

Written by:
April 15, 2021
Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Gregory County

- Population: 4,186
- Born in South Dakota: 3,157 (75.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 966 (23.1% of population)
--- Midwest (17.2%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.5%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 56 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Clark County

- Population: 3,685
- Born in South Dakota: 2,789 (75.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 821 (22.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.9%), West (8.1%)
- Born in another country: 70 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Spink County

- Population: 6,483
- Born in South Dakota: 4,927 (76.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,502 (23.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (1.7%), West (7.6%)
- Born in another country: 45 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Turner County

- Population: 8,300
- Born in South Dakota: 6,308 (76.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,873 (22.6% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.3%), West (5.5%)
- Born in another country: 95 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Aurora County

- Population: 2,763
- Born in South Dakota: 2,115 (76.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 507 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (10.0%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.6%), West (4.8%)
- Born in another country: 131 (4.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.5%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (4.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Sdgjake // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Douglas County

- Population: 2,929
- Born in South Dakota: 2,254 (77.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 611 (20.9% of population)
--- Midwest (15.3%), Northeast (1.3%), South (1.0%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 64 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (2.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Runner1928 // Wikimedia Commons

#24. McCook County

- Population: 5,548
- Born in South Dakota: 4,304 (77.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,102 (19.9% of population)
--- Midwest (12.6%), Northeast (0.3%), South (2.5%), West (4.4%)
- Born in another country: 135 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.8%), North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jon Roanhaus // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Kingsbury County

- Population: 4,944
- Born in South Dakota: 3,836 (77.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,076 (21.8% of population)
--- Midwest (14.4%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.8%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 18 (0.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Amphibol // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Brule County

- Population: 5,258
- Born in South Dakota: 4,089 (77.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,094 (20.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.7%), West (6.3%)
- Born in another country: 58 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Potter County

- Population: 2,315
- Born in South Dakota: 1,806 (78.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 437 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (1.2%), South (3.8%), West (5.3%)
- Born in another country: 62 (2.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.8%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Todd County

- Population: 10,195
- Born in South Dakota: 8,009 (78.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,971 (19.3% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (1.3%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 200 (2.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.9%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J. Stephen Conn // Flickr

#19. Edmunds County

- Population: 3,909
- Born in South Dakota: 3,073 (78.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 773 (19.8% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.7%), West (5.6%)
- Born in another country: 49 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.5%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J. Stephen Conn // Flickr

#18. Hand County

- Population: 3,256
- Born in South Dakota: 2,563 (78.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 660 (20.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.6%), South (4.1%), West (5.3%)
- Born in another country: 19 (0.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Sully County

- Population: 1,305
- Born in South Dakota: 1,029 (78.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 271 (20.8% of population)
--- Midwest (14.0%), Northeast (1.4%), South (1.6%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: (0.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Tripp County

- Population: 5,458
- Born in South Dakota: 4,305 (78.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,059 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (13.9%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.4%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 90 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr

#15. Day County

- Population: 5,486
- Born in South Dakota: 4,355 (79.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,091 (19.9% of population)
--- Midwest (13.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.2%), West (4.9%)
- Born in another country: 31 (0.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Canva

#14. Haakon County

- Population: 2,018
- Born in South Dakota: 1,607 (79.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 396 (19.6% of population)
--- Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (0.4%), South (2.5%), West (5.2%)
- Born in another country: 9 (0.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Canva

#13. Stanley County

- Population: 3,017
- Born in South Dakota: 2,439 (80.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 532 (17.6% of population)
--- Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.9%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 21 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Rolf Blauert Dk4hb // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Lyman County

- Population: 3,848
- Born in South Dakota: 3,142 (81.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 660 (17.2% of population)
--- Midwest (10.8%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.0%), West (4.5%)
- Born in another country: 30 (0.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Charles Mix County

- Population: 9,349
- Born in South Dakota: 7,655 (81.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,631 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.0%), Northeast (0.5%), South (2.0%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 41 (0.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Canva

#10. Mellette County

- Population: 2,052
- Born in South Dakota: 1,685 (82.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 363 (17.7% of population)
--- Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.5%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 4 (0.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Sdgjake // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Hutchinson County

- Population: 7,308
- Born in South Dakota: 6,015 (82.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,224 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (1.9%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 62 (0.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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J. Stephen Conn // Flickr

#8. Sanborn County

- Population: 2,379
- Born in South Dakota: 1,960 (82.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 391 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (0.3%), South (1.6%), West (5.7%)
- Born in another country: 27 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.4%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jon Roanhaus // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Hanson County

- Population: 3,399
- Born in South Dakota: 2,813 (82.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 573 (16.9% of population)
--- Midwest (8.1%), Northeast (2.0%), South (3.5%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 4 (0.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Jackson County

- Population: 3,290
- Born in South Dakota: 2,727 (82.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 539 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (7.8%), Northeast (0.3%), South (2.2%), West (5.9%)
- Born in another country: 24 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Canva

#5. Oglala Lakota County

- Population: 14,335
- Born in South Dakota: 12,023 (83.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,224 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (9.6%), Northeast (0.5%), South (0.8%), West (4.5%)
- Born in another country: 50 (0.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Faulk County

- Population: 2,312
- Born in South Dakota: 1,940 (83.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 372 (16.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.7%), Northeast (1.5%), South (0.4%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: (0.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Runner1928 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Dewey County

- Population: 5,833
- Born in South Dakota: 4,950 (84.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 858 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (0.2%), South (1.4%), West (3.4%)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Ziebach County

- Population: 2,791
- Born in South Dakota: 2,438 (87.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 329 (11.8% of population)
--- Midwest (4.8%), Northeast (1.5%), South (0.9%), West (4.6%)
- Born in another country: 20 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Harry Weddington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Buffalo County

- Population: 2,026
- Born in South Dakota: 1,876 (92.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 143 (7.1% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (0.4%), South (0.6%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: (0.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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