Codington County is a county in South Dakota, United States, on the Coteau des Prairies in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 28,325 at the 2020 census and covers 717 square miles (1,860 km2) centred near 44°59′N 97°11′W.
Watertown is the county seat, and its postal code is 57201. The county has one city, five incorporated towns, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities, spread across 17 civil townships. Codington County sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 46029.
Towns & Villages in Codington County
Codington County has one city (Watertown, the seat) and five incorporated towns, plus one census-designated place and a handful of unincorporated communities. The table below uses City · seat, Town, CDP, and Unincorp. to mark each place’s status.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | City · seat | Lake | 22,655 | 57201 |
| Florence | Town | — | 337 | 57235 |
| Henry | Town | Henry | — | 57243 |
| Kranzburg | Town | Kranzburg | — | 57245 |
| South Shore | Town | — | — | 57263 |
| Wallace | Town | — | — | 57272 |
| Waverly | CDP | Waverly | — | 57201 |
| Appleby | Unincorp. | — | — | 57201 |
| Grover | Unincorp. | — | — | 57201 |
| Kampeska | Unincorp. | Kampeska | — | 57201 |
| Rauville | Unincorp. | Rauville | — | 57201 |
Green Trees Subdivision and North Shore are two smaller unincorporated developments carried over from earlier place lists; the county has not published separate 2020 population or ZIP data for either, and mail to both is addressed through Watertown, 57201.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Lake | — | Watertown, Green Trees Subdivision, North Shore |
| Waverly | — | Waverly |
| Kranzburg | — | Kranzburg |
| Kampeska | — | Kampeska |
| Henry | — | Henry |
| Rauville | — | Rauville |
| Dexter | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Eden | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Elmira | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Fuller | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Germantown | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Graceland | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Leola | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Pelican | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Phipps | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Richland | — | rural, no incorporated community |
| Sheridan | — | rural, no incorporated community |
ZIP Codes
- 57201 — Watertown (also serves Waverly, Appleby, Grover, Kampeska, and Rauville)
- 57235 — Florence
- 57243 — Henry
- 57245 — Kranzburg
- 57263 — South Shore
- 57272 — Wallace
Six ZIP codes cover the county; every unincorporated place and the Waverly CDP is served through the Watertown post office.
Geography
Codington County sits on the Coteau des Prairies, a rolling glacial highland dotted with lakes and wetlands, especially in the southwest. The terrain is higher along the county’s east and west edges and slopes generally toward the south. Of the county’s 717 square miles, 688 square miles are land and 29 square miles are water — about 4 percent of the total. Lake Kampeska, on Watertown’s west side, is the largest lake and the county’s main recreational draw; the Big Sioux River rises in the county and flows south through Watertown.
Codington County borders Day County to the north, Grant County to the northeast, Deuel County to the southeast, Hamlin County to the south, and Clark County to the west.
Demographics
Codington County had 28,325 residents at the 2020 census, up from earlier counts as Watertown’s regional pull has kept the county growing while much of rural South Dakota shrinks. Watertown, with 22,655 people, is by far the largest community and home to about 80 percent of the county’s population; Florence, with 337 residents, is the largest of the smaller towns. Density works out to roughly 41 people per square mile of land. Codington County’s economy runs somewhat above the South Dakota median of $71,810 in household income, reflecting Watertown’s role as a regional trade and healthcare hub rather than a purely agricultural county.
Economy & Local Life
Watertown anchors the county’s economy as the retail, healthcare, and manufacturing center for a wide swath of northeastern South Dakota, drawing shoppers and patients from Day, Grant, Hamlin, Deuel, and Clark counties. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is the largest employer, and Watertown’s industrial base includes food processing and light manufacturing tied to the surrounding farm economy. Outside the city, corn, soybeans, and cattle dominate the rural townships. Lake Kampeska draws summer boaters and anglers from across the region, and the annual Watertown Winter Farm Show and Codington County Fair are among the area’s biggest community events.
History
Codington County was created by the Dakota Territory legislature in 1877 and organized in 1878, taking its name from Rev. George S. S. Codington, a territorial legislator. Watertown, platted the same year at the falls of the Big Sioux River, grew quickly as a railroad division point and became the county seat. The county’s boundaries and township grid have remained essentially unchanged since the 1880s, and Watertown has since grown into the fifth-largest city in South Dakota, giving the county a more urban character than most of its farming neighbors.
Getting There
Interstate 29 runs north–south through the county along Watertown’s east side, and US Routes 81 and 212 along with South Dakota Highway 20 provide the main local connections.
- Sioux Falls, SD — 96 miles south
- Aberdeen, SD — 60 miles northwest
- Brookings, SD — 40 miles south
- Fargo, ND — 130 miles north
Watertown Regional Airport offers commercial air service; Sioux Falls Regional Airport, about 96 miles south via I-29, is the nearest larger hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Codington County, South Dakota?
It is in the northeastern part of the state, on the Coteau des Prairies, centred near 44°59′N 97°11′W.
What is the population of Codington County?
28,325 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Codington County?
717 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 688 square miles are land and 29 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Codington County?
Watertown is the county seat.
How many towns are in Codington County?
One city (Watertown), five incorporated towns, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities across 17 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Codington County?
57201 (Watertown), 57235 (Florence), 57243 (Henry), 57245 (Kranzburg), 57263 (South Shore), and 57272 (Wallace).
What lake is Codington County known for?
Lake Kampeska, just west of Watertown, is the county’s largest lake and its main recreation spot.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.