Day County is a county in South Dakota, United States, in the northeastern lakes district of the state. It had a population of 5,449 at the 2020 census and covers 1,091 square miles (2,830 km2) of which 63 square miles are water, centred near 45°22′N 97°37′W.
Webster is the county seat, and its postal code is 57274. The county has 3 incorporated cities, 5 incorporated towns, 1 census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Day County
Day County has nine incorporated places plus one census-designated place and a handful of unincorporated communities scattered among its many lakes. Cities are the larger, older platted municipalities; towns are smaller incorporated municipalities under South Dakota law; CDP marks an unincorporated but statistically defined community; Unincorp. marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster | City · seat | — | 57274 |
| Bristol | City | — | 57219 |
| Waubay | City | — | 57273 |
| Andover | Town | — | 57422 |
| Butler | Town | — | — |
| Grenville | Town | — | 57239 |
| Pierpont | Town | — | 57468 |
| Roslyn | Town | — | 57261 |
| Enemy Swim | CDP | — | — |
| Amsden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crandall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holmquist | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lily | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 57274 — Webster (also serves Butler)
- 57219 — Bristol
- 57273 — Waubay (also serves Enemy Swim)
- 57422 — Andover
- 57239 — Grenville
- 57468 — Pierpont
- 57261 — Roslyn (also serves Amsden, Crandall, Holmquist, Lily)
Butler and the smaller unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and use the ZIP code of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Day County sits in South Dakota’s Coteau des Prairies lake country: rolling hills used chiefly for agriculture, dotted with numerous lakes and ponds, especially in the east. The land slopes down from the northeast corner, the county’s highest point at 2,014 feet (614 meters), toward the west. Waubay Lake and the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge cover much of the eastern part of the county.
Day County borders Marshall County to the north, Roberts County to the east, Grant County to the southeast, Codington County to the south-southeast, Clark County to the south, Spink County to the southwest, and Brown County to the west.
Demographics
Day County’s population was 5,449 at the 2020 census. Webster and Waubay are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting an agricultural, lake-country economy with a smaller population base than the state’s cities. Population density works out to roughly 5.3 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Day County’s economy, principally corn, soybeans and cattle grazing across its rolling farmland. Sport fishing and lake recreation are a second pillar, centred on Waubay Lake, Enemy Swim Lake and Bitter Lake, drawing seasonal visitors to the county’s many public access points. Webster serves as the county’s retail, medical and government hub. The Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, headquartered near Waubay, is a year-round draw for birdwatchers.
History
Day County was organized in 1880, during the Dakota Territory period, and named for Merritt H. Day, a pioneer and Dakota Territory legislator who helped push for its creation in 1879. Webster was platted as the county seat as the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway extended into the area, and the county’s small rail towns — Bristol, Andover, Grenville, Pierpont and Roslyn — grew up along that line through the 1880s.
Getting There
U.S. Route 12 runs east-west through Webster and Waubay, and South Dakota Highways 25 and 27 cross the county north-south.
- Watertown — 30 miles southeast
- Aberdeen — 40 miles west
- Sisseton — 35 miles northeast
- Fargo, ND — 110 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Watertown Regional Airport, about 30 miles southeast of Webster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Day County?
It is in the northeastern lakes region of South Dakota, about 30 miles northwest of Watertown.
What is the population of Day County?
5,449 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Day County?
1,091 square miles (2,830 km2), including 63 square miles of water.
What is the Day County seat?
Webster is the county seat.
How many towns are in Day County?
Nine incorporated cities and towns, plus the census-designated place of Enemy Swim and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Day County?
57274 (Webster), 57219 (Bristol), 57273 (Waubay), 57422 (Andover), 57239 (Grenville), 57468 (Pierpont) and 57261 (Roslyn).
Why is it called Day County?
It is named for Merritt H. Day, a Dakota Territory legislator who worked to have the county organized in 1879–1880.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.