McPherson County is a county in South Dakota, United States, in the north-central part of the state along the North Dakota border. It had a population of 2,411 at the 2020 census and covers 1,152 square miles (2,982 km2) centred near 45°46′N 99°13′W.
Leola is the county seat, and its postal code is 57456. The county has 2 cities, 3 towns, 3 unincorporated Hutterite colonies and 2 unincorporated communities, organized into 5 civil townships. McPherson County is in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 46089.
Towns & Villages in McPherson County
McPherson County has ten named places: two incorporated cities, three incorporated towns, three census-designated Hutterite colonies, and two unincorporated communities. Eureka is the county’s largest city; Leola is both a city and the county seat. The table below lists each place with its type and known ZIP code.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka | City | — | 57437 |
| Leola | City · seat | — | 57456 |
| Hillsview | Town | — | — |
| Long Lake | Town | — | — |
| Wetonka | Town | — | — |
| Grassland Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Long Lake Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Spring Creek Colony | CDP | — | — |
| Greenway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Madra | Unincorp. | — | — |
The town of Long Lake and the census-designated Long Lake Colony share a name but are separate places; the colony is a Hutterite communal farm distinct from the incorporated town.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Carl | — | — |
| Hoffman | — | — |
| Wachter | — | — |
| Wacker | — | — |
| Weber | — | — |
McPherson County is organized into five civil townships. Per-township 2020 census populations are not separately published; the county’s total population of 2,411 covers all five plus the incorporated places above.
ZIP Codes
- 57437 — Eureka
- 57456 — Leola (post office town)
Hillsview, Long Lake, Wetonka and the county’s rural colonies and townships use the Eureka or Leola post office for mail delivery.
Geography
McPherson County’s terrain is rolling hills used mostly for small-grain farming, dotted with small glacial lakes and ponds. The land slopes generally to the south and east. Of the county’s 1,152 square miles, 1,137 square miles are land and 15 square miles are water.
The county borders four counties. To the north lie McIntosh County and Dickey County, both in North Dakota. Brown County lies to the east, Edmunds County to the south, Walworth County to the southwest, and Campbell County to the west.
Demographics
McPherson County had 2,411 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 2.1 people per square mile — one of the more sparsely populated counties in South Dakota. Eureka and Leola are its two largest communities. Household income data specific to the county is not separately verified here; South Dakota’s statewide median household income is $71,810 (2023 ACS), and rural counties of this size and density typically run below the state figure.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the local economy, chiefly wheat and other small grains grown on the county’s rolling farmland, alongside cattle grazing on land too broken or wet to plow. Three Hutterite colonies — Grassland, Long Lake and Spring Creek — farm communally within the county and are a distinctive part of its rural economy, running their own dairies, workshops and machine shops in addition to row-crop and livestock operations. Eureka and Leola each host the small-town retail, grain-elevator and farm-service businesses typical of the region.
History
McPherson County was created in 1873, during the Dakota Territory era, and organized as a working county government in 1884. It is named for Union Army General James B. McPherson, killed in action during the Civil War’s Atlanta campaign in 1864. Like much of north-central South Dakota, the county was settled largely by German-Russian and Scandinavian homesteaders in the 1880s and 1890s, a heritage still visible in Eureka’s and Leola’s older churches and the county’s Hutterite colonies.
Getting There
South Dakota Highways 10, 45, 47, 239 and 247 cross the county.
- Aberdeen, South Dakota — southeast via SD Highway 10
- Bismarck, North Dakota — northwest via US routes through North Dakota
- Mobridge, South Dakota — south via SD Highway 10
Aberdeen Regional Airport, southeast of the county, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is McPherson County?
It sits in the north-central part of South Dakota, on the North Dakota border.
What is the population of McPherson County?
2,411 people at the 2020 census.
How big is McPherson County?
1,152 square miles (2,982 km2), of which 15 square miles is water.
What is the McPherson County seat?
Leola is the county seat.
How many towns are in McPherson County?
Ten named places: two cities, three towns, three Hutterite colonies and two unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in McPherson County?
57437 (Eureka) and 57456 (Leola) are the county’s confirmed ZIP codes.
What are the Hutterite colonies in McPherson County?
Grassland Colony, Long Lake Colony and Spring Creek Colony are all census-designated Hutterite communal farms within the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.