Spink County is a county in South Dakota, United States, in the state’s northeastern plains along the James River. It had a population of 6,361 at the 2020 census and covers 1,510 square miles (3,900 km2) centred near 44°56′N 98°21′W.
Redfield is the county seat, and its postal code is 57469. The county has six incorporated cities, four incorporated towns, and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, including several historic Hutterite colonies. Spink County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Spink County
Spink County has 23 named places on record: six incorporated cities (one of them the county seat), four incorporated towns, and thirteen unincorporated communities. Several of the unincorporated places are Hutterite colonies — communal farming settlements founded by Anabaptist Hutterite families, common across this part of South Dakota. “CDP” below marks Census Designated Places; “Unincorp.” marks places with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redfield | City · seat | 2,214 | 57469 |
| Ashton | City | — | 57424 |
| Conde | City | — | 57434 |
| Doland | City | — | 57436 |
| Frankfort | City | — | 57440 |
| Mellette | City | — | 57461 |
| Brentford | Town | — | 57429 |
| Northville | Town | — | 57465 |
| Tulare | Town | — | 57476 |
| Turton | Town | — | 57477 |
| Athol | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bloomfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Camrose Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clark Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crandon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duxbury | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gallup | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glendale Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hillside Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| LaDelle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mansfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spink Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spottswood | Unincorp. | — | — |
Brentford’s 57429 ZIP is a post-office-box-only designation rather than street delivery. Several of the unincorporated names on this list — Athol, Bloomfield, Crandon, Duxbury, Gallup, LaDelle, Mansfield and Spottswood — are historic rail-siding or farming settlements with no ZIP of their own; mail there is served through the nearest incorporated town.
ZIP Codes
- 57469 — Redfield (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
- 57434 — Conde
- 57436 — Doland
- 57440 — Frankfort
- 57424 — Ashton
- 57461 — Mellette
- 57465 — Northville
- 57476 — Tulare
- 57477 — Turton
- 57429 — Brentford (PO Box delivery only)
The unincorporated communities and Hutterite colonies use the ZIP code of whichever incorporated town lies nearest.
Geography
Spink County occupies rolling glaciated plains given over almost entirely to agriculture. The James River flows south through the middle of the county, and the highest ground, about 1,424 feet (434 meters) above sea level, sits in the northeast corner. Of the county’s 1,510 square miles, 1,504 square miles are land and 5.8 square miles are water.
Spink County borders Brown County to the north, Day County to the northeast, Clark County to the east, Beadle County to the south, Hand County to the southwest, and Faulk County to the west.
Demographics
Spink County had 6,361 residents at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 1,504 square miles of land for a density of about 4.2 people per square mile. Redfield, with 2,214 residents, is by far the county’s largest place and home to more than a third of the county population; Doland and Conde are the next-largest incorporated towns, each with a few hundred residents. The county’s median household income trails the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting its sparsely populated, agriculture-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Farming and ranching drive Spink County’s economy, with grain and livestock operations across the surrounding plains. The South Dakota Developmental Center, a state-run residential facility on a campus just north of Redfield, is one of the county’s largest employers; it traces back to 1902, when the site opened as the Northern Hospital for the Insane. Redfield markets itself as the “Pheasant Capital of the World,” and fall pheasant hunting brings seasonal visitors and revenue to the county.
History
Spink County was created in 1873 and organized in 1879, while South Dakota was still Dakota Territory; it became part of South Dakota at statehood in 1889. The county is named for Solomon L. Spink, a Dakota Territory delegate to the U.S. Congress. Redfield grew into a regional hub as a crossroads of two Chicago and North Western Railway lines, later also served by the Milwaukee Road; Redfield College operated in the city from 1887 to 1932. Like much of the rural Great Plains, the county lost a large share of its population after the Great Depression as farms consolidated and residents moved to larger towns.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 212 and U.S. Highway 281 cross at Redfield, giving the county its main road connections.
- Aberdeen — about 40 miles north
- Huron — about 45 miles south
- Watertown — about 70 miles east
- Pierre — about 90 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Aberdeen Regional Airport in neighboring Brown County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Spink County, South Dakota?
It is in the northeastern part of South Dakota, along the James River, roughly 40 miles south of Aberdeen.
What is the population of Spink County?
6,361 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Spink County?
1,510 square miles (3,900 km2), of which 1,504 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Spink County?
Redfield, which is also the county’s largest city.
How many towns are in Spink County?
Ten incorporated cities and towns, plus about a dozen smaller unincorporated communities and Hutterite colonies.
What ZIP codes are in Spink County?
Ten ZIP codes cover the county, led by 57469 for Redfield; see the ZIP Codes section above for the full list.
Why is Redfield called the “Pheasant Capital of the World”?
The area’s grain fields and grasslands support one of South Dakota’s densest ring-necked pheasant populations, drawing hunters every fall.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.