Brown County is a county in South Dakota, United States, on the James River in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 38,301 at the 2020 census and covers 1,730.9 square miles (4,483.1 km2), of which 1,713.0 square miles (4,436.7 km2) are land and 17.9 square miles (46.4 km2) are water, centred near 45°36′N 98°21′W.
Aberdeen is the county seat, and its postal code is 57401. The county has 3 incorporated cities, 7 incorporated towns and several unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and anchors the Aberdeen, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Brown County
Brown County has 15 named places: 3 cities (Aberdeen, Columbia, Groton), 7 towns (Claremont, Frederick, Hecla, Stratford, Verdon, Warner, Westport) and 5 unincorporated communities with their own ZIP code (Barnard, Bath, Ferney, Houghton, Mansfield). CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | City · seat | 28,495 | 57401 |
| Groton | City | — | 57445 |
| Columbia | City | — | 57433 |
| Claremont | Town | — | 57432 |
| Frederick | Town | — | 57441 |
| Hecla | Town | — | 57446 |
| Stratford | Town | — | 57474 |
| Verdon | Town | — | 57474 |
| Warner | Town | — | 57479 |
| Westport | Town | — | 57481 |
| Bath | Unincorp. | — | 57427 |
| Houghton | Unincorp. | — | 57449 |
| Mansfield | Unincorp. | — | 57460 |
| Barnard | Unincorp. | — | 57426 |
| Ferney | Unincorp. | — | 57439 |
Aberdeen dominates the county, holding well over three-quarters of its total population. Verdon shares the Stratford ZIP code (57474) rather than carrying its own.
ZIP Codes
- 57401 — Aberdeen (standard delivery)
- 57402 — Aberdeen (PO Box only)
- 57445 — Groton
- 57433 — Columbia
- 57432 — Claremont
- 57441 — Frederick
- 57446 — Hecla
- 57474 — Stratford (also serves Verdon)
- 57479 — Warner
- 57481 — Westport
- 57427 — Bath
- 57449 — Houghton
- 57460 — Mansfield
- 57426 — Barnard (PO Box only)
- 57439 — Ferney (PO Box only)
Geography
Brown County lies on the flat, glaciated plain of the James River Valley in northeastern South Dakota. The James River crosses the county from north to south, and the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge covers wetland habitat in the northeastern part of the county along the river. Land use is dominated by row-crop farming, with corn, soybeans and small grains covering most of the county outside Aberdeen.
Brown County borders Dickey County and Sargent County in North Dakota to the north, Marshall County to the east, Day County to the southeast, Spink County to the south, Faulk County and Edmunds County to the southwest, and McPherson County to the west and northwest.
Demographics
Brown County had 38,301 residents at the 2020 census, its fourth-largest population among South Dakota’s 66 counties. Aberdeen, with 28,495 people, is the largest community by a wide margin; Groton is a distant second. Median household income runs below the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting the county’s mix of agricultural and small-city incomes. Population density works out to roughly 22 people per square mile, concentrated heavily in and around Aberdeen.
Economy & Local Life
Healthcare is the county’s largest employment sector, led by Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, with about 1,500 employees. 3M and Wells Fargo Auto Finance both run major operations in Aberdeen, and Northern State University, founded in 1901, enrolls roughly 2,500 students. Outside Aberdeen, the county’s economy is built on grain and livestock farming across the James River Valley.
History
Brown County was organized on July 6, 1881, and named for Alfred Brown, a Dakota Territory legislator in 1879 who had previously lived in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. Aberdeen grew quickly after the arrival of three separate railroad lines in the 1880s, earning it the nickname “Hub City” and establishing it as the region’s trade and rail center.
Getting There
U.S. Route 12 crosses Brown County east–west through Aberdeen, and U.S. Route 281 runs north–south; South Dakota Highways 10 and 37 provide additional local connections.
- Watertown — 100 miles southeast
- Bismarck, ND — 130 miles northwest
- Sioux Falls — 200 miles south
- Fargo, ND — 140 miles northeast
Aberdeen Regional Airport, in the county seat, offers commercial flights; it is the nearest commercial airport for the whole county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Brown County, South Dakota?
It is in the northeastern part of the state, on the James River, bordering North Dakota.
What is the population of Brown County?
38,301 at the 2020 census, South Dakota’s fourth most populous county.
How big is Brown County?
1,730.9 square miles (4,483.1 km2), of which 17.9 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Brown County?
Aberdeen is the county seat.
How many towns are in Brown County?
3 cities, 7 incorporated towns, and 5 additional named unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Brown County?
57401–57402 (Aberdeen), plus 57426, 57427, 57432, 57433, 57439, 57441, 57445, 57446, 57449, 57460, 57474, 57479 and 57481 for the county’s other communities.
Why is Brown County named Brown?
It is named for Alfred Brown, a Dakota Territory legislator from Hutchinson County who served in 1879.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.