Davison County is a county in South Dakota, United States, on the James River Basin’s rolling plains east of the Missouri River. It had a population of 19,956 at the 2020 census and covers 437 square miles (1,130 km2) centred near 43°41′N 98°10′W.
Mitchell is the county seat, and its postal code is 57301. The county holds two cities, one town, one census-designated place and 12 civil townships. It sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS county code 035.
Towns & Villages in Davison County
Davison County has four organized communities plus a handful of small rural places carried over from older listings. Mitchell, the seat, is by far the largest; the rest are small townships or unincorporated crossroads. Legend: City · seat = county seat, CDP = census-designated place, Unincorp. = unincorporated place with no formal municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | City · seat | Mitchell Township | 15,660 | 57301 |
| Mount Vernon | City | Mount Vernon Township | 438 | 57363 |
| Ethan | Town | Lisbon Township | 326 | 57334 |
| Loomis | CDP | Rome Township | — | — |
| Betts | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Metzgerville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| River Bluff Addition | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Betts, Metzgerville and River Bluff Addition carry over from earlier settlement lists but have no confirmed current population or ZIP data; they are kept here as historic place names pending verification.
Townships
Davison County is divided into 12 civil townships. Reliable per-township 2020 population figures are not publicly tabulated for most of them, so this list gives the township names and their principal known settlement only.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | — | Mitchell |
| Mount Vernon | — | Mount Vernon |
| Lisbon | — | Ethan |
| Rome | — | Loomis |
| Badger | — | — |
| Baker | — | — |
| Beulah | — | — |
| Blenden | — | — |
| Perry | — | — |
| Prosper | — | — |
| Tobin | — | — |
| Union | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 57301 — Mitchell (also serves the county’s rural core)
- 57363 — Mount Vernon
- 57334 — Ethan
Loomis and the county’s smaller rural places share the Mitchell ZIP for mail delivery.
Geography
Davison County lies on gently rolling plains drained by Firesteel Creek, a tributary of the James River, which flows through the county’s eastern half. The land is devoted largely to row-crop and cattle agriculture, with the highest point, at 1,667 feet, on the county’s southwestern border.
Davison County borders Sanborn County to the north, Hanson County to the east, Hutchinson County to the southeast, Douglas County to the southwest, and Aurora County to the west.
Demographics
Davison County had 19,956 residents at the 2020 census. Mitchell and Mount Vernon are its two largest communities. The county’s density works out to roughly 46 people per square mile. Median household income in the county runs below the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting the mix of city wage jobs in Mitchell and lower-income farm households in the surrounding townships.
Economy & Local Life
Mitchell anchors the county’s economy as a regional trade and healthcare hub for south-central South Dakota, home to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Mitchell Technical College. Agriculture, particularly corn and soybean farming and cattle operations, dominates the townships outside the city. Mitchell hosts the annual Corn Palace Festival each August, centred on the Corn Palace, the county’s best-known landmark.
History
Davison County was created by the Dakota Territorial legislature in 1873 and organized the following year. It was named for Henry C. Davison, credited as the county’s first settler, who arrived at Firesteel Creek in 1871. Mitchell grew rapidly after the railroad reached it in the 1880s and later became home to Dakota Wesleyan University and the Corn Palace, both still central to the city’s identity.
Getting There
Interstate 90 crosses the county east–west through Mitchell, along with South Dakota Highways 37 and 42.
- Sioux Falls — 65 miles east
- Huron — 45 miles north
- Yankton — 55 miles south
- Chamberlain — 45 miles west
Mitchell Municipal Airport offers limited regional service; most travelers connect through Sioux Falls Regional Airport, the nearest major commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Davison County, South Dakota?
It sits in south-central South Dakota along Interstate 90, about 65 miles west of Sioux Falls.
What is the population of Davison County?
19,956 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Davison County?
437 square miles (1,130 km2), one of the smaller counties in South Dakota by land area.
What is the county seat of Davison County?
Mitchell is the county seat.
How many towns are in Davison County?
Two cities, one town and one census-designated place, plus several unincorporated rural places.
What ZIP codes are in Davison County?
57301 (Mitchell), 57363 (Mount Vernon) and 57334 (Ethan) are the main ZIP codes.
What is Davison County known for?
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, one of South Dakota’s best-known landmarks and the site of the annual Corn Palace Festival.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.