Hanson County is a county in South Dakota, United States, in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 3,461 at the 2020 census and covers 434.6 square miles (1,125.6 km2) of land, centred near 43°41′N 97°48′W.
Alexandria is the county seat, and its postal code is 57311. The county has two incorporated cities (Alexandria and Emery), two incorporated towns (Farmer and Fulton), and several unincorporated colonies and places, spread across 12 civil townships. Hanson County lies in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 46061.
Towns & Villages in Hanson County
Hanson County has nine listed places: two cities, two towns, and five unincorporated communities, most of them Hutterite colonies. The table below marks each place’s type — City for an incorporated city, Town for an incorporated town, and Unincorp. for a colony or unincorporated place with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | City · seat | — | 649 | 57311 |
| Emery | City | Emery | 484 | 57332 |
| Farmer | Town | — | — | — |
| Fulton | Town | — | — | — |
| Epiphany | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Millbrook Colony | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oak Lane Colony | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Riverside | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rockport Colony | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rosedale Colony | Unincorp. | Rosedale | — | — |
| Plano | Unincorp. | Plano | — | — |
Townships
Hanson County is divided into 12 civil townships: Beulah, Edgerton, Emery, Fairview, Hanson, Jasper, Plano, Rosedale, Springlake, Taylor, Wayne, and Worthen. Most are named for early settlers, the county itself (Hanson Township), or their principal community (Emery, Plano, Rosedale). Verified 2020 township-level population counts were not available for this rewrite.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Emery | — | Emery |
| Hanson | — | rural, near Alexandria |
| Plano | — | Plano |
| Rosedale | — | Rosedale Colony |
| Beulah | — | rural |
| Edgerton | — | rural |
| Fairview | — | rural |
| Jasper | — | rural |
| Springlake | — | rural |
| Taylor | — | rural |
| Wayne | — | rural |
| Worthen | — | rural |
ZIP Codes
- 57311 — Alexandria (the county seat’s post office)
- 57332 — Emery (also serves nearby colonies)
Farmer and Fulton were not verified against a current ZIP directory for this rewrite, so their codes are omitted rather than guessed; residents there most likely use a neighboring Hanson or Davison County post office.
Geography
Hanson County consists mostly of low, rolling hills given over to farmland. The James River crosses the lower western part of the county, flowing southeast, with land sloping down toward the river basin on both banks. The county has a total area of 435.4 square miles (1,127.6 km2), of which 434.6 square miles (1,125.6 km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km2) is water — one of the smaller land areas of any county in South Dakota.
Hanson County borders Miner County to the north, McCook County to the east, Hutchinson County to the south, Davison County to the west, and Sanborn County to the northwest.
Demographics
Hanson County had 3,461 residents at the 2020 census, giving it a population density of roughly 8 people per square mile. Alexandria (649) and Emery (484) are the two largest communities, together holding about a third of the county’s population; the rest live on farms and in small unincorporated places, including several Hutterite colonies. South Dakota has no state income tax, and the county’s household income runs below the South Dakota median of $71,810, reflecting its largely agricultural economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Hanson County’s economy — row crops and livestock on the rolling farmland that covers most of the county. The county sits within the Mitchell, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area, and many residents commute to Mitchell in neighboring Davison County for retail, healthcare, and services not available locally. Emery’s school consolidated with Bridgewater in 2010, and the combined Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan Seahawks football program has won multiple state championships. Emery also hosts community sports facilities, including a swimming pool and ball fields.
History
Hanson County was founded in 1871 and organized in 1873, named for Joseph R. Hanson, clerk of the first territorial legislature. Alexandria was platted in 1879 as “Clarksville” and renamed Alexandria — after Wisconsin political figure Alexander Mitchell — when it incorporated in 1885, later becoming the county seat. Emery was named for early land claimant Sloan Miller (S.M.) Emery, who filed his claim in 1879. Several of the county’s unincorporated colonies were established by Hutterite communities that continue to farm communally in the area today.
Getting There
Hanson County has no airport of its own. Its main road links run through Alexandria and Emery, connecting to larger highways in neighboring counties.
- Mitchell, SD — about 20 miles west via Davison County
- Sioux Falls, SD — about 55 miles east via McCook and Minnehaha counties
- Parkston, SD — about 12 miles south in Hutchinson County
The nearest commercial airport is Mitchell Municipal Airport in Davison County; Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls offers a wider range of commercial flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hanson County?
It is in the southeastern part of South Dakota, within the Mitchell, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.
What is the population of Hanson County?
3,461 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Hanson County?
434.6 square miles (1,125.6 km2) of land, plus 0.8 square miles (2.0 km2) of water.
What is the Hanson County seat?
Alexandria is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hanson County?
Two incorporated cities (Alexandria, Emery), two incorporated towns (Farmer, Fulton), and several unincorporated colonies and places.
What ZIP codes are in Hanson County?
57311 for Alexandria and 57332 for Emery; other communities are covered by neighboring post offices.
What river runs through Hanson County?
The James River crosses the county’s lower western part, flowing southeast.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Dakota.