Aurora County Demographics
A map of Aurora County's Population by Race
Aurora County, South Dakota has an estimated population of 2,642, a decrease from the 2,747 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.3% White, 7.0% Hispanic, 5.4% Multiracial, 0.6% Black, 0.6% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Aurora County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Aurora has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than South Dakota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Aurora County, that probability was 22.4% in 2020 and 24.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Aurora County is ranked the 51st most populous county in South Dakota, out of 66 counties. Aurora County was ranked the 51st most populous county in the 2020 Census.
Aurora County's White Population
2,279 residents of Aurora County, or 86.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Aurora County is higher than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Aurora County ranks 34th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's White population has declined by an estimated 5.4%. White residents' share of Aurora County's population has decreased from 87.7% to 86.3%.
Aurora County is more White than neighboring Charles Mix County (63.7% White), and Brule County (81.2% White). Aurora County is less White than neighboring Jerauld County (89.4% White), Douglas County (91.8% White), and Davison County (88.2% White).
Aurora County's Black Population
15 residents of Aurora County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Aurora County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Aurora County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's Black population has grown by an estimated 7.1%. Black residents' share of Aurora County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.
Aurora County is more Black than neighboring Jerauld County (0% Black), and Charles Mix County (0.2% Black). Aurora County is less Black than neighboring Davison County (0.7% Black).
Aurora County's Asian Population
6 residents of Aurora County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Aurora County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Aurora County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 53.8%. Asian residents' share of Aurora County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.
Aurora County is more Asian than neighboring Jerauld County (0% Asian), Douglas County (0% Asian), and Brule County (0% Asian). Aurora County is less Asian than neighboring Davison County (0.5% Asian), and Charles Mix County (0.6% Asian).
Aurora County's Hispanic Population
184 residents of Aurora County, or 7.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Aurora County is slightly higher than in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Aurora County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 16.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Aurora County's population has decreased from 8.0% to 7.0%.
Aurora County is more Hispanic than neighboring Douglas County (3% Hispanic), Davison County (5.1% Hispanic), Charles Mix County (3% Hispanic), and Brule County (2.3% Hispanic).
Aurora County's Native American/Other Population
15 residents of Aurora County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Aurora County is lower than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Aurora County ranks 46th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 60.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Aurora County's population has decreased from 1.4% to 0.6%.
Aurora County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jerauld County (0.2% Native American/Other). Aurora County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Douglas County (2.2% Native American/Other), Davison County (3.8% Native American/Other), Charles Mix County (27.1% Native American/Other), and Brule County (10.1% Native American/Other).
Aurora County's Multiracial Population
143 residents of Aurora County, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Aurora County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Aurora County ranks 57th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aurora County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 164.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Aurora County's population has increased from 2.0% to 5.4%.
Aurora County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jerauld County (3.4% Multiracial), Douglas County (2.4% Multiracial), and Davison County (1.7% Multiracial). Aurora County is less Multiracial than neighboring Charles Mix County (5.5% Multiracial), and Brule County (5.8% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.