Brule County Demographics
A map of Brule County's Population by Race
Brule County, South Dakota has an estimated population of 5,283, a less than 1% change from the 5,247 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.2% White, 10.1% Native American/Other, 5.8% Multiracial, 2.3% Hispanic, 0.6% Black, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Brule County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Brule has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is 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 Brule County, that probability was 30.4% in 2020 and 32.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Brule County is ranked the 33rd most populous county in South Dakota, out of 66 counties. Brule County was ranked the 34th most populous county in the 2020 Census.
Brule County's White Population
4,289 residents of Brule County, or 81.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Brule County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Brule County ranks 47th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Brule County's population has decreased from 82.7% to 81.2%.
Brule County is more White than neighboring Buffalo County (17.5% White), and Charles Mix County (63.7% White). Brule County is less White than neighboring Aurora County (86.3% White), Gregory County (86.2% White), and Jerauld County (89.4% White).
Brule County's Black Population
34 residents of Brule County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Brule County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Brule County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's Black population has grown by an estimated 21.4%. Black residents' share of Brule County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.
Brule County is more Black than neighboring Buffalo County (0% Black), Jerauld County (0% Black), and Charles Mix County (0.2% Black). Brule County is less Black than neighboring Gregory County (0.9% Black).
Brule County's Asian Population
0 residents of Brule County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Brule County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Brule County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Brule County's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.
Brule County is less Asian than neighboring Aurora County (0.2% Asian), Gregory County (1.1% Asian), and Charles Mix County (0.6% Asian).
Brule County's Hispanic Population
121 residents of Brule County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Brule County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Brule County ranks 46th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 14.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Brule County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.
Brule County is more Hispanic than neighboring Buffalo County (1.7% Hispanic), and Gregory County (0.6% Hispanic). Brule County is less Hispanic than neighboring Aurora County (7% Hispanic), Jerauld County (7% Hispanic), and Charles Mix County (3% Hispanic).
Brule County's Native American/Other Population
531 residents of Brule County, or 10.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Brule County is slightly higher than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Brule County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 4.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Brule County's population has increased from 9.6% to 10.1%.
Brule County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Aurora County (0.6% Native American/Other), Gregory County (4.3% Native American/Other), and Jerauld County (0.2% Native American/Other). Brule County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Buffalo County (79.1% Native American/Other), and Charles Mix County (27.1% Native American/Other).
Brule County's Multiracial Population
308 residents of Brule County, or 5.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Brule County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Brule County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Brule County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 27.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Brule County's population has increased from 4.6% to 5.8%.
Brule County is more Multiracial than neighboring Buffalo County (1.7% Multiracial), Aurora County (5.4% Multiracial), Jerauld County (3.4% Multiracial), and Charles Mix County (5.5% Multiracial). Brule County is less Multiracial than neighboring Gregory County (7% 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.