Perkins County Demographics

A map of Perkins County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	2,762	2,651	92.0%	93.5%
Multiracial	144	64	4.8%	2.3%
Native American/Other	43	75	1.4%	2.6%
Hispanic	32	38	1.1%	1.3%
Asian	20	5	0.7%	0.2%
Black	0	2	0.0%	0.1%

Perkins County, South Dakota has an estimated population of 3,001, an increase from the 2,835 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 92.0% White, 4.8% Multiracial, 1.4% Native American/Other, 1.1% Hispanic, 0.7% Asian, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Perkins County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Perkins 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 Perkins County, that probability was 12.4% in 2020 and 15.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Perkins County is ranked the 48th most populous county in South Dakota, out of 66 counties. Perkins County was ranked the 48th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Perkins County's White Population

2,762 residents of Perkins County, or 92.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Perkins County is considerably higher than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Perkins County ranks 14th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's White population has grown by an estimated 4.2%. White residents' share of Perkins County's population has decreased from 93.5% to 92.0%.

Perkins County is more White than neighboring Adams County (86.6% White), Meade County (85% White), Ziebach County (27.1% White), and Harding County (91.2% White). Perkins County is less White than neighboring Hettinger County (94.2% White).

Perkins County's Black Population

0 residents of Perkins County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Perkins County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Perkins County ranks 58th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Perkins County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Perkins County is less Black than neighboring Adams County (0.7% Black), Hettinger County (0.2% Black), Meade County (1.7% Black), and Harding County (1.5% Black).

Perkins County's Asian Population

20 residents of Perkins County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Perkins County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Perkins County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 300.0%. Asian residents' share of Perkins County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Perkins County is more Asian than neighboring Hettinger County (0.3% Asian), Ziebach County (0% Asian), and Harding County (0% Asian). Perkins County is less Asian than neighboring Adams County (1.9% Asian).

Perkins County's Hispanic Population

32 residents of Perkins County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Perkins County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Perkins County ranks 57th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 15.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Perkins County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Perkins County is more Hispanic than neighboring Hettinger County (0% Hispanic). Perkins County is less Hispanic than neighboring Adams County (4.6% Hispanic), Meade County (4.9% Hispanic), Ziebach County (1.5% Hispanic), and Harding County (1.4% Hispanic).

Perkins County's Native American/Other Population

43 residents of Perkins County, or 1.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Perkins County is lower than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Perkins County ranks 35th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 42.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Perkins County's population has decreased from 2.6% to 1.4%.

Perkins County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Adams County (1.3% Native American/Other). Perkins County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Hettinger County (3.1% Native American/Other), Meade County (2.3% Native American/Other), Ziebach County (69.5% Native American/Other), and Harding County (1.9% Native American/Other).

Perkins County's Multiracial Population

144 residents of Perkins County, or 4.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Perkins County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Perkins County ranks 51st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perkins County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 125.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Perkins County's population has increased from 2.3% to 4.8%.

Perkins County is more Multiracial than neighboring Hettinger County (2.3% Multiracial), Ziebach County (1.9% Multiracial), and Harding County (4% Multiracial). Perkins County is less Multiracial than neighboring Adams County (4.9% Multiracial), and Meade County (5.4% 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.