Stanley County Demographics

A map of Stanley County's Population by Race

Stanley County, South Dakota has an estimated population of 3,015, a slight increase from the 2,980 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.9% White, 6.4% Multiracial, 3.5% Native American/Other, 2.2% Hispanic, 0.0% Black, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Stanley County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Stanley has become less 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 Stanley County, that probability was 25.8% in 2020 and 22.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Stanley County is ranked the 47th most populous county in South Dakota, out of 66 counties. Stanley County was ranked the 47th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Stanley County's White Population

2,651 residents of Stanley County, or 87.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Stanley County is higher than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Stanley County ranks 39th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Stanley County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.8%. White residents' share of Stanley County's population has increased from 85.7% to 87.9%.

Stanley County is more White than neighboring Jones County (80.2% White), Sully County (86.5% White), Hughes County (80.2% White), and Dewey County (21% White). Stanley County is less White than neighboring Haakon County (90% White).

Stanley County's Black Population

0 residents of Stanley County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Stanley County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Stanley County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

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

Stanley County is less Black than neighboring Sully County (4.5% Black), Hughes County (0.1% Black), Dewey County (0.5% Black), and Haakon County (1.3% Black).

Stanley County's Asian Population

0 residents of Stanley County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Stanley County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Stanley County ranks 48th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

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

Stanley County is less Asian than neighboring Hughes County (0.7% Asian), and Dewey County (0.1% Asian).

Stanley County's Hispanic Population

66 residents of Stanley County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Stanley County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Stanley County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Stanley County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 112.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Stanley County's population has increased from 1.0% to 2.2%.

Stanley County is more Hispanic than neighboring Jones County (1% Hispanic), Sully County (0% Hispanic), Dewey County (1% Hispanic), and Haakon County (0.1% Hispanic). Stanley County is less Hispanic than neighboring Hughes County (3.3% Hispanic).

Stanley County's Native American/Other Population

106 residents of Stanley County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Stanley County is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Stanley County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Stanley County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 48.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Stanley County's population has decreased from 6.9% to 3.5%.

Stanley County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Jones County (17.7% Native American/Other), Sully County (4.3% Native American/Other), Hughes County (10.8% Native American/Other), Dewey County (73.8% Native American/Other), and Haakon County (7.7% Native American/Other).

Stanley County's Multiracial Population

192 residents of Stanley County, or 6.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Stanley County is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Stanley County ranks 6th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 66 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Stanley County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 11.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Stanley County's population has increased from 5.8% to 6.4%.

Stanley County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jones County (1.1% Multiracial), Sully County (4.7% Multiracial), Hughes County (5.1% Multiracial), Dewey County (3.6% Multiracial), and Haakon County (0.9% 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.