Sully County Public RecordsSouth Dakota

Sully County, SD, has 2 public schools, primarily served by the Agar-Blunt-Onida School District, with a student-teacher ratio of approximately 10:1. The county high school graduation rate is around 94%, and roughly 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. School rating scores average 7/10. The district offers career and technical education programs, while adult education options are limited locally, requiring travel to nearby cities. School safety is rated above state average, with no major incidents reported in recent years.

As of 2022, Sully County, SD, had an employment rate of approximately 65%. The largest employment sectors are agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (26%), education, health care & social assistance (18%), and retail trade (13%). Managerial, business, and financial operations account for 22% of occupations, while 21% are in natural resources, construction, and maintenance. Around 78% of workers commute by car, with an average commute time of 17 minutes. About 71% of workers are employed within the county, while the remainder commute to nearby areas, primarily Pierre.

Sully County, SD has a high homeownership rate, with about 83% of residents owning their homes. Median home values are around $173,000, and median rent is approximately $670 per month. The housing market has seen modest appreciation in recent years, with prices rising by about 5% annually. Homes are primarily single-family houses, with few multifamily or apartment options available. Popular neighborhoods include Onida, the county seat. Property taxes are low, averaging 1.1% of assessed value, and the county is known for its quiet, rural atmosphere and affordable living costs.

Sully County, SD, is among the safest counties in the state, with crime rates significantly below national averages. In 2022, the county reported only 2 property crimes and 0 violent crimes, equating to a crime rate of approximately 38 incidents per 100,000 residents. Law enforcement actively reports to the South Dakota’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Comparatively, the national average property crime rate is 1,958 per 100,000, and violent crime is 395 per 100,000. Residents generally perceive Sully County as a safe community with minimal criminal activity.

Sully County, SD, had 1,015 registered voters as of 2022, with Republicans comprising about 81%, Democrats 13%, and Independents 6%. Elections include federal, state, and local races, with recent presidential results favoring Republicans by over 80%. Polling is typically held at the Sully County Courthouse in Onida. The Sully County Auditor administers elections, overseeing procedure and security. Recent issues include rural infrastructure and property taxes. The county is dominated by the Republican Party, with limited Democratic and independent representation in both voter base and elected offices.

As of the 2020 Census, Sully County, SD, had a population of 1,446 people. The median age was 44.2 years; 23.7% were under 18, and 22.1% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was roughly 51% male and 49% female. The county was predominantly White (96.3%), with Native Americans making up 1.8%, and 1.9% identifying as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 0.7% of the population.