Codington County, South Dakota

Codington County Education, Geography, and History

Codington County is a county located in the state of South Dakota. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 27,227. Its county seat is Watertown. The county was created in 1877 and organized in 1878. It is named for Rev. George S. S. Codington, legislator.

Codington County comprises the Watertown, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Codington County Name

Codington is named for a local circuit preacher named Reverend G.S. Codington.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Codington County History

Until February 1877, Codington County was a part of Hamlin County. The purpose for the dividing of the counties was to help some town site boomers to establish a county seat for Codington County near Lake Kampeska. The county was organized for municipal purposes in August 1878. Kampeska was the county seat. When election day came in November 1878, a full vote was polled, the principle issue being the county seat question. The Winona and St. Peter Railroad Company spared no opportunity to get settlers back from the east to vote for Watertown as the new county seat. Watertown won and has been the county seat since 1878.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 717 square miles (1,857 km²), of which, 688 square miles (1,781 km²) of it is land and 29 square miles (76 km²) of it (4.10%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Grant County, South Dakota - northeast
• Deuel County, South Dakota - southeast
• Hamlin County, South Dakota - south
• Clark County, South Dakota - west
• Day County, South Dakota - northwest

Education

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