McCook County, South Dakota

McCook County Education, Geography, and History

McCook County is a county located in the state of South Dakota. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 5,618. Its county seat is Salem. The county was established in 1873 and organized in 1878.It was named for the former governor of the Dakota Territory and Civil War general Edwin Stanton McCook.

McCook County is part of the Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of McCook County Name

McCook is named for military officer and Dakota Territory secretary Edwin McCook.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

McCook County History

McCook County was organized in January, 1879 and named for Edwin S. McCook, Civil War General and secretary of Dakota Territory in 1872. The county seat was located at Cameron. A great deal of controversy surrounded the location of the county seat. At an election in November of 1879 it was given to Cameron. But the next year the vote went to Bridgewater and in 1882 Salem won the vote.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,495 km²), of which, 575 square miles (1,488 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Lake County, South Dakota - northeast
• Minnehaha County, South Dakota - east
• Turner County, South Dakota - southeast
• Hutchinson County, South Dakota - southwest
• Hanson County, South Dakota - west
• Miner County, South Dakota - northwest

Education

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