Jury Pool Profile
McPherson County, South Dakota
- County seat
- Leola
- Judicial district
- 5th Judicial Circuit Court
- Population (July 2025 estimate)
- 2,347
- Census PEP. The five-year ACS survey average is 2,145.
At a glance
McPherson County is a 2,347-person venue. The county population is 97% White (Census race-alone categories). Median household income is $75,475, $2,019 below the SD state median of $77,494; 26.5% of residents 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 14.9% of residents 5 and older speak a language other than English at home, most commonly German or other West Germanic and Spanish. The largest employment sector is Education & health services, at 19.3% of covered employment, average pay $48,993/year. Trailing-12-month unemployment is 2.3%, above the 2.15% state average. The county carried the Republican presidential candidate in 2016, 2020, and 2024, taking 78% to 84% of the vote across the three.
- Population
- 2,145
- Median household income
- $66,906
- Unemployment
- 2.3%
Who sits on a jury?
≥70% White (race-alone) and <20% Black. This county: 97% / 0%.
McPherson County has a population of 2,145, with a median age of 50.0. By Census race-alone categories, White residents make up 96.8%; Black residents 0.0%.
The median household earns $75,475; 26.5% of residents 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 17.9% live below the federal poverty line.
Economic context
BLS QCEW 'Natural resources & mining' (oil & gas) is ≥5% of total covered employment. This county: 11.0%.
Education & health services is the largest employment sector at 19.3% of covered employment, followed by Trade, transportation & utilities at 13.9%. Trailing-12-month unemployment is 2.3%, above the South Dakota state average.
Political composition
Republican candidate carried this county in 2016, 2020, and 2024 (avg winning share: 81%). 'Strongly' threshold: ≥60% avg.
McPherson County was carried by the Republican candidate in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 cycles, with 83.7% in 2024, 81.2% in 2020, 78.5% in 2016.
Languages, households, faith & health
Family households are 58% of all households (thresholds: ≥70% = 'family-dominant'; 50–70% = 'family-majority'; <50% = 'singles/nonfamily-majority'). 14.9% of residents 5 and older speak a language other than English at home (threshold for 'linguistically diverse' is ≥10%).
14.9% of residents 5 years and older speak a language other than English at home. The most common are German or other West Germanic, Spanish, Russian, Polish, or other Slavic. Veterans account for 11.8% of the adult civilian population (204 individuals).