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Union County, SD
7 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Union County, South Dakota.
Population
17,081
Land area
461sq mi
People per sq mi
37
ZIP codes
5
Cities and towns in Union County
Union County at a glance
- Union County is about 3.1 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 13th among 66 counties in South Dakota.
- The median household income is $89,636, 19% above the South Dakota median of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $301,100 (17% above South Dakota) and median rent is $1,069 a month.
- Its largest cities are Dakota Dunes (3,936), North Sioux City (3,045) and Elk Point (2,537).
Local data for Union County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Union County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$89,636
Poverty rate
6.2%
Median home value
$301,100
Prices +10.0% in a year
Median rent
$1,069/mo
Homeownership
73.1%
Bachelor's or higher
37.0%
Median age
41.5
Average commute
17.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,920), Irish Americans (2,423), Norwegian Americans (1,406).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Aug 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$74,563
9,566 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$146,712
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$220M
FY 2026, $13,086 per person
PPP loans
$79.39M
942 loans, 8,288 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$521K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Union County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.6%
- Carpooled6.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.3%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home7.9%
Average one-way commute: 17.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Union County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
773
Most often flood
Flood insurance policies
199
2.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 10°F
28.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone13 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Union County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.2%
U.S. 33.3% -2.1 pts
Diabetes
10.6%
U.S. 12.1% -1.5 pts
Smoking
12.8%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
7.6%
U.S. 11.1% -3.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Union County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Union County, SD?
- Dakota Dunes is the largest city or town in Union County, with about 3,936 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Union County?
- Union County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57001, 57010, 57025, 57038, 57049.
- What is the population of Union County, SD?
- About 17,081 people live in Union County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Union County?
- Union County borders Woodbury County, IA, Lincoln County, Sioux County, IA, Plymouth County, IA, Dakota County, NE, Clay County, Dixon County, NE.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023