kids encyclopedia robot

Woonsocket, South Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Woonsocket, South Dakota
Motto(s): 
"The Town with the Beautiful Lake"
Location in Sanborn County and the state of South Dakota
Location in Sanborn County and the state of South Dakota
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Sanborn
Incorporated 1888
Area
 • Total 0.80 sq mi (2.06 km2)
 • Land 0.78 sq mi (2.03 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
1,303 ft (397 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 631
 • Density 804.85/sq mi (310.70/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
57385
Area code(s) 605
FIPS code 46-72700
GNIS feature ID 1267662
Website The City of Woonsocket, South Dakota

Woonsocket is a city in Sanborn County, South Dakota. The population was 631 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Sanborn County.

History

Woonsocket was developed in 1883 as a railroad town because of its location at the junction on the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad. C.H. Prior, the superintendent of the railroad, named the town Woonsocket after his home town of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The town was incorporated in 1888.

Woonsocket was known for an artesian well which was drilled in 1888. It was claimed that in its prime, the well flowed over 8,000 gallons per minute out of the six inch wide pipe. The well was capped off in 1906.

2003 South Dakota tornado outbreak

On June 24, 2003, an F3 tornado passed just west of town; it was one of 67 tornadoes that touched down on June 24, holding a record for "Most tornadoes to touch down in the state in one day".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.79 square miles (2.05 km2), of which 0.78 square miles (2.02 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 687
1900 648 −5.7%
1910 1,027 58.5%
1920 1,368 33.2%
1930 1,108 −19.0%
1940 1,050 −5.2%
1950 1,051 0.1%
1960 1,035 −1.5%
1970 852 −17.7%
1980 799 −6.2%
1990 766 −4.1%
2000 720 −6.0%
2010 655 −9.0%
2020 631 −3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 655 people, 287 households, and 168 families residing in the city. The population density was 839.7 inhabitants per square mile (324.2/km2). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 407.7 per square mile (157.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.3% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 287 households, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 48.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 27.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Notable people

  • George L. Cross, former president of the University of Oklahoma from 1943 to 1968.
  • Eleanor McGovern, wife of George McGovern
  • Eloise Ramsey, professor at Wayne State University, authority on children's literature
  • Volney F. Warner, retired United States Army four-star general.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Woonsocket (Dakota del Sur) para niños

kids search engine
Woonsocket, South Dakota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.