Spencer, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Spencer is a city in McCook County
, South Dakota
, United States
. The population was 154 at the 2010 census. The city was almost completely destroyed by a violent F4 tornado on May 30, 1998 which killed 6.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Spencer has been assigned the ZIP code
57374 and the FIPS place code 60060.
of 2000, there were 157 people, 64 households, and 44 families residing in the city. The population density
was 596.7 people per square mile (233.1/km²). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 277.4 per square mile (108.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.73% White, 0.64% Native American and 0.64% Asian.
There were 64 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,250, and the median income for a family was $34,688. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,164. About 7.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 14.8% of those sixty five or over.
in Hanson County
, concurrent with the demise of the "Fulton" tornado. Continuing toward the ESE, it struck several farmsteads before crossing the Hanson/McCook County line a half mile WNW of Spencer. At this time, the tornado was being observed by the OU Doppler on Wheels crew, whose mobile Doppler radar data showed up to 246 mph winds in the tornado a few tens of meters above ground level.
The city has since been rebuilt, using a mixture of Federal, state and private money.
McCook County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,832 people, 2,204 households, and 1,558 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 2,383 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 154 at the 2010 census. The city was almost completely destroyed by a violent F4 tornado on May 30, 1998 which killed 6.
Geography
Spencer is located at 43°43′40"N 97°35′31"W (43.727853, -97.592033).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Spencer has been assigned the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
57374 and the FIPS place code 60060.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 157 people, 64 households, and 44 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 596.7 people per square mile (233.1/km²). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 277.4 per square mile (108.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.73% White, 0.64% Native American and 0.64% Asian.
There were 64 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,250, and the median income for a family was $34,688. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,164. About 7.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 14.8% of those sixty five or over.
The Tornado
On 30 May 1998, the most destructive and second deadliest tornado in South Dakota history—and the most intensely observed and analyzed—struck Spencer. It began as a large, dust-cloaked tornado NW of Farmer, South DakotaFarmer, South Dakota
Farmer is a town in Hanson County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Mitchell, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Farmer is located at ....
in Hanson County
Hanson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,139 people, 1,115 households, and 848 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 1,218 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
, concurrent with the demise of the "Fulton" tornado. Continuing toward the ESE, it struck several farmsteads before crossing the Hanson/McCook County line a half mile WNW of Spencer. At this time, the tornado was being observed by the OU Doppler on Wheels crew, whose mobile Doppler radar data showed up to 246 mph winds in the tornado a few tens of meters above ground level.
The city has since been rebuilt, using a mixture of Federal, state and private money.