Miner County, South Dakota
| Miner County, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 Location in the U.S. state of South Dakota |
|
 South Dakota's location in the U.S. |
|
| Founded | 1880 |
| Named for | Nelson Miner and Ephriam Miner |
| Seat | Howard |
| Largest city | Howard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 572 sq mi (1,481 km2) |
| • Land | 570 sq mi (1,476 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4 km2), 0.3% |
| Population (est.) | |
| • (2015) | 2,236 |
| • Density | 4.2/sq mi (2/km²) |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www |
Miner County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,389. Its county seat is Howard. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1880.
The area is situated on the site of Dakota Sioux trails that connected two sites of cultural significance to the Dakota people, the pipestone quarries in southwestern Minnesota and the Sioux Crossing of the Three Rivers, near present-day Fort Thompson.South Dakota Highway 34 now roughly follows this route.
The Fort Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road, also known as Nobles Trail, was the first road in Dakota Territory and passed through the area. It was built in 1857, connecting Fort Ridgley, Minnesota with South Pass in Wyoming Territory, along the Oregon Trail. The Minnesota and Powder River Road of 1865 also passed through the county.
The boundaries of present-day Miner County experienced several changes during territorial times. The county was originally established in 1873 by the South Dakota Territorial Legislature when Hanson County was divided into several parts. It was named after Ephriam Miner, a territorial legislator, and Nelson Miner, a territorial legislator and captain in the 1st Dakota Cavalry. At the time, Miner County spanned the southern half of present-day Miner and Sanborn counties; Bramble County (now extinct) spanned the northern portion of these counties. In 1879 the legislature combined Miner, Bramble, and portions of Wetmore counties and eliminated the latter two. The new Miner County was organized the following year with Forestburg named the capitol. In 1883 the county was divided, with the western portion being renamed Sanborn County and the eastern portion retaining the name Miner County. Howard was named the county seat of Miner County.
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