Overview
Union County is a county in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota. The county seat is Elk Point. At the 2010 census the population was recorded as 14,399. It belongs to the larger Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area, linking it economically and socially with communities in neighboring states.
Geography and government
Located near the borders with Iowa and Nebraska, Union County lies within a typical Midwestern landscape of rolling farmland, small river valleys and mixed woodlands. Local government is administered from the county seat by a board of county commissioners and standard county offices for public records, courts and road maintenance.
History
Created in 1862, the county was originally named Cole County but was renamed Union County during the Civil War era to reflect local sentiment of the time. Before Euro-American settlement the area was part of lands used by Indigenous peoples of the region, including Dakota groups. Settlement and development in the 19th century followed river corridors and the expansion of agriculture and transportation links.
Economy, communities and services
Union County's economy is diverse for a rural county and includes farming, light manufacturing, retail and services that support residents and commuters who work in the Sioux City area. Communities range from the county seat, Elk Point, to other small towns and unincorporated places, with schools, medical clinics and local businesses serving the population.
Recognition and notable facts
Union County has been recognized in regional surveys for quality of life. For example, a national agriculture periodical highlighted it among desirable rural places to live, noting good schools, well-kept towns and a strong sense of community. Its inclusion in a tri-state metropolitan area gives it access to larger markets and regional transportation networks.