Census Data for Spencer
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Spencer a population of 147 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Spencer a population of 154 people.
The city of Spencer is located in McCook County. The 2010 Census gave McCook County; a population of 5,618 people. This means that Spencer had 2.74% of the county's total population, making it McCook's 5th most populous community.
At the same time, South Dakota had a population of 814,180 people, meaning that Spencer had 0.02% of the total population of South Dakota - making it the state's 266th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Spencer has a total area of 0.27 square miles [0.7 km²].
McCook County has a land area of 574 square miles [1,487.2 km²]. At 0.27 square miles [0.7 km²], Spencer has 0.05% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Spencer, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Spencer reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Spencer might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 43° 43' 38" (or 43.73°)
- Lon: -97° 35' 27" (or -97.59°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Spencer had 77 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 154 people, this averages 2 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Spencer had a land area of 0.27 square miles [0.7 km²]. This translates to 287.3 Housing Units per square mile [110.9 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Spencer had 73 Housing Units, a population of 157 people and a land area of 0.26 square miles [0.7 km²]. This gives a density of 2.15 people per Housing Unit and 277.4 Housing Units per square mile [107.1 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Spencer and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
McCook County ...
The community of Spencer is located in McCook County<4>.
The county had a population of 5,618 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 154 people, Spencer represented 2.74% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Spencer has a population density of 574 people per square mile [221.9 people/km²], McCook County averages 9.78 people per square mile [3.78 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for McCook County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Spencer, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Spencer. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Spencer or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Spencer, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Spencer.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 43.727466° (or 43°43'38" N)
- Lon: -97.591110° (or -97°35'27" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 43.727853° (or 43°43'40" N)
- Lon: -97.592033° (or -97°35'31" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 281.1 feet to the southeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1267589) to Spencer. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Spencer. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 43.727757° (or 43°43'39" N)
- Lon: -97.592013° (or -97°35'31" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 260.5 feet to the southeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Spencer. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Spencer.
Miscellaneous Information for Spencer ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either McCook County or the city of Spencer:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 46 (South Dakota)
- County Code: 087 (McCook County)
- Place Code: 60060 (Spencer)
- State & County Code: 46/087 (South Dakota / McCook County)
- State & Place Code: 46/60060 (South Dakota / Spencer)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Spencer is located in Census Region #2 (the Midwest Region) and Division #4 (the West North-Central Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Spencer.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Spencer. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of South Dakota: sd.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of South Dakota's counties, including McCook, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 239 degrees and a distance of 281.1 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 245 degrees and a distance of 260.5 feet. |