Meade - Work & Economy

Meade County's median income exceeds most other counties in the Black Hills region and has risen from $36,992 in 2000 to $44,568 in 2009. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the county's total labor force in December 2011 was 12,020, with 635 people or 5.3 percent listed as unemployed. Nearly four out of ten workers in Meade County are employed by various federal, state or local government agencies, including nearly 750 people who work at the Fort Meade Veterans Affairs facilities in Sturgis and another 578 who work for Black Hills Special Services. For an in-depth economic profile of Meade County, visit the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Agriculture & Resources

Meade County was the state's largest producer of horses and ponies in 2007, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture. It also led the state in the production of hay and forage and was fourth among all counties in the United States. Livestock accounted for 74 percent of the market value of all agricultural products produced in the county. For more statistics on Meade County agriculture, see the county's profile from the Census of Agriculture above.

Employment

The chart below shows the unemployment rate over the past decade for Meade county, along with a line showing the average during this time, as recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.