Irene: Demographics & People
456 people call Irene home, in 193 households. Population shrank 12.5% from 521 (2022) to 456 (2024). Median age 38.2 years. (3.0y younger than Turner County; 1.8y older than South Dakota). Children under 18 are 16% of the population. Population is 87% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. 48% of households are family-led. County is losing 143 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs South Dakota avg 2.4).
- 52% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs South Dakota 44%).
- 68 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs South Dakota 73).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 12.5% from 521 (2022) to 456 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~400 (extrapolated at -6.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 334.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 14,967 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -12.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 521 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 456 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 456 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Population Estimate | 334 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 38.2y is 0.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 16% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 38.2 years (vs South Dakota 36.4y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 16.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 456 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 75 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 125.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 147.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 109 |
| Population under 18 | 75 |
| Median age | 38.2 years (vs South Dakota 36.4y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 456 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 477 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 24 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | -0.10 |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Black population | 1.1% (vs South Dakota 1.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.4% (vs South Dakota 6.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 87.3% (vs South Dakota 78.0%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (5)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 311 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 123 |
| Share born in this state | 68.2% |
| Share born in another state | 31.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 27.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3 |
| From Europe | 3 |
Households & Family Composition
193 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 48% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 110 families, 29% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 116 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 110 |
| Married couples with children | 32 |
| Single-parent households | 7 |
| Average household size | 2.13 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 20.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 68 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 8 |
| Family households | 93 households (vs South Dakota 3,864) |
| Households that are families | 48.2% (vs South Dakota 56.4%) |
| Total households | 193 households (vs South Dakota 7,305) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 20.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 143 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 20.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 11,467 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 11,610 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -143 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 31 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.6% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 54 residents live in group quarters (11.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 54 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
|---|---|
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 46027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 46 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Clay |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 6.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 8.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 46027 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Clay County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 292 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 46027 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Clay County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 89.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 72.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 53.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 14,070 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 16.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 456, shrinking, family-oriented, middle-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 456 people (vs South Dakota 15,649) |
| Town Summary · County | Clay County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade