Bon Homme

Formed April 5, 1862 (1^st county)

Bon Homme County (6,997), Tyndall (1,056), Springfield (1,917)

The masonry structure was erected in 1914 in the Neo-Classical and Beaux Arts style.  The courthouse is on 18^th Avenue, Holly Street, 19^th Avenue, and Ivy Street.  South Dakota State Highway 50 is nine blocks south of the site.  Joseph A. Schwartz is the designer of the structure.  There were 1873 and 1884 courthouses previously.  Bon Homme County was formed on April 5, 1862 as an original county.  Bon Homme was the first county seat until 1885 when Tyndall became the seat.  The county is named for an island in the Missouri River which is French for “good man.”  The county seat was named for Irish Scientist John Tyndall. 

Bon Homme County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Commissioners.  Six Circuit Court Judges and One Magistrate Court Judge serve Bon Homme, Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook, Turner, Union and Yankton counties.  The county is on the southeast border with Nebraska.  The Missouri River forms its southern border.  Sioux Falls, South Dakota is northeast and Pierre, South Dakota is northwest of the county.  The county center is in Tyndall 1.2 miles Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Hutchinson and Yankton counties and Nebraska and Charles Mix County. 

The area of the county is 563 square miles.  It is 55 out of 66 in the state.  It ranks 25 out of 66 in population in the state.  It has a density of 12.4 persons per square mile making it 16 out of 66 in the state.  Bon Homme County has 67.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county resembles an arrow pointing northeast.  Tyndall is located near the center of the county.  Springfield is located on the southern border.  Tyndall is the county seat and Springfield is the largest city.  Tyndall is 15.1% of the county population while Springfield is 27.4% of the county population.  The county is pronounced BON UM.