Walworth County

Walworth County is located in north-central South Dakota, bordering North Dakota to the north. Established in 1873 and organized in 1883, Walworth County was named after Walworth County, Wisconsin, the former home of many early settlers. Walworth County seat is Selby, situated on the western shore of Lake Oahe, a massive reservoir on the Missouri River created by the Oahe Dam. Walworth County includes approximately 709 square miles of land and 99 square miles of water. According to recent census estimates, Walworth County has a population of approximately 5,300 residents. Major communities include Selby, Mobridge (partially), Java, Akaska, Glenham, and Lowry. Walworth County is characterized by rolling prairie scene, agricultural lands, and significant water resources along Lake Oahe, making it a destination for fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation. Walworth County Courthouse in Selby houses key offices including the County Recorder, County Auditor (who is the Clerk), County Assessor, and Register of Deeds. The courthouse is located at 115 First Avenue in Selby, SD 57472. Walworth County's economy has historically relied on agriculture, particularly cattle ranching and wheat farming, with growing contributions from recreation and tourism related to Lake Oahe. Walworth County's proximity to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation influences its cultural and economic scene. Walworth County remains a rural, close-knit community with strong agricultural traditions and a growing outdoor recreation sector that attracts visitors year-round for walleye fishing, pheasant hunting, and water sports.

• Walworth County Courthouse in Selby houses key offices including the Register of Deeds, County Auditor (who is the Clerk), Director of Equalization, and Register of Deeds.

Sheriff & Law Enforcement

Walworth County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement across the unincorporated areas of Walworth County. The office not only patrols these regions but also manages Walworth County Jail. It processes arrests, maintains criminal records, and ensures public safety through various community programs.

Police Departments

In addition to Walworth County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement in Walworth County is supported by municipal police departments, including the Mobridge Police Department. These agencies work within their respective jurisdictions, with the Sheriff's Office covering rural areas and the municipal departments focusing on city limits. Coordination between these agencies is crucial for handling major crimes and making sure of full coverage across Walworth County.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

Walworth County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency serving unincorporated areas of Walworth County and providing county-wide services including civil process, warrant service, and jail operations. The Sheriff can be contacted through the office’s website. Walworth County Jail, operated by the Sheriff's Office, houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced misdemeanor offenders.

• Inmates can be searched through direct contact with the Sheriff's Office during business hours, as Walworth County does not maintain a dedicated online inmate roster.
• Citizens may request arrest records by submitting a written request to the Sheriff's Office, though fees for copying may apply under SDCL § 1-27-35.
• Mugshots and booking photos are typically available through direct request to the Sheriff's Office, though they may not be immediately posted online.
• Processing of arrest record requests generally occurs during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Walworth County, SD are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Walworth County Arrest, Court, and Public Records | StateRecords.org.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Walworth County, SD are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Walworth County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at Walworth County, SD Detainee Lookup.
• Sheriff's Office: Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll.
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

Walworth County is served by the South Dakota Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters within Walworth County. Walworth County Courthouse is located at 115 First Avenue, Selby, SD 57472, and the Clerk of Courts office can be contacted through the office’s website. Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding small claims limits, divorces, adoptions, guardianships, and appeals from magistrate court.

• Magistrate Court in Walworth County handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims (up to $12,000), preliminary hearings in felony cases, and certain civil matters.
• The South Dakota Unified Judicial System provides online case lookup through the Odyssey Public Access portal at ujsportal.sd.gov, where users can search civil and criminal cases by party name, case number, or attorney.
• There is no fee to search online, though certified copies of court documents require a fee of $20 per document plus additional per-page charges as established by SDCL § 16-2-29.
• In-person requests for court records can be made at the Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours.
• For certain records requests, particularly voluminous requests, the court may charge actual copying costs under South Dakota public records law.

Walworth County Register of Deeds office, located at Walworth County Courthouse, 115 First Avenue, Selby, SD 57472, maintains land and property records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, assignments, powers of attorney, military discharges (DD-214s), and plat maps. The Register of Deeds can be contacted through the office’s website. Under South Dakota law (SDCL § 7-9-1 et seq.), the Register of Deeds is required to record and preserve documents affecting real property in Walworth County.

• The office provides document searches and certified copies; certified copies cost $15 for the first page and $2 for each additional page under SDCL § 7-9-7.
• Recording fees for new documents are $30 for the first page and $2 for each additional page.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping for Walworth County may be available through regional planning organizations, though full online parcel viewers may not be fully implemented.
• For title searches and detailed property histories, citizens should contact the Register of Deeds directly or engage a title company.

Vital records for Walworth County, South Dakota, including birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees, are maintained at both Walworth County and state levels. Birth and death certificates that occurred in Walworth County can be requested from Walworth County Auditor (who serves as Walworth County clerk function) at 115 First Avenue, Selby, SD 57472 However, the primary state repository is the South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office, 600 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501, website https://doh.sd.gov/records/vital records/.

• Birth certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
• Death certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies.
• Marriage licenses must be obtained from the County Auditor in Walworth County where the marriage will take place; the fee in South Dakota is typically $40, and there is no waiting period.
• Processing time for vital records requests is typically 1-3 weeks for mail requests, though in-person requests at Walworth County level may be processed same-day if records are immediately available.
• Online ordering of vital records is available through VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com, though additional service fees apply.

Business and licensing records in Walworth County are maintained by several agencies depending on the type of record. For local business registrations and fictitious name (DBA) filings, Walworth County Auditor's office at the courthouse, 115 First Avenue, Selby, SD 57472, handles county-level business filings. However, most formal business entity registrations, including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, are filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State.

• This database includes entity status, registration date, principal address, and registered agent information.
• The towns of Selby and other municipalities maintain their own building permit processes.
• County liquor licenses and gambling licenses are processed through the County Auditor, with public hearings required for certain license types under South Dakota law.

Explore public records for 5 cities and communities in Walworth County, South Dakota.

Walworth County's economy is predominantly agricultural, with cattle ranching, wheat production, corn, soybeans, and hay forming the backbone of economic activity. Walworth County's location along Lake Oahe provides substantial economic contributions from recreation and tourism, including fishing guides, marinas, resorts, and hunting lodges that attract thousands of visitors annually, particularly during walleye and pheasant seasons. According to recent estimates, Walworth County's median household income is approximately $55,000, slightly below the South Dakota state median.

• Walworth County benefits economically from its proximity to Mobridge, a larger regional hub located partially in Walworth County, which provides additional retail, healthcare, and service sector employment.

Elections in Walworth County, South Dakota, are administered by Walworth County Auditor, who serves as Walworth County's chief election official. The Auditor's office is located at 115 First Avenue, Selby, SD 57472, and can be contacted through the office’s website. election related inquiries. Voter registration in South Dakota can be completed online at https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote.aspx through the South Dakota Secretary of State's website, by mail using a voter registration form, or in person at the County Auditor's office.

• Under South Dakota's public records laws (SDCL § 1-27-1), citizens can request election related records including voter histories, ballot counts by precinct, and polling place records.