What's the deal with South Dakota's Democratic primary county map?

[Stańczyk]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

[Joe Biden is your president. Deal with it.]

Sanders went to Pennington county and Oglala Lakota county last month that pretty much won the whole west side for him. He gave a great speech on Native American issues.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The line coincides with the 100th parallel which seems to be the frontier between farm land on the east and ranch land on the west.

[Ebsy]

The line coincides with the 100th parallel which seems to be the frontier between farm land on the east and ranch land on the west.

This is the right answer.

[Fargobison]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

Eastern SD is more Midwestern. There is an east-west divide in ND as well, probably even bigger then the divide in SD.

[IceSpear]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

Eastern SD is more Midwestern. There is an east-west divide in ND as well, probably even bigger then the divide in SD.

Like in the Heitkamp/Berg race?

https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=38&year=2012&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=1

[Fargobison]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

Eastern SD is more Midwestern. There is an east-west divide in ND as well, probably even bigger then the divide in SD.

Like in the Heitkamp/Berg race?

https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=38&year=2012&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=1

Yeah that is a great example of the divide, I was just thinking about that Senate race.

[HAnnA MArin County]

Has anyone taken a look at how the Native American counties have voted this primary season? From what I've seen, Sanders has won most of them. Anybody know why this is?

Also, the turnout in the South Dakota Democratic Primary was just abysmal.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

East of the Missouri River is known as the "Prairie Pothole Region" and has high crop yields.  To the West of the River, the economy is driven more by ranching, though why Bernie would do better out of that I'm not sure.  The West also has a large Native American population and more poverty. 

[Landslide Lyndon]

What's even more strange is that Clinton did pretty good at eastern Montana which is essentially the same as the western parts of the Dakotas.

[tinman64]

The line coincides with the 100th parallel which seems to be the frontier between farm land on the east and ranch land on the west.

This.

[Xing]

I wonder why we didn't see such a staunch divide in Nebraska...?

[cinyc]

Sanders went to Pennington county and Oglala Lakota county last month that pretty much won the whole west side for him. He gave a great speech on Native American issues.

I think Sanders visited Sioux Falls later in the day on the same trip, though, so that doesn't explain it.

As others have said, West River is more ranching than farming, with some tourism thrown in in the Black Hills.  There is often a West River-East River divide in South Dakota.

Oil and gas are bigger in the Eastern Montana counties that Clinton won.  My guess is Sanders' call for a ban on fracking hurt him there.

[cinyc]

Has anyone taken a look at how the Native American counties have voted this primary season? From what I've seen, Sanders has won most of them. Anybody know why this is?

Also, the turnout in the South Dakota Democratic Primary was just abysmal.

The Native American vote varied by state.  Sanders won most of the reservation counties in South Dakota, but that wasn't true elsewhere.  Sanders' best major racial minority group was likely Native Americans, though.

[Krago]

The line coincides with the 100th parallel which seems to be the frontier between farm land on the east and ranch land on the west.

Me debunk an American myth?  And take my life in my hands?  Where the great plains begin.  At the the Hundredth Meridian.

(It's a Canadian thing.  You wouldn't understand.)

[history nerd]

Looking at the map, it's obvious to see a pretty defined line between a Clinton-dominated east and the Sanders-dominated west. Why is that? Could it be because of the time zone, or Native American population? Are eastern and western South Dakota really that different?

Anyone who has ever lived in South Dakota knows that the East River/West River thing is a real. The people are different, the land is different, the politics are different.

[RI]

Has anyone taken a look at how the Native American counties have voted this primary season? From what I've seen, Sanders has won most of them. Anybody know why this is?

Also, the turnout in the South Dakota Democratic Primary was just abysmal.

The Native American vote varied by state.  Sanders won most of the reservation counties in South Dakota, but that wasn't true elsewhere.  Sanders' best major racial minority group was likely Native Americans, though.

Sanders won most of the major reservation counties nationally except in the Southwest.

[sportydude]

I found a map about the relative number religious adherents of any denominational body:



Maybe Clinton's South Dakota supporters are more religious than Sander's.


Look at Montana and Washington. Or Arknasas and Indiana. Very scary...