[4] Davison County is part of the Mitchell, SD Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The area's first settlement occurred in 1871 in "Firesteel Creek"; the settlers were Herman Cady Greene and John Head.

In 1881 the territorial legislature met and considered two bills redefining the boundaries of Hanson and Davison Counties.

They considered adjusting the two counties' boundaries by either combining the two, or changing their method of separation.

A public vote determined to add four townships to the west, and split the two previous counties down the middle.

The settlement originally called "Arlandton" was renamed "Mount Vernon" in 1882; by 1883 it boasted a hardware store, a livery stable, lumber yard, drugstore, cigar maker, and a hotel.

[5] During the latter part of the nineteenth century the county was served by railroad spur lines.

In terms of ancestry, 51.8% were German, 10.6% were Norwegian, 10.1% were Irish, 7.4% were English, 6.0% were Dutch, and 4.5% were American.