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Mellette County, SD
5 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Mellette County, South Dakota.
Population
1,943
Land area
1,307sq mi
People per sq mi
1
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Mellette County
Mellette County at a glance
- Mellette County is 88% less dense than South Dakota as a whole.
- The median household income is $54,076, 28% below the South Dakota median of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $84,100 (67% below South Dakota) and median rent is $708 a month.
- Its largest cities are White River (606), Horse Creek (162) and Norris (140).
Local data for Mellette County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Mellette County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,076
Poverty rate
41.7%
Median home value
$84,100
Median rent
$708/mo
Homeownership
60.4%
Bachelor's or higher
19.1%
Median age
37.5
Average commute
16.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (252), Irish Americans (38), French Americans (38).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
6.2%
Aug 2026, +1.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$38,692
336 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,842
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$19.1M
FY 2026, $9,936 per person
PPP loans
$4.2M
240 loans, 359 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$1,600
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Mellette County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone64.0%
- Carpooled18.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.6%
- Worked from home13.9%
Average one-way commute: 16.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Mellette County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
461
Most often hail
July high / Jan low
90° / 12°F
20.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Mellette County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
45.6%
U.S. 33.3% +12.3 pts
Diabetes
21.1%
U.S. 12.1% +9.0 pts
Smoking
30.2%
U.S. 12.8% +17.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.6%
U.S. 11.1% +3.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Mellette County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Mellette County, SD?
- White River is the largest city or town in Mellette County, with about 606 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Mellette County?
- Mellette County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57521, 57579, 57585.
- What is the population of Mellette County, SD?
- About 1,943 people live in Mellette County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Mellette County?
- Mellette County borders Todd County, Tripp County, Lyman County, Bennett County, Jackson County, Jones County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023