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White River, SD
City in Mellette County, South Dakota.
Population
606
Land area
0.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,164
ZIP codes
0
White River and its ZIP codes
White River at a glance
- White River is about 97 times as dense as South Dakota as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $82,692 a year, 10% more than the South Dakota figure of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $75,000 (71% below South Dakota) and median rent is $1,125 a month.
Local data for White River, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
White River, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$82,692
Poverty rate
35.7%
Median home value
$75,000
Median rent
$1,125/mo
Homeownership
51.1%
Bachelor's or higher
15.3%
Median age
37.5
Average commute
17.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (64), French Americans (24), Russian Americans (17).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Mellette County. PPP loans are for White River.
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
How people get to work
White River, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.7%
- Carpooled24.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home2.0%
Average one-way commute: 17.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
White River, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
461
Countywide, mostly hail
July high / Jan low
90° / 12°F
20.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in White River, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
46.0%
U.S. 33.3% +12.7 pts
Diabetes
23.7%
U.S. 12.1% +11.6 pts
Smoking
30.5%
U.S. 12.8% +17.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.4%
U.S. 11.1% +3.3 pts
Cities near White River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Horse CreekCensus-designated place | 2.5 mi | 1 |
| WoodTown | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| Soldier CreekCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 12.2 |
| MissionCity | 19 mi | 0.6 |
| AntelopeCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 2.3 |
| White HorseCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 3.2 |
| OkatonCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 29.8 |
| MurdoCity | 22 mi | 0.6 |
| ParmeleeCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 5.7 |
| Corn CreekCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 2 |
| RosebudCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 13 |
| NorrisCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 0.8 |
| OkreekCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 45 |
| Two StrikeCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 18.5 |
| DraperTown | 27 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is White River, SD in?
- White River is in Mellette County, South Dakota.
- What is the population of White River, SD?
- About 606 people live in White River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near White River?
- Nearby places include Horse Creek (2.5 mi), Wood (14 mi), Soldier Creek (18 mi), Mission (19 mi), Antelope (19 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023