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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Mellette County

South Dakota · 2,137 residents · 1,307 sq mi
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With 2,137 people, Mellette County is a county in South Dakota. 41.3% of locals live below the federal poverty line. The typical home is worth $15,000. The average commute runs 38 minutes. Households here earn about 35% less than in South Dakota as a whole. The median household earns $14,539, about 52% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.4
US median: 33.0
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

2,137
+3%vs 2000
vs 2,083 in 2000
1990 – 2025
30.4
−5%vs 2000
vs 32.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
1,307 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Mellette County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 59.7%(208)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.9%(191)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1411.6%(248)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.1%(173)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 244.4%(93)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414%(300)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.6%(270)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.7%(185)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.8%(189)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747.3%(157)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.9%(84)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.8%(39)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$14,539
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $23,219 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$6,964
−33%vs 2000
vs $10,362 in 2000
US average: $14,340
41.3%
+5.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 35.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$15,000
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $28,700 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$227
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $279 in 2000
US average: $450
65.9%
+1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 64.7% in 2000
34.1% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic44.5%(926)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(35)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic53%(1,133)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(19)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other46.7%(998)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German13%(252)
English7.1%(137)
American6.5%(126)
Czech2%(38)
French2%(38)
Irish2%(38)
Norwegian1.3%(26)
Russian0.9%(17)
Danish0.8%(16)
Swedish0.8%(16)
Swiss0.7%(13)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Dutch0.3%(5)
Section 05

Education

12.3%
−4.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
68.0%
−10.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 78.1% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
3.3%
+1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 1.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

37.6 min
+130%vs 2000
vs 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married46.7%(346)
Married37%(274)
Widowed2.7%(20)
Divorced13.6%(101)
Women 15+
Never married27.3%(204)
Married47%(351)
Widowed8.3%(62)
Divorced17.4%(130)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

25.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2013
from 19.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
22.1%
+10.8 ptssince 2020
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 9.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
16.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
36.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 34.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
36.0%
+15.1 ptssince 2020
from 20.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
51.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2020
from 46.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.1%(31)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)36.1%(43)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.6%(40)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 119 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Mellette County, South Dakota?

Mellette County, South Dakota has about 2,137 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Mellette County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Mellette County, South Dakota earns about $14,539 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mellette County, South Dakota expensive?

In Mellette County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $15,000, and the typical rent is about $227 a month.

How educated are people in Mellette County, South Dakota?

About 12.3% of adults age 25 and over in Mellette County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mellette County, South Dakota?

About 41.3% of people in Mellette County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →