CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Mellette County

South Dakota · 2,083 residents · 1,307 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

With 2,083 people, Mellette County is a county in South Dakota. The poverty rate is 35.8%, above the 12.4% national rate. The typical home is worth $28,700, having more than doubled since 1990. Households here earn about 34% less than in South Dakota as a whole. Renters pay $279 a month at the median. The median household earns $23,219, about 45% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

2,083
−3%since 1990
from 2,137 in 1990
1990 – 2025
32.1
+5%since 1990
from 30.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
1,307 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K2K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Mellette County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59%(188)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 910.6%(220)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 1410.5%(219)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.8%(163)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.8%(101)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.3%(235)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.3%(278)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412%(249)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647.5%(156)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.2%(149)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.1%(86)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.9%(39)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$23,219
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $14,539 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$10,362
+49%since 1990
from $6,964 in 1990
US average: $21,522
35.8%
−5.5 ptssince 1990
from 41.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$28,700
+45%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $15,000 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$279
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $227 in 1990
US average: $602
64.7%
−1.2 ptssince 1990
from 65.9% in 1990
35.3% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

16.6%
+4.3 ptssince 1990
from 12.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
78.1%
+10.2 ptssince 1990
from 68.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
1.9%
−1.3 ptssince 1990
from 3.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.4 min
−56%since 1990
from 37.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.3%(252)
Married52.6%(386)
Widowed2.3%(17)
Divorced10.8%(79)
Women 15+
Never married28%(204)
Married50.4%(367)
Widowed12.4%(90)
Divorced9.2%(67)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Mellette County

Head to head

Compare Mellette County to nearby counties

Frequently asked

How many people live in Mellette County, South Dakota?

Mellette County, South Dakota has about 2,083 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Mellette County, South Dakota earns about $23,219 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 $28,700, and the typical rent is about $279 a month.

How educated are people in Mellette County, South Dakota?

About 16.6% 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 35.8% of people in Mellette County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mellette County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Mellette County, South Dakota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 54 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →