The Town Files

Mellette County, South Dakota

1,943 people. The median home is worth $84,100 (typical South Dakota town: $182,100) and the median household earns $54,076.

Towns in Mellette County

Towns in Mellette County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
White River533$75,000$82,69237.5

People and housing

Mellette CountyTypical South Dakota town
Median home value$84,100$182,100
Median rent$708$785
Median household income$54,076$66,086
Median age37.539.5
Bachelor's degree or higher19.1%23.6%
Below the poverty line41.7%10.1%

Jobs and pay

328 jobs in 2024, average pay $36,865 a year.

Largest industries in Mellette CountyRetail36 jobs · $17,988Hotels & restaurants34 jobs · $10,907
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Mellette County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 461 storm events in Mellette County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Mellette County by type since 1996Hail150Flood11Tornado6Blizzard26High Wind57Heavy Snow9Flash Flood5Winter Storm53Winter Weather21Cold/Wind Chill5
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Mellette County has been included in 14 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 27, 2023Winter StormDR-4689: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3475: Covid-19
September 23, 2019FloodDR-4463: Severe Storms And Flooding
June 7, 2019FloodDR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding
March 9, 2010Severe StormDR-1886: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).