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Mellette County, South Dakota

Coordinates: 43°35′N 100°46′W / 43.58°N 100.76°W / 43.58; -100.76
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Not to be confused with Mellette, South Dakota.

Mellette County
County
White River from the West, the county seat
White River from the West, the county seat
Map of South Dakota highlighting Mellette County
Location within the U.S. state of South Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting South Dakota
South Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°35′N 100°46′W / 43.58°N 100.76°W / 43.58; -100.76
Country United States
State South Dakota
Founded1909 (created)
1911 (organized)
Named forArthur C. Mellette
SeatWhite River
Largest cityWhite River
Area
 • Total1,311 sq mi (3,400 km2)
 • Land1,307 sq mi (3,390 km2)
 • Water3.6 sq mi (9 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,918
 • Estimate 
(2023)
1,851 Decrease
 • Density1.5/sq mi (0.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large

Mellette County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,918.[1] Its county seat is White River.[2] The county was created in 1909, and was organized in 1911.[3] It was named for Arthur C. Mellette, the last Governor of the Dakota Territory and the first Governor of the state of South Dakota.

Historically territory of the Sioux/Lakota peoples, 33.35 percent of the county's land is trust land associated with the Rosebud Indian Reservation in the neighboring county to the south. According to the 2000 United States Census, 52.2% of the population is Native American, mostly the federally recognized Sicangu Oyate (Upper Brulé Sioux) and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, a branch of the Lakota people.

Geography

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The White River flows eastward along the north boundary line of Mellette County. The Little White River flows northward through central Mellette County, discharging into White River. The terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, the northern portion dotted with ponds and small lakes. The area is mostly devoted to agriculture.[4] The terrain slopes to the northeast; its highest point is the SW corner at 2,779 ft (847 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 1,311 square miles (3,400 km2), of which 1,307 square miles (3,390 km2) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6]

The eastern portion of South Dakota's counties (48 of 66) observe Central Time; the western counties (18 of 66) observe Mountain Time. Mellette County is the westernmost of the SD counties to observe Central Time.[7]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19101,700—
19203,850126.5%
19305,29337.5%
19404,107−22.4%
19503,046−25.8%
19602,664−12.5%
19702,420−9.2%
19802,249−7.1%
19902,137−5.0%
20002,083−2.5%
20102,048−1.7%
20201,918−6.3%
2023 (est.)1,851[8]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 1,918 people, 651 households, and 419 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 1.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.58/km2). There were 775 housing units.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 2,048 people, 693 households, and 493 families in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km2). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 54.1% American Indian, 39.7% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.6% were German, 8.4% were Irish, 6.1% were English, and 0.6% were American.

Of the 693 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.9% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38. The median age was 34.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,055 and the median income for a family was $35,781. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $30,956 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,971. About 23.4% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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City

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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  • Bad Nation
  • Blackpipe
  • Butte
  • Cody
  • Fairview
  • Mosher
  • New Surprise Valley
  • Norris
  • Prospect
  • Red Fish
  • Ring Thunder
  • Riverside
  • Rocky Ford
  • Rosebud
  • Running Bird
  • Surprise Valley

Unorganized territories

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  • Cedarbutte
  • Central Mellette.

Politics

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Like most of South Dakota, Mellette County is solidly Republican. It has not been carried by a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide, although Barack Obama came within six votes of doing so in the 2012 election.

United States presidential election results for Mellette County, South Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 449 58.39% 298 38.75% 22 2.86%
2016 402 58.86% 238 34.85% 43 6.30%
2012 381 49.54% 375 48.76% 13 1.69%
2008 445 52.79% 373 44.25% 25 2.97%
2004 553 59.40% 361 38.78% 17 1.83%
2000 495 67.53% 222 30.29% 16 2.18%
1996 417 52.26% 302 37.84% 79 9.90%
1992 417 49.58% 277 32.94% 147 17.48%
1988 460 53.99% 385 45.19% 7 0.82%
1984 616 66.45% 303 32.69% 8 0.86%
1980 624 64.80% 279 28.97% 60 6.23%
1976 508 53.53% 429 45.21% 12 1.26%
1972 637 59.20% 433 40.24% 6 0.56%
1968 611 55.70% 407 37.10% 79 7.20%
1964 525 44.38% 658 55.62% 0 0.00%
1960 774 60.28% 510 39.72% 0 0.00%
1956 643 55.29% 520 44.71% 0 0.00%
1952 787 69.40% 347 30.60% 0 0.00%
1948 482 49.33% 482 49.33% 13 1.33%
1944 544 57.02% 410 42.98% 0 0.00%
1940 990 52.24% 905 47.76% 0 0.00%
1936 711 46.56% 808 52.91% 8 0.52%
1932 657 29.14% 1,583 70.20% 15 0.67%
1928 943 50.13% 927 49.28% 11 0.58%
1924 642 39.93% 604 37.56% 362 22.51%
1920 533 63.53% 261 31.11% 45 5.36%
1916 379 45.55% 436 52.40% 17 2.04%
1912 0 0.00% 320 53.96% 273 46.04%

See also

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The Geography, Geology and Biology of Mellett, Washabaugh, Bennett and Todd Counties, South-Central South Dakota

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Mellette County SD Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019)
  5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. ^ Map of Time Zone Line through South Dakota (accessed January 30, 2019)
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023". Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 15, 2018.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mellette County, South Dakota.
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