Mellette County Population Highlights

• From 1990 to 2000, Mellette County lost 54 residents which was a 2.4% decrease in its total population.

• From 1990 to 2000, Mellette County lost 196 residents to out-migration, which was a 9.2% decrease in its total population

• Mellette County’s median age is 32.1.  This is older than both Jackson and Todd counties.

• Mellette County’s sex ratio was 101.26 meaning that there are about 101 males for every 100 females.  This is a higher ratio than both Jackson and Todd counties.

• Mellette County’s fertility rate is 94.1 births for every 1,000 women aged 15-44.  This is lower than both Jackson and Todd counties.

• 36.36% of Mellette County’s population is less than 18 years of age.  12.94% of Mellette County’s population is aged 65+.

• From the population pyramid we can see that Mellette County is losing a large share of their 20-29 year olds to out-migration.

Race/Ethnicity in Mellette County

Mellette County’s Agriculture in 2002

• Mellette County had 200 farms which was a 6.1% decrease from 1997.

• Mellette County’s average farm size was 3,302 acres.  This is smaller than both Jackson and Todd.

• Mellette County’s average net farm income was $31,702.  This was much higher than both Jackson and Todd counties.

Mellette County’s Economics in 2000

• The per capita income in Mellette County was $10,362.  This is higher than both Jackson and Todd counties.

• The median household income in Mellette County was $23,219.  This was lower than Jackson, but higher than Todd.

• 16.6% of Mellette County’s population aged 25+ had completed a B.S. degree.  This is comparable with Jackson County, but higher than Todd County.

•  26.4% of Mellette County’s workers commute to another county to work.  This is higher than any surrounding county, including Jackson and Todd.

• 35.81% of Mellette County’s population is below the official poverty line.  This compares with 13.81% for the state of South Dakota, 36.50% for Jackson County, and 48.32% for Todd County.

• 43.98% of Mellette County’s children under the age of 5 live below the poverty line.  This compares with 19.77% for the state of South Dakota, 42.57% for Jackson County, and 62.82% for Todd County.

Mellette County Employment by Industry

Income Distribution

Data compiled by:

W. Trevor Brooks

Rural Life and Census Data Center

South Dakota State University

Sources:

South Dakota Data Center (Vermillion, SD)

South Dakota Labor Market

U.S. Census of Agriculture (2002)

U.S. Census Bureau (2000)