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White River Makhízita Wakpá (Lakota)
City
Location in Mellette County and the state of South Dakota
Coordinates: 43°34′10″N 100°44′46″W / 43.56944°N 100.74611°W / 43.56944; -100.74611
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Mellette
Incorporated	1912
Area
• Total	0.52 sq mi (1.35 km)
• Land	0.52 sq mi (1.35 km)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km)
Elevation	2,139 ft (652 m)
Population
• Total	533
• Density	1,023.03/sq mi (395.12/km)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	57579
Area code	605
FIPS code	46-71340
GNIS feature ID	1267653

White River (Lakota: Makhízita wakpá; "White Dirt River") is a city in and the county seat of Mellette County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 533 at the 2020 census.

History

White River was founded as the seat of the newly formed Mellette County in 1911. The town was named after the White River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.52 square miles (1.35 km), all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 581 people, 211 households, and 135 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,117.3 inhabitants per square mile (431.4/km). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 471.2 per square mile (181.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 48.9% White, 0.3% African American, 40.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 211 households, of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 28.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 598 people, 219 households, and 141 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,169.7 inhabitants per square mile (451.6/km). There were 252 housing units at an average density of 492.9 per square mile (190.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 51.84% White, 43.48% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 4.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 219 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,500, and the median income for a family was $34,531. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $15,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,794. About 23.5% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 30.5% of those age 65 or over.

Frontier Days

Started in 1912 in White River as a community celebration, Frontier Days continues today as a yearly event and attracts people from around the world. Incorporated into the celebration are a parade, rodeo, and a traditional Lakota Wacipi.

See also

• List of cities in South Dakota

References

1. "SD Towns" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: White River, South Dakota
4. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. Ullrich, Jan F. (2014). New Lakota Dictionary (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Lakota Language Consortium. ISBN 978-0-9761082-9-0.
7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
8. "U.S. Census Bureau: White River city, South Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
9. Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
10. Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.1-3. University of South Dakota. p. 68.
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
12. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved June 13, 2016.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
14. About White River Frontier Days. Otterman Post 94.

External links

Media related to White River, South Dakota at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Municipalities and communities of Mellette County, South Dakota, United States
County seat: White River
City	White River
Town	Wood
CDPs	Corn Creek Horse Creek Norris
Other communities	Badnation Cedar Butte Mosher
Indian reservation	Rosebud Indian Reservation‡
Ghost town	Kary
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
South Dakota portal United States portal

• Cities in Mellette County, South Dakota
• Cities in South Dakota
• County seats in South Dakota