Mellette

Formed January 1, 1909 (61^st county)

Mellette County (1,920), White River (536)

The red brick Modern structure was erected in 1964.  The building is on McKinley Street at 4^th Street.  United States Highway 83 is three blocks west of the site.  Flahart, Dittman & Hegle are the architects.  The structure features a flat roof and a Liberty Bell replica sits in front.  There was a wooden 1904 courthouse also in White River, the only county seat.  Mellette County was founded on January 1, 1909 as the 61^st county.  It is named for Territorial Governor Arthur C. Mellette.  The county seat is named for the river. 

Mellette County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Commissioners.  Three Circuit Court Judges and One Magistrate Court Judge serve Mellette, Bennett, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Todd, and Tripp counties.  The county is in the south part of the state.  Pierre, South Dakota is northeast and Rapid City, South Dakota is northwest of the county.  The county center is 2.3 miles Northwest of White River.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Jones, Lyman, Tripp, Todd, Bennett, and Jackson counties. 

The area of the county is 1307 square miles.  It is 21 out of 66 in the state. It ranks 59 out of 66 in population in the state.  It has a density of 1.5 persons per square mile making it 59 out of 66 in the state.  Mellette County has 30.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 83 crosses north to south through the county from Jones County to Todd County.  The county resembles a fluffy bed.  White River is located in the southern third of the county.  White River is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 27.9% of the county population.  The county is pronounced MEL-LET.