Surprise Valley township, South Dakota
Surprise Valley township profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Surprise Valley township is a geographic entity located in Mellette County, South Dakota. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 18. The land area covers 33.50 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 18 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 72.3 yrs | ±6.3 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 30 | ±28 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 30 | ±28 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 30 | ±28 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 0 | ±10 |
| Median Home Value | Suppressed | — |
| Median Gross Rent | Suppressed | — |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | Suppressed | — |
| Per Capita Income | $66,042 | ±$49,481 |
| Poverty Rate | 0% | ±20% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 0 | ±10 |
| Unemployment Rate | 0% | ±23.8% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 42 | ±44 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 100% | ±0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
TOWNSHIP OF SURPRISE VALLEY
GUS Population: 15 (2024)
ID: 187516
|
Township | Official Local Government |
Contact: CHAIR
224 E 12TH ST, WHITE RIVER SD 57579-7903
|
|
COUNTY OF MELLETTE
GUS Population: 1,834 (2024)
ID: 134546
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: AUDITOR
PO BOX C, WHITE RIVER SD 57579-0703
|
Education
Listing 6 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | KG-08 | Parmelee, SD | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Norris, SD | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Rosebud, SD | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | White River, SD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | White River, SD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | White River, SD |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 2 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sinte Gleska University
|
College | 20.8 mi away | E. Highway 18, 101 Antelope Lake Circle, Mission, SD, 57555-0105 |
6058568100
|
|
SINTE GLESKA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 19.8 mi away | HIGHWAY 18 EAST, MAIN CAMPUS, MISSION, SD, 57555 |
(605) 856-8112
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at CEDAR BUTTE, SD US, located 9.7 miles from Surprise Valley township. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35.1° | 12.2° | 23.7° | 0.46" | 6.6" |
| February | 38.6° | 14.6° | 26.6° | 0.60" | 8.0" |
| March | 49.6° | 23.8° | 36.7° | 0.88" | 6.0" |
| April | 59.2° | 33.5° | 46.4° | 2.37" | 5.6" |
| May | 69.9° | 45.1° | 57.5° | 3.44" | 0.4" |
| June | 80.6° | 54.8° | 67.7° | 3.46" | 0.0" |
| July | 89.6° | 61.5° | 75.6° | 2.62" | 0.0" |
| August | 88.2° | 59.7° | 73.9° | 2.17" | 0.0" |
| September | 79.5° | 50.3° | 64.9° | 1.63" | 0.0" |
| October | 63.5° | 36.7° | 50.1° | 1.79" | 1.6" |
| November | 48.8° | 24.6° | 36.7° | 0.55" | 5.1" |
| December | 37.5° | 15.6° | 26.5° | 0.44" | 6.7" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parmelee CDP | CDP | 7.7 mi | — |
| Soldier Creek CDP | CDP | 8.7 mi | — |
| Norris CDP | CDP | 10.5 mi | — |
| Horse Creek CDP | CDP | 14.0 mi | — |
| Corn Creek CDP | CDP | 14.5 mi | — |
| White River city | City | 15.2 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 4609562460. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.