Martin, South Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Martin, South Dakota is a small town located in Bennett County in the south central region of the state. The city has a population of approximately 1,400 people and is situated on the banks of the White River.

The geography of Martin is diverse, with rolling hills, lush grasslands, and plenty of trees. The climate in Martin is generally mild with warm summers and cold winters. In terms of history, Martin was founded in 1883 by two ranchers who purchased land from the US government to establish their ranching operations.

Politically, Martin is a small community that supports both Democratic and Republican candidates at the local level. The economy of Martin is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, and ranching. There are also several businesses located in town that offer services such as banking and retail stores.

In terms of schools, there are two elementary schools: Lincoln Elementary School and Martin Elementary School. Both schools offer a comprehensive education for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Additionally, there are three churches in town: St John’s Lutheran Church, St Mary’s Catholic Church, and First Baptist Church.

Finally, there are several landmarks located throughout Martin that visitors can enjoy visiting including the historic Bennett County Courthouse which dates back to 1895; the White River Bridge which connects South Dakota to Nebraska; and several historical sites such as the Old Fort Meade Museum which showcases artifacts from World War II era soldiers stationed at Fort Meade during their service time.

Population: 1,106. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,048 (-5.2% change)
Males: 525 (47.5%), Females: 581 (52.5%)

Bennett County

Zip code: 57551

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.2 years
Median household income: $26,779
Median house value: $37,100

Population by Race

Races in Martin:

  • White Non-Hispanic (53.0%)
  • American Indian (44.7%)
  • Two or more races (7.3%)
  • Hispanic (3.4%)
  • Black (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (17.4%), Irish (9.6%), English (8.0%), French (5.3%), Norwegian (4.7%), United States (4.4%).

Elevation: 3314 feet

Land area: 0.9 square miles

Population by Education

Martin, South Dakota is a small town located in Bennett County. According to the most recent U.S. Census, the population of Martin is 1,717 people. The majority of the population is Native American, accounting for almost 90% of the total population. The remaining 10% consists of White Americans and other races. The median age in Martin is 37 years old with a gender split of 49% male and 51% female. The median household income in Martin is $37,795 and the poverty rate is 24%. There are 439 housing units within the town limits with an average household size of 3.08 people per unit. Education levels are relatively low with only 18% having earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher and only 8% having obtained a Master’s degree or higher. Despite these numbers, educational opportunities still exist with two public schools and one private school located within the town limits offering K-12 education to all students in Martin, South Dakota.

For population 25 years and over in Martin

  • High school or higher: 77.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.2%
  • Unemployed: 5.9%
  • Mean travel time to work: 14.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Martin city

  • Never married: 22.5%
  • Now married: 51.7%
  • Separated: 2.1%
  • Widowed: 9.3%
  • Divorced: 14.4%

1.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -52 (-4.5%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Martin:

  • BENNETT COUNTY HEALTHCARE CENTER-CAH (102 MAJOR ALLEN)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Martin:

  • GORDON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 46 miles; GORDON, NE)
  • PHS INDIAN HOSPITAL (about 58 miles; ROSEBUD, SD)
  • PHS INDIAN HOSPITAL (about 59 miles; PINE RIDGE, SD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Martin:

  • ALLIANCE MUNI (about 107 miles; ALLIANCE, NE; Abbreviation: AIA)
  • RAPID CITY REGIONAL (about 109 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RAP)
  • ELLSWORTH AFB (about 116 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RCA)

Other public-use airports nearest to Martin:

  • MARTIN MUNI (about 3 miles; MARTIN, SD; Abbreviation: 9V6)
  • GORDON MUNI (about 40 miles; GORDON, NE; Abbreviation: GRN)
  • KADOKA MUNI (about 48 miles; KADOKA, SD; Abbreviation: 5V8)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Martin:

  • CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 92 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
  • SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 120 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
  • BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 174 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY (about 244 miles; KEARNEY, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,588)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 257 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
  • BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 261 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
  • CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 274 miles; GRAND ISLAND, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,730)

Schools

Public high school in Martin:

  • BENNETT COUNTY HI SCH (Students: 150; Location: 101 FIRST ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Martin:

  • MARTIN ELEM (Students: 271; Location: 201 5TH ST; Grades: PK – 06)
  • BENNETT COUNTY JR HI (Students: 58; Location: 101 FIRST ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • RIVERSIDE ELEM (Students: 39; Location: 402 2ND AVE.; Grades: KG – 08)
  • CENTRAL ELEM (Students: 37; Location: 402 2ND AVE; Grades: KG – 08)

Libraries

Library in Martin:

  • BENNETT COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $102,238; Location: 101 MAIN STREET; 20,937 books; 129 audio materials; 5 video materials; 18 serial subscriptions)