# Miller, South Dakota

Miller is a city in and county seat of Hand County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,349 at the 2020 census.

## History

The city was named for its founder, Henry Miller. The post office has been in operation since 1881.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.98 square miles (2.54 km$^2$), all land.
Miller has been assigned the ZIP code 57362.

### Climate

Climate data for Miller, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1902−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 70 (21) | 90 (32) | 98 (37) | 107 (42) | 112 (44) | 113 (45) | 112 (44) | 110 (43) | 97 (36) | 82 (28) | 70 (21) | 113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 26.2 (−3.2) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 42.6 (5.9) | 56.3 (13.5) | 68.2 (20.1) | 78.2 (25.7) | 84.8 (29.3) | 82.6 (28.1) | 74.4 (23.6) | 58.9 (14.9) | 43.5 (6.4) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 56.4 (13.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.6 (−8.6) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 44.1 (6.7) | 56.4 (13.6) | 66.9 (19.4) | 72.7 (22.6) | 70.3 (21.3) | 61.7 (16.5) | 47.2 (8.4) | 32.9 (0.5) | 21.2 (−6.0) | 45.2 (7.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.0 (−13.9) | 9.9 (−12.3) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 44.7 (7.1) | 55.6 (13.1) | 60.7 (15.9) | 58.1 (14.5) | 49.1 (9.5) | 35.4 (1.9) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 12.1 (−11.1) | 34.0 (1.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −48 (−44) | −43 (−42) | −27 (−33) | 0 (−18) | 15 (−9) | 30 (−1) | 35 (2) | 32 (0) | 18 (−8) | −10 (−23) | −22 (−30) | −38 (−39) | −48 (−44) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.42 (11) | 0.77 (20) | 0.91 (23) | 2.21 (56) | 3.51 (89) | 3.86 (98) | 3.01 (76) | 2.46 (62) | 1.95 (50) | 2.02 (51) | 0.61 (15) | 0.59 (15) | 22.32 (567) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.0 (18) | 10.7 (27) | 6.8 (17) | 5.1 (13) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.1 (2.8) | 4.3 (11) | 8.7 (22) | 43.7 (111) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 7.5 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 76.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 16.8 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,489 people, 724 households, and 396 families living in the city. The population density was 1,519.4 inhabitants per square mile (586.6/km$^2$). There were 839 housing units at an average density of 856.1 units per square mile (330.5 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 724 households, of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.3% were non-families. 43.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.70.
The median age in the city was 51.2 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 33.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.9% male and 54.1% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,530 people, 720 households, and 406 families living in the city. The population density was 1,614.1 inhabitants per square mile (623.2/km$^2$). There were 845 housing units at an average density of 891.4 units per square mile (344.2 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 99.15% White, 0.07% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.
There were 720 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 33.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $39,293. Males had a median income of $25,962 versus $17,216 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,401. About 4.2% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* Harlan J. Bushfield, U.S. Senator and Governor of South Dakota
* Vera C. Bushfield, interim U.S. Senator, wife of Harlan Bushfield
* Neil Fulton, Dean of University of South Dakota School of Law
* Dale Hargens, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
* John B. Heilman, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
* Frank Henderson, justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court
* James Jones, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
* John L. Pyle, Attorney General of South Dakota

## Popular culture

Miller was the focal point of a 2002 episode of This American Life discussing a racial incident that occurred in the town.