The Yorke Peninsula is made up of seven major population centres, all of which have medical facilities and GP's. The permanent population of the peninsula is over 22,000, a number which more than doubles during holiday seasons.

 

Kadina is the largest town and unofficial capital of the Peninsula. Kadina has a permanent population of over 4000 and is the main business centre. The town boasts the largest Woolworths shopping centre in South Australia and houses the regional Government offices, four banks, credit union agencies, the Yorke Peninsula Country Times newspaper and a host of other businesses and shops.

Once described as one of Australia's richest copper mining areas. Known as Australia's 'Little Cornwall' because of its rich mining history, Moonta has a permanent population of 3500 and a holiday population of more than 10,000. The town is a rich mix of traditional Cornish cottages and splendid beach front homes and is well known for its antique shops and popular fishing spots.

Moonta has childcare and an area school catering for reception to year 12.

Exporting grain all over the world and importing superphosphate for the regions farmers, Wallaroo is one of Australia's busiest ports. The third town in the former copper triangle, Wallaroo is one of the state's largest prawn harvesters and appeals to tourists with its long white sandy beaches and safe swimming enclosures. Wallaroo has a permanent population of 2500 which can double during the holiday months.

Wallaroo has a reception to year 7 primary school and a Catholic primary school. High school students travel to Kadina.

The geographical centre of the Yorke Peninsula is Maitland, a diverse farming community with a high rainfall and recognised for high quantity and quality agricultural yields. Maitland acts as the commercial centre for nearby resort towns and has a unique golf course which surrounds the town. Maitland has a permanent population of 1000 and services the needs of the Point Pearce Aboriginal Community both commercially and medically.

Maitland has an area school catering for reception to year 12 and a Lutheran school catering for reception to year 7.

Situated directly across the gulf from Adelaide, Ardrossan sits perched on 25 metre high cliffs from which one can clearly see the lights of Adelaide on clear nights. The town has a permanent population of 1000 which swells dramatically during the holiday months. The town is well known for its delicious blue crabs and the Zanoi shipwreck, one of the best dives in South Australia.

Ardrossan has an area school catering for reception to year 12.

Minlaton is one of the largest barley growing districts in the world and is situated close to some of the state's premier holiday destinations in Stansbury and Point Turton and Port Vincent. The town has a population of 750 permanent residents and thousands of visitors in and around the tourist 'hot spots'.

Minlaton has a large area school catering for reception to year 12. Surrounding towns send students to Minlaton via school bus.

Settled in 1846, Yorketown is one of the oldest towns on the peninsula and gateway to some of the most beautiful and coastal regions in Australia. The Innes National Park is home to spectacular cliffs, coastline, surfing and fishing spots and is a favourite destination of tourists and holiday makers. Yorketown has two supermarkets, clothing and hardware stores. The locals have a reputation of going out of their way to be friendly.

Yorketown has a area school and a Catholic school both of which cater for reception to year 12 and a regional TAFE college.