Context :

Aims : The SDSS Data Release 1 includes 1833 DA white dwarfs ( WDs ) and forms the largest homogeneous sample of WDs .
This sample provides the best opportunity to study the statistical properties of WDs .

Methods : We adopt a recently established theoretical model to calculate the mass and distance of each WD using the observational data .
Then we adopt a bin-correction method to correct for selection effects and use the 1 / V weight-factor method to calculate the luminosity function , the continuous mass function and the formation rate of these WDs .

Results : The SDSS DA WD sample is incomplete and suffers seriously from selection effects .
After corrections for the selection effects , only 531 WDs remain .
From this final sample we derive the most up-to-date luminosity function and mass function , in which we find a broad peak of WD masses centered around 0.58 M _ { \odot } .
The DA WD space density is calculated as 8.81 \times 10 ^ { -5 } pc ^ { -3 } and the formation rate is 2.579 \times 10 ^ { -13 } pc ^ { -3 } yr ^ { -1 } .

Conclusions : The statistical properties of the SDSS DA WD sample are generally in good agreement with previous observational and theoretical studies , and provide us information on the formation and evolution of WDs .
However , a larger and more complete all-sky WD sample is still needed to explain some subtle disagreements and unresolved issues .