Editing Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota

{{short description|County in South Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Oglala Lakota County
 | state              = South Dakota
 | ex image           = Pine Ridge Indian Health Service Hospital.jpg
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = Indian Health Service Hospital in [[Pine Ridge, South Dakota|Pine Ridge]] on the [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]], November 2011
 | type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | logo               = 
 | coordinates        = {{coord|43|22|0.215|N|102|33|41.349|W|region:US-SD_type:county|display=inline}}
 | founded year       = 1875
 | founded date       = January 11
 | named for          = [[Oglala Lakota|Oglala Lakota people]]
 | seat               = None (''de jure'')<br/>[[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]] (''de facto'')<ref name="defacto"/>
 | largest city wl    = Pine Ridge
 | city type          = community
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 2096.352
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 2093.601
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 2.751
 | area percentage    = 0.1%
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_total   = 13672
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | population_est     = 13360 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi      = 
 | time zone          = Mountain
 | district           = At-large
 | website            = {{URL|https://oglalalakota.sdcounties.org/|oglalalakota.sdcounties.org}}
 | footnotes          = [[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]] in neighboring [[Fall River County, South Dakota|Fall River County]] serves as administrative center for county<ref name="defacto"/>
}}

'''Oglala Lakota County''' (known as '''Shannon County''' until May 2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oglalalakota.sdcounties.org/about-3/|title=Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota: About|website=oglalalakota.sdcounties.org|publisher=Oglala Lakota County|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] in southwestern [[South Dakota]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 13,672.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oglalalakotacountysouthdakota/PST045224 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> Oglala Lakota County does not have a functioning [[county seat]]; [[Hot Springs, South Dakota|Hot Springs]] in neighboring [[Fall River County, South Dakota|Fall River County]] serves as its administrative center.<ref name="defacto">{{cite web|url=http://oglalalakota.sdcounties.org|title=Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota|website=oglalalakota.sdcounties.org|publisher=Oglala Lakota County|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> The county was created as a part of the [[Dakota Territory]] in 1875, although it remains unorganized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|website=Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The [[Newberry Library]]|date=2006|access-date=March 30, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402202102/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebookpdfs/2005bluebook/2005_blue_book_chapter_7.pdf|title=South Dakota Legislative Manual|publisher=South Dakota Secretary of State|date=2005|page=597|access-date=March 30, 2015|archive-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329091307/https://sdsos.gov/general-information/assets/bluebookpdfs/2005bluebook/2005_blue_book_chapter_7.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its largest community is [[Pine Ridge, South Dakota|Pine Ridge]].

The county lies entirely within the [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]] and contains part of [[Badlands National Park]]. It is one of five South Dakota counties entirely on an [[Indian reservation]].<ref>The other four SD counties entirely on reservations are [[Corson County, South Dakota|Corson]], [[Dewey County, South Dakota|Dewey]], [[Todd County, South Dakota|Todd]], and [[Ziebach County, South Dakota|Ziebach]].</ref>

The county is named after the [[Oglala Lakota]], a band of the [[Lakota people]]. Many of the county's inhabitants are members of this sub-tribe.

[[Reservation poverty]] affects the county, which is the [[List of United States counties by per capita income|poorest county in the United States]] (only 28 [[county-equivalents]] in the [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territories]] are poorer). Oglala Lakota County is the only [[dry county]] in South Dakota.

The newspaper for Oglala Lakota County is ''The Lakota Country Times''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com|title=The Lakota Country Times|website=Lakota Country Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdna.com/directory/name/lakota-country-times-martin/|title=Martin Lakota Country Times|website=South Dakota Newspaper Association|access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Wounded Knee Massacre]] occurred in Oglala Lakota County in 1890.

The county was originally named for [[Peter C. Shannon]], [[Chief Justice]] of the [[South Dakota Supreme Court#Territorial court|Dakota Territory Supreme Court]]. Until 1982, Shannon County and [[Washabaugh County, South Dakota]], were the last unorganized counties in the United States. Although it was organized and received a home rule charter that year, the county, as noted above, contracts with Fall River County for its Auditor, Treasurer, and Registrar of Deeds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/south-dakota/shannon.html|title=Oglala Lakota (Shannon) County, South Dakota: History|website=www.e-referencedesk.com|language=en|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301190417/http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/south-dakota/shannon.html|archive-date=March 1, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

On November 4, 2014, voters in the county voted by a margin of 2,161 to 526 to rename Shannon County to Oglala Lakota County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=David |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Shannon County no more: Voters approve name change |url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/davidmontgomery/2014/11/05/shannon-county-name-change/18534269/ |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Argus Leader |language=en-US}}</ref>
The name change was ratified by the [[South Dakota Legislature|state legislature]] on March 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mercer|first=Bob|title=It's official: Oglala Lakota County replaces Shannon County Name|newspaper=[[Rapid City Journal]]|date=March 5, 2015|url=http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/it-s-official-oglala-lakota-county-replaces-shannon-county-name/article_ac5c2369-3fea-5f94-9898-b007b7ddf22c.html|access-date=March 14, 2015}}
</ref> May 1, 2015 was proclaimed by the governor as the official day for renaming the county.<ref>
{{cite news|title=Governor's Executive Proclamation|publisher=Office of the Governor|url=http://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=17447}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Map of Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota.png|thumb|Locator map of populated places in Oglala Lakota County]]
Oglala Lakota County lies on the south side of South Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of [[Nebraska]]. The [[Cheyenne River]] flows northeastward along the northwest boundary of Oglala Lakota County. The [[White River (Missouri River tributary)|White River]] flows northeastward through the central part of the county. The county terrain is composed of semi-arid rolling hills spotted with small mountain crests, oriented NE-SW.<ref name=OLCSD>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Shannon+County,+SD/@43.3445908,-102.7276012,84145m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x877c3c5a68c4b17f:0x6adbaf313e9d9227!8m2!3d43.2437442!4d-102.6216211 ''Shannon County SD''  Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the northeast; its highest point is on the south boundary line, close to the SW corner, at {{convert|3,619|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude" Google Maps (accessed February 7, 2019) |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2096.352|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2093.601|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.751|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – South Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_46.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 18, 2025}}</ref> It is the 8th largest county in South Dakota by total area.

The county includes the [[headwater]]s of the [[Little White River (South Dakota)|Little White River]].

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 18.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 18 in South Dakota|U.S. Highway 18]]
* [[Image:SD 40.svg|20px]] [[South Dakota Highway 40]]
* [[Image:SD 391.svg|23px]] [[South Dakota Highway 391]]
* [[Image:SD 407.svg|23px]] [[South Dakota Highway 407]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Pennington County, South Dakota|Pennington County]] - north
* [[Jackson County, South Dakota|Jackson County]] - northeast
* [[Bennett County, South Dakota|Bennett County]] - east
* [[Sheridan County, Nebraska]] - south
* [[Dawes County, Nebraska]] - southwest
* [[Fall River County, South Dakota|Fall River County]] - west
* [[Custer County, South Dakota|Custer County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Badlands National Park]] (part)

===Lakes===
{{div col}}
* Alkali Lake
* Denby Lake
* Lee Lake
* Oglala Lake
* Two Lance Lake
* Wakpamani Lake
* White Clay Lake
{{div col end}}
Source:<ref name=OLCSD/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 2003
|1930= 4058
|1940= 5366
|1950= 5669
|1960= 6000
|1970= 8198
|1980= 11323
|1990= 9902
|2000= 12466
|2010= 13586
|2020= 13672
|estyear=2024
|estimate=13360
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sd190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

According to a 2025 Census Bureau survey, Oglala Lakota County had the highest percentage of unmarried adults of any county in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2025/02/14/single-people-us-areas-map|title=Where unmarried Americans live|author=Alex Fitzpark|publisher=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 13,672 people, 3,208 households, and 2,488 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oglala%20Lakota%20County,%20South%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 21, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|6.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,454 housing units.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 12,466 people, 2,785 households, and 2,353 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 4.51% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], 0.08% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], 94.20% [[Race (U.S. census)|American Indian]], 0.02% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.22% from [[race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 0.91% from two or more races. [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.42% of the population.

There were 2,785 households, out of which 51.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 36.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.50% were non-families. 13.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.36 and the average family size was 4.72.

The county population contained 45.30% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 13.80% from 45 to 64, and 4.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $20,916, and the median income for a family was $20,897. Males had a median income of $25,170 versus $22,594 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $6,286. About 45.10% of families and 52.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 60.80% of those under age 18 and 36.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Health and life expectancy==
Of 3,142 counties in the United States in 2014, Oglala Lakota County ranked last in the life expectancy of both male and female residents. Males in Oglala Lakota County lived an average of 62.8 years and females lived an average of 71.0 years compared to the national average for life expectancy of 76.7 for males and 81.5 for females. The average life expectancy in Oglala Lakota County increased by 6.2 for males and 4.1 years for females between 1980 and 2014, compared to an increase in the national average for the same period of an increased life span of 6.7 years for men and 3.9 years for women.<ref name="Oglala Lakota">{{cite web |title=Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota |url=https://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Oglala_Lakota_County_South_Dakota.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Oglala_Lakota_County_South_Dakota.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Health Map">{{cite web |title=U.S. Health Map |url=https://vizhub.healthdata.org/subnational/usa |website=Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]] ranked Oglala Lakota County last of 61 counties in South Dakota in "health outcomes," as measured by length and quality of life.<ref>{{cite web |title=2021 South Dakota Report |url=https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/south-dakota/2021/rankings/outcomes/overall |website=Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref>

==Politics==
The counties surrounding Oglala Lakota County are predominantly Republican, but, like most Native American counties, residents of Oglala Lakota are mostly Democrats, giving over 75 percent of the vote to every Democratic presidential nominee in every election back to 1984, making it one of the most Democratic counties in the United States. No Republican has carried the county in a presidential election since 1952. In 2012, Oglala Lakota County (then known as Shannon) was the county with the highest percentage of vote for Barack Obama in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=2012&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas – 2012 statistics |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref> However, the local politics are a bit more divided: Oglala Lakota County lies within the 27th District of the [[South Dakota Legislature]], represented by three [[Lakota people|Lakotas]], two Democrats and one Republican. Democrat [[Red Dawn Foster]] represents the county in the Senate, while Democrat [[Peri Pourier]] and Republican [[Liz Marty May]] represents the county in the House. 
{{PresHead|place=Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|406|2,567|89|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|297|2,829|74|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|241|2,510|154|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|188|2,937|20|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|331|2,971|48|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|526|3,566|122|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|252|1,667|34|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|253|1,926|105|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|225|1,267|159|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|256|1,206|17|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|324|1,489|16|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|438|1,132|117|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|301|756|24|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|356|1,246|9|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|533|1,202|61|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|557|1,748|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|655|1,135|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|782|949|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|957|774|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|641|803|10|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|562|480|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,094|791|0|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|667|634|35|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|463|798|1|South Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|469|601|5|South Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1924|Republican|992|76|48|South Dakota}}

==Communities==

===Town===
* [[Batesland, South Dakota|Batesland]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Kyle, South Dakota|Kyle]]
* [[Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota|Manderson-White Horse Creek]]
* [[Oglala, South Dakota|Oglala]]
* [[Pine Ridge, South Dakota|Pine Ridge]]
* [[Porcupine, South Dakota|Porcupine]]
* [[Wounded Knee, South Dakota|Wounded Knee]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
Source:<ref name=OLCSD/>
* [[Denby, South Dakota|Denby]]
* [[Red Shirt, South Dakota|Red Shirt]]
* [[Rockyford, South Dakota|Rockyford]]
* [[Sharps Corner, South Dakota|Sharps Corner]]

===Townships===
There are no townships. The county is divided into two areas of unorganized territory: East Oglala Lakota and West Oglala Lakota (formerly East Shannon and West Shannon, respectively).

==See also==
* [[List of counties in South Dakota]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota}}
* {{official website|https://oglalalakota.sdcounties.org}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota
|North     = [[Pennington County, South Dakota|Pennington County]]
|Northeast = [[Jackson County, South Dakota|Jackson County]]
|East      = [[Bennett County, South Dakota|Bennett County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Sheridan County, Nebraska]]
|Southwest = [[Dawes County, Nebraska]]
|West      = [[Fall River County, South Dakota|Fall River County]]
|Northwest = [[Custer County, South Dakota|Custer County]]
}}

{{Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota}}
{{SouthDakota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota| ]]
[[Category:South Dakota placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]