The county is entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and contains part of Badlands National Park. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county; taxes on alcohol consumed within the county go to other counties.
Oglala Lakota County is one of two counties in South Dakota that does not have its own county seat (Todd County is the other). Hot Springs in neighboring Fall River County serves as its administrative center. It is also one of five South Dakota counties that are entirely on an Indian reservation. (The others are Corson, Dewey, Todd, and Ziebach.) [Article: Why Does a Reservation County also have a County Government?]
Oglala Lakota County was renamed in May of 2015, originally it had been named Shannon County. Until 1982 Oglala Lakota 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, Oglala Lakota County, as noted above, contracts with Fall River County for its Auditor, Treasurer, Director of Equalization, State’s Attorney and Registrar of Deeds.
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Courthouse Holiday Hours
The Fall River & Oglala Lakota County Courthouse will close at Noon on Monday, Dec. 24 and remain closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas. All offices will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
Courthouse Closed – Thanksgiving
The Oglala Lakota & Fall River County Courthouse in Hot Springs will be closed Thursday & Friday, November 22 & 23, 2018 in observance of Thanksgiving. Business will resume as usual on Monday, November 26th. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Veterans’ Day – Courthouse Closed
The Oglala Lakota County Courthouse in Hot Springs will be closed on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veterans’ Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, November 13th.