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.)
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.
Courthouse Closed – Labor Day
The Fall River & Oglala Lakota County Courthouse in Hot Springs will be closed Monday, September 4th, in observance of Labor Day. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, September 5th.
Courthouse Closed – Independence Day
The Fall River & Oglala Lakota County Courthouse in Hot Springs will be closed Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. Regular office hours will resume Wendesday, July 5th.
Courthouse Closed – Memorial Day
The Fall River County Courthouse will be closed Monday, May 29th, in observance of Memorial Day. Regular office hours will resume Tuesday, May 30th.