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.
Courthouse Closed – Presidents’ Day
The Fall River/Oglala Lakota County Courthouse will be closed on Monday, February 20th, 2023 in observance of Presidents’ Day. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, February 21st, 2023.
Courthouse Closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Fall River & Oglala Lakota County Courthouse in Hot Springs, SD will be closed on Monday January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Regular Office Hours will resume on Tuesday, January 17th.
Courthouse Closed – New Year’s Holiday
The Fall River & Oglala Lakota County Courthouse will be closed Monday, January 2nd in observance of New Year’s Holiday. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, January 3rd. Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy New Year.
2023 License Plate announcement
Starting January 1, 2023, the State of South Dakota will be issuing a new plate design for non-commercial and emblem plates with the titling of motor vehicles and registration renewals. The reissue will include standard non-commercial, motorcycle, emblem, emblem motorcycle, personalized, personalized motorcycle, amateur radio, and low speed plates. License plates will continue to be […]
