Formerly known as Shannon County, Oglala Lakota County lies in the southwestern corner of the state on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It was renamed in 2015 to honor the Oglala Lakota people. The county seat is Hot Springs (administered in neighboring Fall River County), but the major communities are Pine Ridge, Kyle, and Manderson. The area has a profound cultural and historical identity, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation and near Wounded Knee. The terrain features badlands, grasslands, and buttes, offering breathtaking views. The economy centers on education, healthcare, tribal programs, and crafts. Most of the county is rural and reservation-based, with housing varying from single-story homes and modular dwellings to community housing projects. Prices are difficult to generalize due to land ownership structures, but private-market homes typically range $150 K–$250 K; new construction runs around $180–$200 per sq ft. The nearest urban hub is Rapid City, about 90 miles north. Oglala Lakota County embodies resilience, community, and spiritual connection to the land—rich in heritage and natural beauty.