SHANNON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

'Shannon County' is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2000 census, the population was 12,466. Its largest community is Pine Ridge.
The county is entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and contains part of Badlands National Park. The county's per-capita income makes it the second poorest county in the United States. It also has the interesting distinction of having the highest percentage of Democratic votes for President in the 2004 election of any county in the US (85%). It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county; taxes on alcohol consumed within the county go to other counties.
Shannon 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.^[1] It is also one of five South Dakota counties that are entirely on an Indian reservation. (The others are Corson, Dewey, Todd, and Ziebach.)

Contents

Geography

Townships

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Notes

Cities, towns, and villages

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,430 km² (2,097 mi²). 5,423 km² (2,094 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.13% water.
The county includes the headwaters of the Little White River.

Townships

The county is divided into two areas of unorganized territory: East Shannon and West Shannon.

Major highways

★ U.S. Highway 18

★ South Dakota Highway 40

★ South Dakota Highway 391

★ South Dakota Highway 407

Adjacent counties

★ Pennington County, South Dakota - north

★ Jackson County, South Dakota - northeast

★ Bennett County, South Dakota - east

★ Sheridan County, Nebraska - south

★ Dawes County, Nebraska - southwest

★ Fall River County, South Dakota - west

★ Custer County, South Dakota - northwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 12,466 people in the county, organized into 2,785 households, and 2,353 families. The population density is 2/km² (6/mi²). There are 3,123 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (2/mi²).
Shannon County has the highest percentage of Native American population and the lowest percentage White population of any county in the United States. The racial makeup of the county is 94.20% Native American, 4.51% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,785 households out of which 51.70% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.40% are married couples living together, 36.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 15.50% are non-families. 13.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.36 and the average family size is 4.72.
The age distribution is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 21 years. For every 100 females there are 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.60 males.

Notes

1. Shannon County South Dakota Genealogy, accessed February 5, 2006.

Cities, towns, and villages

★ Batesland

★ Kyle

★ Manderson-White Horse Creek

★ Oglala

★ Pine Ridge

★ Porcupine

★ Red Shirt

★ Wounded Knee