Ziebach County, South Dakota

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Ziebach County is in western South Dakota. Its county seat and largest city is Dupree. Almost the entire county sits on Native American reservations—mostly the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, with a portion in the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. It is the last county alphabetically in the United States.

History and name: A previous Ziebach County existed in Dakota Territory (1877) but was dissolved in 1898. The current Ziebach County was created on February 1, 1911, and fully organized by April 22. It was named for Frank M. Ziebach, a political figure from the Dakota Territory era. The area was used by trappers and, briefly in 1907, was a Ute reservation.

Geography: The Cheyenne River forms the county’s southern edge; the Moreau River runs through the northern part, and Cherry Creek drains into the Cheyenne River. The landscape is semi-arid with rolling grasslands and buttes. The highest point near the northwest corner is about 2,582 feet, and Thunder Butte rises to 2,733 feet. The county covers 1,971 square miles, with 1,961 square miles of land and 9.3 square miles of water (about 0.5%).

Population and towns: As of 2020, 2,413 people lived in Ziebach County, with 732 households and 528 families. The population density is about 1.2 people per square mile. There were 882 housing units, with about 17% vacant. About half of households were owner-occupied (53.1%), and 46.9% were renters. The median age was 28.9 years, and roughly 34.9% of residents were under 18. Racial makeup was roughly 16.9% White and 79.8% American Indian or Alaska Native, with small numbers of other groups. About 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino.

Government and politics: Ziebach County has no townships and is divided into three unorganized areas: Dupree, North Ziebach, and South Ziebach. Politically, it has been a swing county in recent decades. In 1980 (Reagan) and 2008 (Obama), one major party carried more than 60%. In 2016, Trump won 48% of the vote—the highest share for him among counties with many Native American residents; in 2020 Biden won 53%; in 2024, it voted for Trump again.