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.
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. It is also one of five South Dakota counties that are entirely on an Indian reservation. (The others are Corson, Dewey, Todd, and Ziebach.)
Until 1982 Shannon 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, Shannon, as noted above, contracts with Fall River County for its Auditor, Treasurer, Director of Equalization, State’s Attorney and Registrar of Deeds.
First Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System
As part of their ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe during emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for all hazards, and that the [...]
State Raises License Fees for Noncommerical Vehicles
New! Effective July 1, 2011, license fees will be changing for noncommercial passenger vehicles and trucks, noncommercial gross weight registered vehicles, motorcycles, trailers and motor homes.In addition to a rate increase, the fee reduction currently applied when a vehicle is 5 years old will change to a vehicle that is 10 years old. To view [...]
Shannon County Landownership Maps
The landownerships maps for Shannon County have been updated. The maps on the website are current as of April 1st, 2011. Maps are located on the GIS page.