Washington County, South Dakota facts for kids

Washington County was a former county in South Dakota that existed for about 60 years, from 1883 to 1943. Most of this county was located within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

What Was Washington County?

Washington County was a part of South Dakota that no longer exists today. It was created in 1883 when South Dakota was still a territory. For many years, it was a recognized county, just like the counties we have now.

Where Was Washington County Located?

This former county was mostly found within the borders of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This reservation is a large area of land set aside for the Oglala Lakota people. You can see how it looked on old maps, like the one from 1892.

This map from 1892 shows where Washington County was located in South Dakota.

Why Did Washington County Disappear?

Washington County stopped existing on July 1, 1943. This happened because of money problems in South Dakota. The state decided to reorganize some of its counties to save money and manage things better.

For several years before it was dissolved, Washington County was "unorganized." This means it didn't have its own local government or officials. Instead, another county, Pennington County, helped manage its affairs.

How Washington County's Land Was Divided

When Washington County was dissolved in 1943, its land was split up and added to three other nearby counties:

• Jackson County
• Pennington County
• Oglala Lakota County (which was known as Shannon County at the time)

Before this, in 1909, a part of Washington County had already been used to create a brand new county called Bennett County. So, over time, the original area of Washington County was gradually divided among its neighbors.