National Register Listing

Ziebach County Courthouse

Main St. between Second and Third Sts., Dupree, SD
Local significance of the building:
Politics/government; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

law courthouses buildings
The state capital of South Dakota, Pierre, was named after Pierre Chouteau Jr., a prominent fur trader and founder of the American Fur Company.
South Dakota random facts
Ziebach County, South Dakota has a rich and complex history. The area was initially inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux, who utilized the land for hunting and gathering. European settlers began to arrive in the mid-19th century, attracted to the region's fertile land and natural resources.

In 1877, the area that is now Ziebach County became part of the Great Sioux Reservation. However, tensions between the Native Americans and the US government eventually led to the signing of the Dawes Act in 1887, which divided the reservation into individual allotments of land. This resulted in the forced assimilation and displacement of many Native Americans.

Ziebach County was officially established in 1911, named after Frank M. Ziebach, a prominent political figure in the state. The county's main economic activity was the ranching industry, with cattle grazing on the vast prairies. However, the county faced numerous challenges, including droughts, economic downturns, and social issues stemming from the region's impoverished conditions.

Throughout the 20th century, the county experienced various changes and developments. The construction of the Cheyenne River Dam in the 1940s brought electricity and irrigation to the region, improving living conditions and agriculture. In recent years, efforts have been made to address the county's economic hardships, with initiatives focused on tourism, renewable energy, and community development. Today, Ziebach County continues to evolve, embracing its diverse history and working towards a more vibrant and sustainable future.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Ziebach County, South Dakota.

  • 1868: Ziebach County is established by the Dakota Territory legislature.
  • 1876: The town of Dupree, named after a government surveyor, is founded in Ziebach County.
  • 1909: The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad builds a line through Ziebach County, boosting its economy.
  • 1911: Ziebach County experiences a population boom due to homesteading opportunities on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
  • 1933: During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) creates numerous projects in Ziebach County, providing jobs and infrastructure improvements.
  • 1959: The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation opens its borders to non-Native American settlement, leading to increased development in Ziebach County.
  • 1984: The town of Dupree celebrates its centennial.
  • 2009: Ziebach County experiences severe flooding, damaging homes and infrastructure.