Red Shirt Table
Encyclopedia
Red Shirt Table is a table mountain
in Shannon County
, South Dakota
part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The table, named after Chief Red Shirt
is approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) long, generally extending in a north-south direction, and is located along the western boundary of Badlands National Park
's Stronghold Unit. The park's highest point is located at the southern end of the table at 3340 feet (1,018 m). The irregularly shaped southern portion of the table is connected to the more rectangular northern portion by a narrow section less than 800 feet (243.8 m) wide; the northern portion is up to two miles (3 km) wide and is composed of two elongated lobes with a runoff channel
between them. The top surface of the table slopes gently downhill as it extends northward, with the north edge being at about 2,800' in elevation. It drops off steeply from almost all sides, up to 300'. French Creek flows to the northeast, and the intermittent Cedar Creek drains the entire east side of the table.
Red Shirt Table is one of many tables in the White River Badlands; others include Cuny Table, Sheep Mountain Table, and Heck Table.
The Oglala Lakota community of Red Shirt
, located below the north end of the table (in the Cheyenne River
valley), is the village of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
closest to Rapid City, South Dakota
and has grown in recent years.
Table (landform)
A table, when used in reference to landforms, is a hill, flank of a mountain, or mountain, that has a flat top.This landform has numerous names in addition to "table", including:*Tuya*Tepui*Mesa*Potrero*Butte*Plateau*Terrace-Description:...
in Shannon County
Shannon County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,466 people, 2,785 households, and 2,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The table, named after Chief Red Shirt
Red Shirt (Oglala)
Red Shirt was an Oglala Sioux warrior who served in the capacity of chief at two Sioux peace delegations to Washington in 1870 and in 1880. He was officially appointed chief of the Oglala at the Pine Ridge Agency in 1878...
is approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) long, generally extending in a north-south direction, and is located along the western boundary of Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States preserves of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the United States....
's Stronghold Unit. The park's highest point is located at the southern end of the table at 3340 feet (1,018 m). The irregularly shaped southern portion of the table is connected to the more rectangular northern portion by a narrow section less than 800 feet (243.8 m) wide; the northern portion is up to two miles (3 km) wide and is composed of two elongated lobes with a runoff channel
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
between them. The top surface of the table slopes gently downhill as it extends northward, with the north edge being at about 2,800' in elevation. It drops off steeply from almost all sides, up to 300'. French Creek flows to the northeast, and the intermittent Cedar Creek drains the entire east side of the table.
Red Shirt Table is one of many tables in the White River Badlands; others include Cuny Table, Sheep Mountain Table, and Heck Table.
The Oglala Lakota community of Red Shirt
Red Shirt, South Dakota
Red Shirt is a small unincorporated Oglala Lakota village southeast of Hermosa in Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. It is on the Pine Ridge Reservation, just outside Badlands National Park....
, located below the north end of the table (in the Cheyenne River
Cheyenne River
The Cheyenne River is a tributary of the Missouri River in the U.S. states of Wyoming and South Dakota. It is approximately 295 mi long and drains an area of...
valley), is the village of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
closest to Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
and has grown in recent years.