Wakpala, South Dakota
Encyclopedia
Wakpala is an unincorporated community
in Corson County
, South Dakota
, United States
. Although not tracked by the Census Bureau
, Wakpala has been assigned the ZIP code
of 57658. Wakpala is within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
and its name loosely translates to "creek" in the Lakota language. Chief Gall
(Phizi) is buried in the Episcopal Cemetery here and Chief Sitting Bull
(Tatanka Iyotake) is possibly buried under a concrete bust bearing his name a few miles south of town in the Mobridge area. Sitting Bull was originally buried at Fort Yates, North Dakota but an effort was made to exhume his bones and rebury him at the present site, but some individuals assert that the bones moved are not his. The annual Wakpala Wacipi (dance or powwow) is usually held on a weekend in late August.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Corson County
Corson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,181 people, 1,271 households, and 949 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.7 people per square mile . There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of 0.6 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although not tracked by the Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Wakpala has been assigned the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 57658. Wakpala is within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
Standing Rock Indian Reservation
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a Lakota, Yanktonai and Dakota Indian reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States...
and its name loosely translates to "creek" in the Lakota language. Chief Gall
Chief Gall
Gall Lakota Phizí, was a battle leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota in the long war against the United States. He was one of the commanders in the Battle of Little Bighorn.-Early years:...
(Phizi) is buried in the Episcopal Cemetery here and Chief Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
(Tatanka Iyotake) is possibly buried under a concrete bust bearing his name a few miles south of town in the Mobridge area. Sitting Bull was originally buried at Fort Yates, North Dakota but an effort was made to exhume his bones and rebury him at the present site, but some individuals assert that the bones moved are not his. The annual Wakpala Wacipi (dance or powwow) is usually held on a weekend in late August.