West River is the portion of the state ofSouth Dakota located west of theMissouri River; it contains more than one-half of the land area and between one-quarter and one-third of the population of the state.
The contrast between the two regions is striking. WhileEast River is predominantly acorn- andwheat-growing region, with large numbers ofpigs andpoultry operations, West River is predominantlyranching with somedryland farming. Population has decreased as family farms declined due to the harsh conditions and industrialization of agriculture. Other than aggregates, allmining in South Dakota (includinggold and otherprecious metals,industrial minerals,iron ore, andcoal) is located in West River, which includes theBlack Hills. Both areas were occupied for thousands of years by varying cultures ofindigenous peoples. TheGreat Plains tribes, especially the Lakota or Sioux groups, held most of the territory west of the river. West River includes theBadlands, a vast expanse of rugged, unusable land designated anational park in 1939.
While European-American settlement of East River was largely byYankee homesteaders moving west fromIowa,Minnesota, andWisconsin orimmigrants arriving by train from eastern United States seaports, those who went to West River were first gold-seekers and miners, many from oldergold rush locations to the west, such asMontana andColorado. They were followed by ranchers fromTexas,Kansas, and Colorado. As a result, while East River has a highScandinavian andGerman-descended population and a culture similar that of Minnesota and Iowa, the White majority population of West River is more ethnically diverse, with a culture similar to theMountain states.
Nearly 10% of South Dakota's total population isNative American[1] andIndian reservations are located in both sides of the state. Five are located west of the Missouri River, the area of the formerGreat Sioux Reservation established in 1868. More than 30% of the population of West River is of Native American descent; this includes primarily Lakota residents of the reservations, as well as populations in urban centers such asRapid City.
Since the 1960s and the rise of Indian activism, numerous Native Americans have returned to the reservations. Native Americans make up the fastest-growing segment of the population in the state as a whole.[2] In the 1990s,Bennett County's population became majority Native American.[3] From 2000 to 2010, the total Native American population in the state grew by 15 percent.[4]
Since the late 20th century, Native Americans have become more engaged in local, state and federal politics. Native Americans across the state overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party. In the 2002 elections,Oglala Lakota candidates won elections in Bennett County for county sheriff, one of the county commissioners, and a seat on the county school board.[3]
As of 2010, nearly 97 percent of West River's population waswhite orNative American, with less than four percent beingAfrican American,Asian, orHispanic. Containing bothEllsworth Air Force Base and most installations of theSouth Dakota Army National Guard, West River has major military activities contributing to the regional economy. Only the South Dakota Air National Guard is located in East River (at Joe Foss Field inSioux Falls).
The majority-White voters of West River are politically moreconservative andRepublican than East River.[5]
The state Republican Party is normally dominated by East River interests.Walter Dale Miller, the firstgovernor from West River in the state's recent history, came to office in 1993 following the death of GovernorGeorge S. Mickelson.[6]Larry Rhoden is the second governor from West River, and came to office followingKristi Noem's departure in 2025.
44°30′N102°00′W / 44.5°N 102°W /44.5; -102
