Economy
Economy
Government dominates employment with federally funded tribal & BIA offices and programs, schools and health care, most located in the central town and tribal agency of Eagle Butte. Family owned ranches cover most of the land, and areas outside the main towns offer little non-ranch opportunity.
Incomes
The reservation consists of two counties. Dewey and Ziebach. Over half of the tribe's 15,000-plus members live off the reservation, most in urban areas. Most of the rest live in Eagle Butte for greater opportunities. Census 2010 reported Ziebach County as the poorest in America, and change comes slowly here.
Housing
Renting from the tribal housing authority is the norm for most tribal members. It is federally funded and in short supply, with a long waiting list. Private sector housing ranges from well-built but modest homes to dilapidated older mobile homes. Construction costs are very high due to distance , so most new housing in recent decades has been mobile or manufactured homes. Overcrowding is common , with several generations or multiple families sharing a home.
