Wakpala, South Dakota

Wakpala, South Dakota
Wakpala
Wakpala
Coordinates: 45°39′34″N 100°32′08″W / 45.65944°N 100.53556°W / 45.65944; -100.53556
Country United States
State South Dakota
CountyCorson
Area
  Total
0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2)
  Land0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,637 ft (499 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
267
  Density609.59/sq mi (235.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
57658
Area code605
FIPS code46-68180
GNIS feature ID2813013

Wakpala is an unincorporated community in Corson County, South Dakota, United States, on the west side of the Missouri River, north-northwest of Mobridge. Wakpala is within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, and its name loosely translates to "creek" in the Lakota language, with Oak Creek running south on its eastern edge.

Chief Gall (Piji, Phizí) is buried at Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Cemetery here and Chief Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake) 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.

The annual Wakpala Wacipi (dance or powwow) is held on the last weekend in August.