Health in Oglala
Oglala differs from South Dakota on 25 of 33 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (4.7% vs 9.2%) and fewer binge drinkers (14.8% vs 18.8%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (53.8% vs 12.7%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oglala. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oglala
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
How Oglala adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Oglala runs above South Dakota.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oglala adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Oglala’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Oglala is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Oglala does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as the Healthiest towns in South Dakota ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Oglala with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Out of every 100 Oglala adults…
Oglala runs below SD on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 4% of Oglala residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Cancer (not skin) run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Oglala
No hospital or community health center in Oglala itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Oglala; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oglala adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
All 33 CDC measures for Oglala
| Measure | Oglala | Likely range | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.2% | 36.3–44.3% | 33.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 30.1% | 26.6–33.8% | 34% | better |
| Obesity | 48.9% | 42.7–55.6% | 35.9% | worse |
| Arthritis | 27.3% | 24.6–30.5% | 25.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.7% | 21.9–29.6% | 21.2% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 53.8% | 48.1–59.6% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2% | 10.1% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2% | 9.2% | better |
| Diabetes | 23.1% | 20.6–26% | 11.7% | worse |
| COPD | 16.1% | 13.6–18.6% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 7.1% | 6.2–8% | 3.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 45.2% | 39–51% | 15.2% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.8% | 12.2–17.9% | 18.8% | better |
| Get no exercise | 44.8% | 38.5–51% | 24.1% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.2% | 37.9–48.8% | 29.7% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 70.1% | 65.7–74.5% | 76.5% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 28.4% | 25.4–31.8% | 69.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 68.1% | 63.5–72.4% | 84.8% | worse |
| Colon screening | 38.6% | 33.9–43.6% | 65.5% | worse |
| Mammogram | 51.9% | 43.3–60.7% | 76.6% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 68.7% | 65.4–71.9% | 75.9% | worse |
| No health insurance | 22.6% | 17.3–28.3% | 8.8% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 28.1% | 24.6–31.4% | 15.3% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 45.7% | 39.6–51.6% | 17.3% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 25.3% | 22–28.8% | 12.3% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 56.3% | 50–62.2% | 30.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 29.3% | 25.4–33.2% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 32.4% | 27.7–37% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 13.9% | 12.2–15.7% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 20.5% | 17.6–23.4% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 12.2% | 10.4–14.1% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 24.5% | 20.9–28.1% | 7.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Oglala door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the South Dakota figure falls inside it, we don’t call Oglala better or worse.
CDC publishes Oglala directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oglala.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.