The Southwest Region consists of 18 counties and is home to historic forts, world-class museums, the mighty Missouri River, the historic western cowboy town of Medora and the beautiful North Dakota Badlands which extends from the Northwest Region to the Southwest Regions of the state. The Theodore National Park also runs through the western regions where one can learn about the legacy of our 26th President, hike, ride horses, camp, explore the wilderness, discover prairie plants, find Northern Great Plains birds and see wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. This region has some of the best hunting in the state—a sportsman’s paradise.

Two large tertiary care centers, three urban clinics, twenty-two rural clinics comprise the medical services for this region. One Indian Health Services hospital and clinic provide services for the population residing on the Fort Yates Indian Reservation.

Two state universities/colleges and one tribal college provide a variety of educational programs for students.