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State of South Dakota
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Flag of South Dakotasvg
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Flag Of South Dakota
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SouthDakotastatesealjpg
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Map of USA SDsvg
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The Mount Rushmore State (official), <br />The Sunshine State
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Under God the people rule
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Pierre
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English
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Sioux Falls
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M Michael Rounds (R)
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Tim Johnson (D)<br /> John Thune (R) <br> US Congresswoman = Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D)
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SD
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17<sup>th</sup>
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77,1161
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199,905
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75,689
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196,735
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1,225
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3,173
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16
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46<sup>th</sup>
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754,844
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46<sup>th</sup>
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99 <!-- quickfactscensusgov -->
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384
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40<sup>th</sup>
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November 2 , 1889
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-6/ -5
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eastern half
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-7/ -6
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western half
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42°󈐅′ N to 45°󈐠′ N
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96°󈐂′ W to 104°󈏫′ W
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210
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340
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380
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610
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Harney Peak 2
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7,242
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2,209
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2,200
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670
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Big Stone Lake
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966
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295
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US-SD
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(/) is a
State located in the
Midwestern Region of the
United States Of America . It is named after the
Lakota and
Dakota (
Sioux )
American Indian tribes. South Dakota was admitted to the Union on
November 2 ,
1889 . (
North Dakota was admitted on the same day.)
Located in the north-central United States, South Dakota is bisected by the , a group of low, pine-covered mountains. A region of great religious importance to local American Indians as well as a major draw for the state tourism industry, the Black Hills are also the location of
Mt. Rushmore , probably the best-known location in the state and a widely-used unofficial symbol of South Dakota.
Historically dominated by an agricultural economy and a rural lifestyle, South Dakota has recently sought to diversify its economy in an effort to attract and retain residents. The state is still largely rural, though, with one of the lowest population densities in the United States.
3 The centrally-located city of
Pierre serves as the state capital, and
Sioux Falls , with 150,000 people, is the largest city in the state.
South Dakota is situated in the north-central United States, and is usually considered to be a part of the Midwest, although the Great Plains region also covers the state. Additionally, South Dakota is at times considered to be a part of the
West . The
Missouri River runs through the central part of South Dakota. To the east of the river lie low hills and lakes formed by glaciers. Fertile farm country covers the area. To the west of the river the land consists of deep canyons and rolling plains. South Dakota has a total land area of 77,116 sq. miles, making the state the
17th Largest in the Union. South Dakota is bordered to the north by
North Dakota ; to the south by
Nebraska ; to the east by
Iowa and
Minnesota ; and to the west by
Wyoming and
Montana .
South Dakota has four major land regions: the , the '''
Dissected Till Plains ''', the '''
Great Plains ''', and the '''
Black Hills '''.
The Drift Prairie covers most of eastern South Dakota. This is the land of low hills and glacial lakes. This area was called Coteau des Prairies (Prairie Hills) by early French traders. In the north, the Coteau des Prairies is bordered on the east by the
Minnesota River Valley and on the west by the James River Basin. The James River Basin is mostly flat land, following the flow of the
James River through South Dakota from north to south.
The Dissected Till Plains lie in the southeastern corner of South Dakota. This area of rolling hills is criss-crossed by many streams.
The Great Plains cover most of the western two-thirds of South Dakota. The Coteau de Missouri hills and valleys lie between the James River Basin of the Drift Prairie and the Missouri River. West of the Missouri River the landscape becomes more rugged and consists of rolling hills, plains, canyons, and steep flat-topped hills called
Butte s. These buttes sometimes rise 400 to 600
Feet (120 to 180
M ) above the plains. In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota
Badlands .
The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming. This range of low mountains covers 6,000
Square Mile s (15,500
Km&2. ) with mountains that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases. The highest point in South Dakota,
Harney Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), is in the Black Hills.This is the highest point between the
Rocky Mountains and the
French Alps . The Black Hills are rich in minerals such as
Gold ,
Silver ,
Copper , and
Lead . The
Homestake Mine , one of the largest gold mines in the United States, is located in the Black Hills.
The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state. Other major South Dakota rivers include the , Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and
Lewis And Clark Lake .
South Dakota has a
Continental Climate with four very distinct seasons ranging from typically very cold winters and hot summers. During the summers, the average high temperature throughout the state is close to 90 °F for the high temperature, although it often cools down to close to 60 °F at night. It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 °F for the high temperature for days or weeks at a time. Winters are cold with high temperatures in January averaging below freezing and low temperatures averaging below 10 °F in most of the state.
The precipitation of the state ranges from semi-arid, in the northwestern part of the state (around 15 inches of annual precipitation) to semi-humid around the southeast portion of the state (around 25 inches of annual precipitation), although a small area centered around
Lawrence County has the highest precipitation at nearly 30 inches per annum.
over
Rapid City on
August 8 ,
2002 .]]
South Dakota summers bring frequent
Thunderstorms which can be severe with high winds, thunder, and hail. The eastern part of the state is often considered part of
Tornado Alley with the rate of tornadoes per square 10,000 miles approaching that of parts of
Oklahoma or
Kansas , although the western part of the state is also vulnerable to tornadoes as well. Winters are somewhat more stable. Severe winter storms, occasionally
Blizzards , can happen in the winter, although the bulk of the snow which falls in South Dakota tends to be in the late autumn and early spring.
]]
in the Black Hills]]
South Dakota contains several sites that are protected by the
National Park Service .
Two
National Parks have been established in South Dakota, both of which are located in the southwestern part of the state.
Badlands National Park was created in 1978.
4 The park features a highly eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by
Semi-arid grasslands.
5 Wind Cave National Park , established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of
Bison .
6 Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The well-known attraction features a mountain carved by
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum to resemble four former U.S. presidents.
7 Other areas managed by the National Park Service include
Jewel Cave National Monument near
Custer , the
Lewis And Clark National Historic Trail , the
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site , which features a decommissioned
Nuclear Missile Silo , and the
Missouri National Recreational River .
8
Human beings have lived in what is today South Dakota for at least several thousand years.
French and other
European explorers in the 1700s encountered a variety of groups including the
Omaha and
Arikara (
Ree ), but by the early 1800s the
Sioux (
Dakota ,
Lakota , and
Nakota ) were dominant. In 1743, the
LaVerendrye brothers buried a plate near the site of modern day Pierre, claiming the region for
France as part of
Greater Louisiana .
9 In 1803, the United States purchased the
Louisiana Territory from
Napoleon .
10
President
Thomas Jefferson organized a group called the Corps of Discovery, led by
Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark (commonly referred to as "
Lewis And Clark Expedition "), to explore the newly-acquired region. In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at present-day
Fort Pierre , beginning continuous American settlement of the area.
11 In 1855, the U.S. Army bought
Fort Pierre but abandoned it the following year in favor of
Fort Randall to the south. Settlement by Americans and Europeans was, by this time, increasing rapidly, and in 1858, the
Yankton Sioux signed the
1858 Treaty , ceding most of present-day eastern South Dakota to the
United States .
12
, like many other
Black Hills towns, was founded after the discovery of
Gold ]]
Land speculators founded two of eastern South Dakota's largest present-day cities:
Sioux Falls in 1856 and
Yankton in 1859. In 1861,
Dakota Territory was established by the United States government (this initially included
North Dakota , South Dakota, and parts of
Montana and
Wyoming ).
13 Settlers from
Scandinavia ,
Germany ,
Ireland , and
Russia , as well as elsewhere in
Europe and from the eastern U.S. states increased from a trickle to a flood, especially after the completion of an eastern railway link to the territorial capital of Yankton in 1872, and the discovery of gold in the
Black Hills in 1874 during a military expedition led by
George A. Custer . This expedition took place despite the fact that the western half of present day South Dakota had been granted to the Sioux by the
Treaty Of Fort Laramie (1868) as part of the
Great Sioux Reservation . The Sioux declined to grant
Mining rights or land in the Black Hills, and war broke out after the U.S. failed to stop white miners and settlers from entering the region. The Sioux were eventually defeated and settled on reservations within South Dakota and North Dakota.
An increasing population in Dakota Territory caused the territory to be divided in half and a
Bill for
Statehood for North Dakota and South Dakota (as well as
Montana and
Washington ) titled the
Enabling Act Of 1889 was passed on
February 22 ,
1889 during the Administration of
Grover Cleveland . It was left to his successor,
Benjamin Harrison , to sign proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on
November 2 ,
1889 . Harrison directed his
Secretary Of State James G. Blaine to shuffle the papers and obscure from him which he was signing first and the actual order went unrecorded.
U.S. Mint Coin of the Month Library of Congress, Dakota Territory and Statehood
On
December 29 ,
1890 , the
Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation . Commonly cited as the last major armed conflict between the United States and the Sioux Nation, the massacre resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300 Sioux, many of them women and children. 25 U.S. soldiers were also killed in the conflict.
14
, 1936]]
During the 1930s, several economic and climatic conditions combined with disastrous results for South Dakota. A lack of rainfall, extremely high temperatures and over-cultivation of farmland produced what was known as the
Dust Bowl in South Dakota and several other plains states. Fertile
Topsoil was blown away in massive dust storms, and several harvests were completely ruined.
15The experiences of the Dust Bowl, coupled with local bank
Foreclosures and the general economic effects of the
Great Depression resulted in many South Dakotans leaving the state. The population of South Dakota declined by more than 7 percent between 1930 and 1940.
Economic stability returned with the U.S. entry into
World War II in 1941, when demand for the state's agricultural and industrial products grew as the nation mobilized for war. In 1944, the
Pick-Sloan Plan was passed as part of the
Flood Control Act Of 1944 by the U.S. Congress, resulting in the construction of six large
Dams on the Missouri River, four of which are at least partially located in South Dakota. Flood control,
Hydroelectricity and recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing are provided by the dams and their
Reservoirs .
16
In recent decades, South Dakota has transformed from a state dominated by agriculture to one with a more diversified economy. The tourism industry has grown considerably since the completion of the interstate system in the 1960s, with the Black Hills being especially impacted. The financial service industry began to grow in the state as well, with near
Lead was chosen as the location of a new underground research facility.
17 Despite a growing state population and recent economic development, many rural areas have been struggling over the past 50 years with locally declining populations and the emigration of educated young adults to larger South Dakota cities, such as Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or to other states.
18
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According to the
U.S. Census Bureau , as of 2005, South Dakota has an estimated population of 775,933, which is an increase of 5,312, or 0.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 21,093, or 2.8%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 19,199 people (that is 56,247 births minus 37,048 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 3,222 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 3,957 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 735 people. 6.8% of South Dakota's population were reported as under 5, 26.8% under 18, and 14.3% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.4% of the population.
The
Center Of Population of South Dakota is located in
Buffalo County , in the unincorporated county seat of
Gannvalley .
19
In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated that 88.5% of South Dakotans were (40.7%),
Norwegian (15.3%),
Irish (10.4%),
Native American (8.3%), and
English (7.1%). German-Americans are the largest ancestry group in most parts of the state, especially in the east, although there are also large Scandinavian populations in some counties. American Indians, largely Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota (Sioux) are predominant in several counties. South Dakota has the fourth highest proportion of Native Americans of any state, behind
Alaska ,
Oklahoma , and
New Mexico .
(shown in pink).]] As of the 2000 census, 1.90% of the population aged 5 or older speak
German at home, while 1.51% speak
Dakota , and 1.43%
Spanish .
21
South Dakota, in common with five other Midwest states (
Nebraska ,
Kansas ,
Oklahoma ,
North Dakota , and
Iowa ), is experiencing a trend of falling populations in rural counties, despite an overall increase in population for all of these states except North Dakota. 89% of the total number of cities in these six states have fewer than 3,000 people; hundreds have fewer than 1000. Between 1996 and 2004, almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers.
The effect of rural flight has not been spread evenly through South Dakota, however. Although most rural counties and small towns have lost population, the Sioux Falls area and the Black Hills have gained population. In fact,
Lincoln County , near Sioux Falls, is the ninth-fastest growing county (by percentage) in the United States.
22 The growth in these areas has compensated for losses in the rest of the state, and South Dakota's total population continues to increase steadily, albeit at a slower rate than the national average.
According to a 2001 survey, 86% of South Dakotans described themselves as being members of a
Christian denomination, while 8% said that they were not religious and 3% claimed faith in a non-Christian religion. The largest Christian denomination was
Lutheran (27%), followed closely by
Roman Catholic at 25%. Other Christian denominations mentioned included
Methodist (13%),
Baptist (4%),
Presbyterian (4%),
Pentecostal (2%),
Congregational (2%),
Episcopal/Anglican (1%), and
Seventh Day Adventist (1%). 7% responded either as a
Non-denominational Christian or a
Protestant , while 2% refused to answer.
23
plant in
Turner County ]]
The current-dollar gross state product of South Dakota was $32.3 billion as of 2006.
24 The per capita personal income was $26,894 in 2004, the 37th highest in the nation and 13.08 percent below the national average. 13.2% of the population is below the poverty line. As of July, 2007, South Dakota's
Unemployment Rate was 3.0%, the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the nation.
25
The
Service Industry is the largest economic contributor in South Dakota. This sector includes the
Retail ,
Finance , and
Health Care industries. Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state product.
26 Ellsworth Air Force Base , near Rapid City, is the second-largest single employer in the state.Reha, Bob. ''South Dakota's Ellsworth AFB to stay open.''
{Link without Title} Minnesota Public Radio. 26 August 2005. (accessed 8 September, 2007)
Agriculture has historically been a key component of the South Dakota economy. Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. Major products of South Dakota agriculture include
Beef ,
Wheat ,
Corn (maize) ,
Pork ,
Wool ,
Soybeans ,
Oats ,
Mutton ,
Alfalfa ,
Sunflowers , and
Poultry . Agriculture-related industries such as
Meat Packing and
Ethanol production also have a considerable economic impact on the state. South Dakota is one of the top five ethanol-producing states in the nation.
27
Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism. Many travel to view the attractions of the state, particularly those of the Black Hills region such as historic
Deadwood , Mt. Rushmore, and the nearby state and national parks. One of the largest tourist events in the state is the annual
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally . The three-day event drew over 450,000 attendants in 2006, significant considering the state has a population of only 750,000.
28 In 2006, tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed over two billion US$ to the economy of South Dakota.
29
As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax rate in the United States.
30 The state does not levy
Inheritance Tax es, personal or corporate
Income Tax es or taxes on
Intangible Personal Property . The state
Sales Tax rate is 4 percent. Various localities have local levies so that in some areas the rate is 6 percent. The state sales tax does not apply to sales to
Indians on
Indian Reservations , but many reservations have a compact with the state. Businesses on the reservation collect the tax and the state refunds to the Indian Tribes the percentage of sales tax collections relating to the ratio of Indian population to total population in the county or area affected.
Ad Valorem Property Tax es are local taxes and are a large source of funding for school systems, counties, municipalities and other local government units. Their administration is a local responsibility. The state revenue department does not collect or use property taxes, but it does centrally assess the property of large companies. The legislature sets some standards by general acts.
"
Tipi " is a frequent sight on a trip across the state]]
South Dakota has a total of 83,609 miles of highways, roads, and streets, along with 679 miles of , which runs east and west; and
Interstate 29 , running north and south in the eastern portion of the state. The counties and towns along Interstate 29 make up what is locally referred to as "the I-29 corridor." This area features generally higher rates of population and economic growth than areas in eastern South Dakota that are further from the interstate. Interstate 90, being a major route between western national parks and large cities to the east, brings many out-of-state travelers through South Dakota, thus helping to boost the tourism and hospitality industries. Also located in the state are the shorter interstates
190 , a
Spur into central Rapid City, and
229 , a
Loop around eastern and southern Sioux Falls. Several major
U.S. Highway s pass through the state. U.S. routes
12 ,
14 ,
16 ,
18 , and
212 travel east and west, while U.S. routes
81 ,
83 ,
85 and
281 run north and south.
Railroads are another important means of transporting freight in South Dakota. While 4,420 miles of track have been built in the state, all prior to
1948 , only 1,839 miles of railroad are currently operational.
32 BNSF Railway is the largest railroad operating in South Dakota, with the
Dakota, Minnesota, And Eastern Railroad being another important carrier.
3334 Rail transportation in the state is confined only to freight, however, as South Dakota is one of the few states without any
Amtrak service.
35
South Dakota
License Plate s are numbered by
County , with the first digit referring to the county of origin. Such a
Numbering System allows one to easily determine where the vehicle was registered. Counties 1–9 are ranked by 1950 population
{Link without Title} , and counties 10–64 are numbered alphabetically.
See Also: Government of South Dakota
in
Pierre ]]
The state of South Dakota has three branches of government:
Executive ,
Legislative , and
Judicial .
The current
Governor is
M. Michael Rounds .
Currently, there are 35 members of the state Senate and 70 members of the House of Representatives. The state is composed of 35 legislative districts. Voters elect one senator and two representatives from each district. The legislature meets once a year on the second Tuesday in January, and also if the governor calls a special session.
The state Supreme Court is the highest court in South Dakota and the court of last resort for state appellate actions. The chief justice and four justices comprise the South Dakota Supreme Court. South Dakota is divided into seven judicial circuits. There are 39 circuit judges serving in the seven circuits.
Circuit Court s are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction. There are 12 full-time and 3 part-time
Magistrate Judge s in the seven circuits.
Magistrate Court s assist the circuit courts in disposing of
Misdemeanor criminal cases and minor civil actions. These courts of limited jurisdiction make the judicial system more accessible to the public by providing a means of direct court contact for the average citizen.
South Dakota is represented at the federal level by
Senator Tim Johnson , Senator
John Thune , and
Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin .
South Dakota politics are generally dominated by the
Republican Party , and the state has not supported a
Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 — especially notable when one considers that
George McGovern , the Democratic nominee in 1972, was from South Dakota. In 2004,
George W. Bush won the state's three electoral votes with 59.9% of the vote.
36 Additionally, a Democrat has not won the governorship since 1978. As of 2006, Republicans hold a 10% registration advantage over Democrats and hold majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate.
373839 All but one of the current statewide elected officers are Republicans.
Despite the state's general Republican and conservative leanings, Democrats have found success in various state-wide elections, most notably in those involving South Dakota's congressional representatives in
Washington . Two of the three current members of the state's congressional delegation are Democrats, and until his electoral defeat in 2004 Senator
Tom Daschle served as both senator for South Dakota as well as the senate minority (briefly majority) leader.
40
Contemporary political issues in South Dakota include the legality of the
State Lottery , South Dakota's relatively low rankings in education spending (particularly teacher pay), and recent
Legislative Attempts to ban abortion in the state.
414243
See Also: Governor of South Dakota
List of United States Senators from South Dakota
South Dakota is home to the largest naturally heated indoor swimming pool in the world. Evans Plunge, heated from natural mineral springs, is in
Hot Springs .
The
Black Hills of South Dakota was one of the sites considered for the permanent home of the
United Nations .
South Dakota has the largest U.S. population of
Hutterites , who originally emigrated from Ukraine in 1874, left en masse for Canada in 1918 following persecution over their pacifist religious beliefs, and partially returned in the 1930s.
The largest and most complete fossil of ''
Tyrannosaurus Rex '' ever found was uncovered near
Faith in 1990. Named "
Sue ," the remains are over 90% complete and are currently on display at the
Field Museum Of Natural History in
Chicago .
The 1990 movie ''
Dances With Wolves '' directed by and starring
Kevin Costner as Lieutenant John Dunbar was filmed entirely in South Dakota.
Three
US Navy ships have been named
USS ''South Dakota'' in honor of the state.
Five of South Dakota's counties lie entirely within ,
Dewey ,
Shannon ,
Todd , and
Ziebach .
Pierre is the second-smallest (in terms of population) state capital; only
Montpelier, Vermont , has fewer people.
The 68-mile-long
Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway offers views of the
Black Hills along
Needles Highway and
Iron Mountain Road .
]]
:'''
:'''
:'''
: ''' State (official),
Coyote state &
Sunshine state (both unofficial)
: "Under God, the people rule"
: "Great Faces. Great Places."
:'''
:'''
:'''
:'''
Agate
:: Black Hills Gold
:
Kuchen
:'''
:
Fry Bread
:'''
:'''
:'''"
:'''
:'''
