State of South Dakota
Flag of South Dakota Seal Nickname(s): The Mount Rushmore State (official), The Sunshine State Motto(s): Under God the people rule
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	South Dakotan
Capital	Pierre
Largest city	Sioux Falls
Area	Ranked 17th in the US
- Total	77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)
- Width	210 miles (340 km)
- Length	380 miles (610 km)
- % water	1. The flag of South Dakota represents the US state of South Dakota with a field of sky blue charged with a version (in navy blue on white of the state seal The South Dakota State Seal was designed while the area was a territory in 1885. This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. The United States does not have an Official language; however the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (about 82% English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 The city of Pierre (ˈpɪər "peer") is the Capital of the U This is a list of the largest cities of US states by population Sioux Falls (ˌsuː ˈfɔːlz is the largest city in the US state of South Dakota. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 6
- Latitude	42° 29′ N to 45° 56′ N
- Longitude	96° 26′ W to 104° 03′ W
Population	Ranked 46th in the US
- Total	781,919 (2006 est. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the )[2]
- Density	9. This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. 9/sq mi  3. 84/km² (46th in the US)
Elevation
- Highest point	Harney Peak[3] 7,242 ft  (2,209 m)
- Mean	2,200 ft  (670 m)
- Lowest point	Big Stone Lake[3] 966 ft  (295 m)
Admission to Union	November 2, 1889 (40th)
Governor	M. Michael Rounds (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Dennis Daugaard (R)
U.S. Senators	Tim Johnson (D) John Thune (R)
Congressional Delegation	Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) (list)
Time zones
- eastern half	Central: UTC-6/-5
- western half	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Abbreviations	SD US-SD
Website	www.sd.gov

South Dakota (IPA: /ˌsɑʊθdəˈkoʊtə/) is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> Harney Peak is the highest Mountain in South Dakota, located in Black Hills National Forest. Big Stone Lake is a long narrow Freshwater Lake and reservoir forming the border between western Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician. This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. Dennis M Daugaard (born June 11, 1953) is the current Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives John Randolph Thune (born January 7, 1961) is the Republican junior U The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (born December 3 1970) is an American Lawyer and Democratic politician, currently serving These are tables of congressional delegations from South Dakota to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This is a list of United States of America States by time zone The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving Daylight saving time ( DST The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-7) during the shortest days of autumn Daylight saving time ( DST The traditional abbreviations for US states and territories were widely used in mailing addresses prior to the introduction of two-letter U ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It is named after the Lakota and Dakota (Sioux) American Indian tribes. The Lakota (laˈkˣota (also Teton, Tetonwan) are a Native American tribe Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States South Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common (North Dakota was admitted simultaneously. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. )

Located in the north-central United States, South Dakota is bisected by the Missouri River, dividing the state into two socially and economically distinct halves, known to residents as "West River" and "East River". West River is the portion of the state of South Dakota located west of the Missouri River with approximately one-half of the land area and one-third of the population ^[4] In the southwestern portion of the state rise the Black Hills, a group of low, pine-covered mountains. The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the 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 symbol of South Dakota. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental Granite sculpture by Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941 located

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. ^[5] 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. The city of Pierre (ˈpɪər "peer") is the Capital of the U Sioux Falls (ˌsuː ˈfɔːlz is the largest city in the US state of South Dakota.

Geography

Main article: Geography of South Dakota

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. South Dakota is a state located in the north-central United States. The Great Plains are the broad expanse of Prairie and Steppe which lie east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada Additionally, South Dakota is at times considered to be a part of the West. The Western United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American West or simply the West &mdashtraditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost 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. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. Fertile farm country covers the area. To the west of the river the land consists of deep canyons and rolling plains. For the song see CANYONMID. For the band see Canyon (band. A canyon (rarely cañon) or gorge South Dakota has a total land area of 77,116 sq. miles (199,905 km²), making the state the 17^th largest in the Union. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area ^[1] 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. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The State of Wyoming ( is a sparsely populated state in the western region of the United States. Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern The geographical center of the U. S. is 17 miles west of Castle Rock in Butte County. Butte County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. ^[6]

Regions

South Dakota has four major land regions: the Drift Prairie, the Dissected Till Plains, the Great Plains, and the Black Hills. The Drift Prairie is a geographic region of North and South Dakota The Dissected Till Plains are physiographic sections of the Central Lowlands province which in turn is part of the Interior Plains physiographic division of the United The Great Plains are the broad expanse of Prairie and Steppe which lie east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the

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 Minnesota River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km long in the U The James River Basin is mostly flat land, following the flow of the James River through South Dakota from north to south. The James River (also known as the Jim River or the Dakota River) is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 710 mi (1143 km long in the

The Dissected Till Plains lie in the southeastern corner of South Dakota. This area of rolling hills is criss-crossed by many streams.

Geographic and political features of South Dakota

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 buttes. A butte (bjut is an isolated Hill with steep often vertical sides and a small flat top smaller than Mesas Plateaus and tables In some These buttes sometimes rise 400 to 600 feet (120 to 180 m) above the plains. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota Badlands. Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States preserves of sharply eroded Buttes pinnacles and spires blended with the largest

The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming. This range of low mountains covers 6,000 square miles (15,500 km².) with mountains that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The highest point in South Dakota, Harney Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), is in the Black Hills. Harney Peak is the highest Mountain in South Dakota, located in Black Hills National Forest. ^[3] This is the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. ^[6] The Black Hills are rich in minerals such as gold, silver, copper, and lead. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly The Homestake Mine, one of the largest gold mines in the United States, is located in the Black Hills. The Homestake Mine is a deep underground Gold mine located near Lead South Dakota.

South Dakotans also divide the state at the Missouri River into two general regions, known as West River and East River. West River is the portion of the state of South Dakota located west of the Missouri River with approximately one-half of the land area and one-third of the population The river serves as a somewhat stark boundary in terms of geographic, social and political differences between the two regions. West River features a more arid landscape, an economy largely based on tourism and ranching, and, aside from the Indian Reservations, a very conservative political climate. East River, on the other hand, is more densely populated, agriculture there is based more on farming than ranching, and the region is more politically moderate. ^[4][7]

The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state. Other major South Dakota rivers include the Cheyenne, the James, the Big Sioux, and the White. The Cheyenne River is a tributary of the Missouri River in the U The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 295 mi (470 km long in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States The White River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 507 mi (816 km long in the U South Dakota has many natural lakes, mostly occurring in the eastern part of the state. Additionally, dams on the Missouri River create four large reservoirs: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake. A dam is a barrier that divides waters. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water while other structures such as Floodgates, Levees A reservoir is most broadly a place or hollow vessel where Fluid is kept in Reserve, for later use The Oahe Dam is a large man-made Dam along the Missouri River, just north of Pierre South Dakota in the United States. Lewis and Clark Lake is an impoundment on the Missouri River above Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton South Dakota.

Ecology

A pronghorn in Wind Cave National Park

Much of South Dakota, with the notable exception of the Black Hills, is dominated by a temperate grasslands biome. The pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana) also pronghorn antelope or prong buck, is a species of Ungulate Mammal native to interior Bison grazing at Wind Cavejpg|right|thumb|Bison grazing on prairie grasses]] Wind Cave National Park is a United States National park north of the town of Hot Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody A biome is a climatically and geographically defined area of ecologically similar climatic conditions such as communities of Plants Animals and ^[8] Although grasses and crops cover most of this region, deciduous trees such as cottonwoods, elms, and willows are common near rivers and in shelter belts. Botany Autumn leaf color. See --> In Botany and Horticulture, deciduous Plants, including The cottonwoods are three species of Poplars in the section Aegiros of the genus Populus, native to North America, Europe and western Elms are Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found Willows, sallows and osiers form the Genus Salix, around 400 species of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs found primarily A windbreak or shelterbelt is a Plantation usually made up of one or more rows of Trees or Shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter ^[9] Mammals in this area include bison, deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie dogs. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The American bison ( Bison bison) is a Bovine Mammal, also commonly known as the American buffalo. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. The pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana) also pronghorn antelope or prong buck, is a species of Ungulate Mammal native to interior The coyote (kaɪˈoʊti ˈkaɪoʊt ( Canis latrans) also known as the prairie wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora The prairie dogs ( Cynomys) are small burrowing Rodents native to the Grasslands of North America ^[10] The state bird, the ring-necked pheasant, has adapted particularly well to the area after being introduced from China, and growing populations of bald eagles are spread throughout the state, especially near the Missouri River. The Common Pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus) is a bird in the Pheasant family (Phasianidae China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a Bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and ^[11][12] Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support populations of walleye, carp, pike, and bass, along with other species. The walleye (common US name or yellow pickerel (Canada ( Sander vitreus vitreus, formerly Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) is a freshwater Perciform Carp is a common name for various Freshwater Fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large Bass (ˈbæs is a name shared by many different species of popular Gamefish. ^[10] The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic paddlefish. The American Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, also called the Mississippi paddlefish or spoonbill, lives in slow-flowing waters of the Mississippi ^[13]

Due to higher elevation and precipitation, the ecology of the Black Hills differs significantly from that of the plains. The mountains are thickly blanketed by various types of pine, mostly of the ponderosa and spruce varieties. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus ponderosa) sometimes called Bull Pine or Western Yellow Pine is a widespread and variable Pine native to western North Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae ^[14] Black Hills mammals include mule deer, elk (wapiti), bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and mountain lions, while the streams and lakes contain several species of trout. The mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus) is a Deer whose habitat is in the western half of North America. The elk, or wapiti ( Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest Species of Deer in the world and one of the largest Mammals in Bighorn Sheep ( Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in North America and Siberia with large horns which can weigh up to. The Mountain Goat ( Oreamnos americanus) also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family ^[10][15][16]

Climate

South Dakota has a continental climate with four very distinct seasons ranging from typically very cold winters and hot summers. Continental climate is a Climate that is characterized by Winter Temperatures cold enough to support a fixed period of Snow cover each Year During the summers, the average high temperature throughout the state is close to 90 °F , 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. Lawrence County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota.

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,^[17] and South Dakota experiences an average of 23 tornadoes per year. For the book by William S Burroughs, see Tornado Alley (book. ^[18] Winters are somewhat more stable, although severe weather in the form of blizzards and ice storms can occur during the season. A blizzard is a severe Winter storm condition characterized by low Temperatures strong Winds and heavy blowing Snow Blizzards are formed when An ice storm is a type of Winter storm characterized by Freezing rain.

National Parks and Monuments

Badlands National Park

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills

South Dakota contains several sites that are protected by the National Park Service. Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States preserves of sharply eroded Buttes pinnacles and spires blended with the largest Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental Granite sculpture by Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941 located The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation Two national parks have been established in South Dakota, both of which are located in the southwestern part of the state. A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution Badlands National Park was created in 1978. Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States preserves of sharply eroded Buttes pinnacles and spires blended with the largest ^[19] The park features a highly eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands. A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual Rainfall (250-500 mm or 10-20 in ^[20] Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of bison. Bison grazing at Wind Cavejpg|right|thumb|Bison grazing on prairie grasses]] Wind Cave National Park is a United States National park north of the town of Hot The American bison ( Bison bison) is a Bovine Mammal, also commonly known as the American buffalo. ^[21] Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental Granite sculpture by Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941 located The well-known attraction features a mountain carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to resemble four former U. (John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum ( March 25, 1867 &ndash March 6, 1941) was an American artist and sculptor famous S. presidents. ^[22] Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer, Crazy Horse Memorial, 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. Jewel Cave National Monument contains Jewel Cave, currently the second longest Cave in the world with about 141 miles (225 km of mapped passageways Custer is a city in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is part of the National Trails System Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is one of the newest units in the United States National Park System. A missile silo is an underground vertical cylindrical container for the storage and launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs. The Missouri National Recreational River is located on the border between Nebraska ^[23]

History

Main article: History of South Dakota

Human beings have lived in what is today South Dakota for at least several thousand years. List of capitals in the United States --> The History of South Dakota describes the history of the U 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. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe. The Omaha tribe is a Native American tribe that currently resides in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States. Arikara (also Sahnish Arikaree Ree refers to a group of Native Americans that speak a Caddoan language. Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people The Lakota (laˈkˣota (also Teton, Tetonwan) are a Native American tribe Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people 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. Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye ( November 9, 1717 &ndash November 15, 1761) was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Louisiana (La celina+mario) was the name of an administrative district of New France. ^[24]

In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon, and President Thomas Jefferson organized a group commonly referred to as the "Lewis and Clark Expedition" to explore the newly-acquired region. Louisiana Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from July 4, 1805 until December 11, 1812. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence ^[25][26] In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at present-day Fort Pierre, beginning continuous American settlement of the area. Fort Pierre is a city in Stanley County, South Dakota, United States. ^[27] In 1855, the U. S. Army bought Fort Pierre but abandoned it the following year in favor of Fort Randall to the south. The Fort Randall Military Post was established in 1856 to help keep peace on the Frontier. ^[27] 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. Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people This is a list of treaties to which the United States has been a party or which have had direct relevance to U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[28]

Deadwood, 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. Deadwood, named for the dead trees found in its Gulch, is a city in and the County seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Sioux Falls (ˌsuː ˈfɔːlz is the largest city in the US state of South Dakota. Yankton is a city in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. In 1861, Dakota Territory was established by the United States government (this initially included North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming). Dakota Territory was the name of an organized territory of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1889 North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern The State of Wyoming ( is a sparsely populated state in the western region of the United States. ^[29] Settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and Russia, as well as elsewhere in Europe and from the eastern U. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending 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. The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the 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 Treaty of Fort Laramie (also called the Sioux Treaty of 1868) was an agreement between the United States and the Lakota nation Yanktonai The Great Sioux Reservation was established in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, and includes all of modern Western South Dakota (commonly known as "West The Sioux declined to grant mining rights or land in the Black Hills, and war broke out after the U. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body 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. ^[27]

An increasing population caused Dakota 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. For other uses see Bill. A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a Legislature that has not been ratified, adopted A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Enabling Act of 1889 ( chs 180 276-284 enacted 1889-02-22) is a United States statute that enabled North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18 1837 June 24 1908 was both the twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States. It was left to his successor, Benjamin Harrison, to sign proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on November 2, 1889. Benjamin Harrison (August 20 1833 &ndash March 13 1901 was the twenty-third President of the United States, serving one term from 1889 to 1893 Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common 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. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs James Gillespie Blaine ( January 31, 1830 &ndash January 27, 1893) was a U ^[30][31]

On December 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Wounded Knee Massacre also known as The Battle at Wounded Knee Creek was the last major armed conflict between the Oglala Lakota and the United States The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation ( Oglala Oyanke in Lakota, also called Pine Ridge Agency) is an 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. ^[32]

A South Dakota farm during the Dust Bowl, 1936

During the 1930s, several economic and climatic conditions combined with disastrous results for South Dakota. The Dust Bowl, or the dirty thirties, was a period of severe Dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and 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. The Dust Bowl, or the dirty thirties, was a period of severe Dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Fertile topsoil was blown away in massive dust storms, and several harvests were completely ruined. Topsoil is the upper outermost layer of soil usually the top 2 to 8 inches ^[33] The 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. Foreclosure is the legal proceeding in which a mortgagee, or other Lienholder, usually a lender obtains a court ordered termination of a mortgagor The population of South Dakota declined by more than seven 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. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In 1944, the Pick-Sloan Plan was passed as part of the Flood Control Act of 1944 by the U. The Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, formerly called the Missouri River Basin Project was initially authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, which approved the general The Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78–534 enacted in the 2nd session of the 78th Congress, is 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. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water ^[34]

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 Citibank moving its credit card operations from New York to Sioux Falls in 1981, a move that has since been followed by several other financial companies. Citibank is a major international Bank, founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York. ^[35] In 2007, the site of the recently-closed Homestake gold mine near Lead was chosen as the location of a new underground research facility. The Homestake Mine is a deep underground Gold mine located near Lead South Dakota. Lead (pronounced as "leed" is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. ^[36] 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. ^[37]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of South Dakota

South Dakota Population Density Map

Population

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. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 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. In Demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region on average Buffalo County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. Gann Valley is an unincorporated community in and the County seat of Buffalo County, South Dakota, United States. ^[39]

Race and ethnicity

In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated that 88. 5% of South Dakotans were White, 8. White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. 8% were American Indian or Alaskan Native, 2. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States Alaska Natives are Indigenous peoples of the Americas native to the state of Alaska within the United States. 1 were Hispanic (of any race), 0. Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically 8% were Black, 0. The term black people usually refers to a racial group of Humans with dark Skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse 7% were Asian, while 2. Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular 1% belonged to more than one race. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. ^[2] The five largest ancestry groups in South Dakota are: German (40. German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry 7%), Norwegian (15. Norwegian Americans (norskamerikanere are Americans of Norwegian descent 3%), Irish (10. Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. 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. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America.

South Dakota has a number of large Indian reservations (shown in pink). An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau

As of the 2000 census, 1. 90% of the population aged 5 or older speak German at home, while 1. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. 51% speak Dakota, and 1. Sioux is a Siouan language. Regional variation Sioux has 3 major regional varieties with various sub- Lects 43% Spanish. ^[40]

Growth and rural flight

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. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. 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. Lincoln County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. ^[41] 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. ^[2]

Religion

According to a 2001 survey, 86% of South Dakotans described themselves as being members of a Christian denomination:^[42]

• Protestant (61%)
  • Lutheran (27%)
  • Methodist (13%)
  • Baptist (4%)
  • Presbyterian (4%)
  • Other Protestant (6%)
  • Non-denominational Christian (7%)
• Roman Catholic (25%)
• Not religious (8%)
• A non-Christian religion (3%)
• 2% refused to answer. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity In Christianity, the term non-denominational refers to those churches that have not formally aligned themselves with an established denomination, or remain otherwise

Economy

A B-1B Lancer lifts off from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one of South Dakota's largest employers

The current-dollar gross state product of South Dakota was $32. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base near Rapid City in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. Gross state product (or gross regional product) is a measurement of the economic output of a state or Province. 3 billion as of 2006. ^[43] 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. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. 0%, the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the nation. ^[44]

The service industry is the largest economic contributor in South Dakota. This sector includes the retail, finance, and health care industries. The field of finance refers to the concepts of Time, Money and Risk and how they are interrelated Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state product. ^[45] Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-largest single employer in the state. Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base near Rapid City in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. ^[46]

Ethanol plant in Turner County

Agriculture has historically been a key component of the South Dakota economy. Turner County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn (maize), soybeans, hogs, and wheat. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Pigs, also called hogs or' swine', are Ungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food leather and similar products since ancient times Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. ^[47] Agriculture-related industries such as meat packing and ethanol production also have a considerable economic impact on the state. The meat packing industry is an Industry that handles the slaughtering, Processing and distribution of animals such as Cattle South Dakota is one of the top five ethanol-producing states in the nation. ^[48]

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. Deadwood, named for the dead trees found in its Gulch, is a city in and the County seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, Rushmore, and the nearby state and national parks. One of the largest tourist events in the state is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American Motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota each first The three-day event drew over 450,000 attendants in 2006, significant considering the state has a population of only 750,000. ^[49] In 2006, tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed over two billion US$ to the economy of South Dakota. ^[50]

State taxes

As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax rate in the United States. ^[51] The state does not levy personal or corporate income taxes,^[52] inheritance taxes,^[53] or taxes on intangible personal property. Estate tax and Death duty redirect here Inheritance tax, estate tax and death duty are the names given to various taxes which Personal property is a type of Property. In the Common law systems personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. The state sales tax rate is 4 percent. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services ^[54] 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. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau 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 taxes are local taxes and are a large source of funding for school systems, counties, municipalities and other local government units. An ad valorem tax ( Latin: according to value) is a Tax based on the value of Real estate or Personal property. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed 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. The South Dakota Special Tax Division regulates some taxes including cigarette and alcohol related taxes. The Department of Liquor Control is a South Dakota state government agency which is responsible for licensing certain operations and for collecting certain state taxes ^[55]

Transportation

A rest stop "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 interstate highways. A rest area, travel plaza, rest stop, or service area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a Highway, Expressway A tipi' (also teepee, tepee) is a conical Tent originally made of animal skins or birch bark and popularized by the Native Americans The Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) ^[56] Two major interstates pass through South Dakota: Interstate 90, which runs east and west; and Interstate 29, running north and south in the eastern portion of the state. Interstate 90 (I-90 is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3100 miles (5000 kilometers Interstate 29 (I-29 is an Interstate highway in the Midwestern United States. 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. Interstate 190 (I-190 is an Auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U A spur route is a short Road forming a branch from a longer more important route (typically a major road Freeway, Interstate Highway or Motorway Interstate 229 (I-229 in South Dakota runs approximately 10 miles (16 km mostly within the city limits of Sioux Falls, the largest city in the state A loop route is a Highway or other major Road that extends out from a typically longer more important parents road to enter and (usually circle a large City Several major U.S. highways pass through the state. The system of United States Numbered Highways (often called U U. S. routes 12, 14, 16, 18, and 212 travel east and west, while U. US Route 12, or US 12, is an east-west United States highway running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean in the state of Washington to downtown US Route 14 ( US 14) an east-west route is one of the original United States highways of 1926 US Route 16 is an east-west United States highway between Rapid City South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. US Route 18 ( US 18) is an east-west US highway in the Midwestern United States. US Route 212 is a spur of US Route 12. Though it currently never intersects U S. routes 81, 83, 85 and 281 run north and south. US Route 81 is one of the many United States Numbered Highways established in 1926 by the US Department of Agriculture Bureau of Public Roads US Route 83 is one of the longest north-south US Highways in the United States, at. US Route 85 is a north-south United States highway that runs for 1479 miles (2380 km in the Midwestern United States. US Highway 281 is a north-south United States highway. It is 1872 miles was completed June 9 2008 formerly there was no direct access between the two freeways and

South Dakota contains two National Scenic Byways. A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological cultural historic natural recreational and/or scenic The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway is located in the Black Hills, while the Native American Scenic Byway runs along the Missouri River in the north-central part of the state. Peter Norbeck ( August 27, 1870 December 20, 1936) served as a South Dakota State Senator from Spink County, as the Other scenic byways include the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, and the Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway. ^[57]

Railroads have played an important role in South Dakota transportation since the mid nineteenth century. Historically, the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago & North Western were the state's largest railroads, and the Milwaukee's east-west transcontinental line traversed the northern tier of the state. The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific Railroad ( CMSP&P RR), was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest Some 4,420 miles of railroad track were built in South Dakota during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but only 1,839 miles of railroad are currently operational. ^[58] BNSF Railway is currently the largest railroad in South Dakota, primarily operating former Milwaukee Road trackage; the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad is the state's other major carrier, mostly operating former Chicago & North Western trackage. The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the four remaining Transcontinental railroads and one of the largest railroad networks in Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad ( DM&E) is a Class II railroad operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in the northern plains ^[59][60] Rail transportation in the state is confined only to freight, however, as South Dakota is one of the few states without any Amtrak service. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 ^[61]

South Dakota's largest commercial airports are located at Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field, is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the Central business Rapid City Regional Airport is a public Airport located eight miles (13 km) southeast of the Central business district (CBD of Rapid City Several other cities in the state also have commercial air service, some of which is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. Essential Air Service (EAS is a US government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which prior to deregulation were served

South Dakota license plates are numbered by county, with the first digit referring to the county of origin. A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a Motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. Such a numbering system allows one to easily determine where the vehicle was registered. There are many different numbering schemes for assigning Nominal numbers to entities Counties 1–9 are ranked by 1950 population, and counties 10–64 are numbered alphabetically. ^[62]

See also: List of South Dakota railroads, List of South Dakota numbered highways, and Category:Transportation in South Dakota

Law and government

Main article: Government of South Dakota

South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre

The state of South Dakota has three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The following Railroads operate in the US state of South Dakota. South Dakota's state highways were assigned in a numbering pattern that followed that of the U This article is about the government and politics of the US state of South Dakota Law and government The state of South Dakota has three The South Dakota State Capitol is the State capitol building of the U The city of Pierre (ˈpɪər "peer") is the Capital of the U In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

The current governor is M. Michael Rounds. The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician.

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 for a thirty day session starting 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 courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit court is the name of court systems in several Common law jurisdictions There are 12 full-time and three part-time magistrate judges in the seven circuits. Limited jurisdiction, or special jurisdiction, is the courts' Jurisdiction only on certain types of cases such as Bankruptcy, family matters etc Magistrate courts assist the circuit courts in disposing of misdemeanor criminal cases and minor civil actions. Limited jurisdiction, or special jurisdiction, is the courts' Jurisdiction only on certain types of cases such as Bankruptcy, family matters etc A misdemeanor, or misdemeanour, in many common law legal systems is a "lesser" criminal act 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. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives John Randolph Thune (born January 7, 1961) is the Republican junior U The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (born December 3 1970) is an American Lawyer and Democratic politician, currently serving ^[63]

Politics

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. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. George Stanley McGovern ^[64][65] In 2004, George W. Bush won the state's three electoral votes with 59. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States. 9% of the vote. ^[66] Additionally, a Democrat has not won the governorship since 1978. As of 2006, Republicans hold a 10% voter registration advantage over Democrats and hold majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate. ^[67][68][69] 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. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D 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. Thomas Andrew Daschle (born December 9, 1947) is a former US Senator and Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota. ^[70]

Contemporary political issues in South Dakota include the costs and benefits 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. The South Dakota Lottery is run by the government of South Dakota. An ^[71][72][73]

See also: Governor of South Dakota and List of United States Senators from South Dakota

Notable cities and towns

Aberdeen

Sioux Falls, largest city

• Aberdeen - 3rd largest city - Northern State University
• Belle Fourche - geographic center of the nation
• Brookings - 5th largest city & South Dakota State University
• Deadwood - historic Black Hills town now home to many casinos
• De Smet - childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the birthplace of author Rose Wilder Lane
• Huron - South Dakota State Fair
• Lead - Homestake Experiment and Homestake Mine
• Madison- Dakota State University
• Mitchell - Corn Palace
• Pierre - State Capital
• Rapid City - 2nd largest city and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
• Sioux Falls - Largest City
• Spearfish - Black Hills State University
• Sturgis - Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
• Vermillion - University of South Dakota
• Watertown - 4th largest city
• Yankton - original capital of Dakota Territory

Further information: List of cities in South Dakota and List of South Dakota counties

Education

As of 2006, South Dakota has a total primary and secondary school enrollment of 136,872, with 120,278 of these students being educated in the public school system. The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. The following is a list of United States Senators from South Dakota. Aberdeen is a City and the County seat of Brown County, South Dakota, USA, about 125 mi (200 km N Northern State University (NSU is a four-year Public university located in Aberdeen South Dakota. Belle Fourche is a city in and the County seat of Butte County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. South Dakota State University is the largest University in the U Deadwood, named for the dead trees found in its Gulch, is a city in and the County seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota, The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the A casino is in the modern sense of the word a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of Gambling activities De Smet is a city in and the County seat of Kingsbury County, South Dakota, United States. Laura Ingalls Wilder ( February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American Author, who wrote the Little House series Rose Wilder Lane (b December 5 1886, De Smet, Dakota Territory – d Huron is a city in Beadle County, South Dakota, United States. Lead (pronounced as "leed" is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. The Homestake Experiment (sometimes referred to as the Davis Experiment) was an experiment headed by astrophysicists Raymond Davis Jr The Homestake Mine is a deep underground Gold mine located near Lead South Dakota. Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. Dakota State University is a public four-year University, located in Madison, South Dakota. Mitchell is a city in and the County seat of Davison County South Dakota, United States. The Corn Palace is a multi-purpose arena/facility located in Mitchell South Dakota. The city of Pierre (ˈpɪər "peer") is the Capital of the U Rapid City is the second-largest city in the US state of South Dakota, and the County seat of Pennington County. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ( SDSM&T or Mines) is a public institution of higher learning in Rapid City South Dakota governed by Sioux Falls (ˌsuː ˈfɔːlz is the largest city in the US state of South Dakota. Spearfish is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. Black Hills State University, South Dakota 's third largest comprehensive public university offering both undergraduate and graduate programs Sturgis is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American Motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota each first Vermillion is a city in and the County seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U The University of South Dakota, the state’s oldest university was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882 Watertown is a city in and the County seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. Yankton is a city in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. Cities in South Dakota larger than 2000 in population (according to the July 1 2006 U This page is a list of the 66 counties in the US state of South Dakota with FIPS codes, and includes an outline map of the state and a map showing ^[75] There are 703 public schools in 168 school districts, giving South Dakota the highest number of schools per capita in the United States. ^[76][77][78] The current high school graduation rate is 89. 9%, and the average ACT score is 21. The ACT is a standardized achievement Examination for college admissions in the United States produced by ACT Inc 8, slightly above the national average of 21. 1. ^[79][80] South Dakota's average public school teacher salary of $34,040, compared to a national average of $47,674, is the lowest in the nation. ^[81]

The South Dakota Board of Regents, whose members are appointed by the governor, controls the six public universities in the state. The South Dakota Board of Regents governs South Dakota's six public universities Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern South Dakota State University, in Brookings, is the largest university in the state, with an enrollment of 11,377. South Dakota State University is the largest University in the U Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. ^[82] The University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, is the state's oldest university, and has the only schools of law and medicine in South Dakota. The University of South Dakota, the state’s oldest university was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882 Vermillion is a city in and the County seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U Rapid City's South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is renown as a prestigious engineering school and is the only school in the state to feature geology and engineering. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ( SDSM&T or Mines) is a public institution of higher learning in Rapid City South Dakota governed by Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and South Dakota also has several private universities, the largest of which is Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Augustana College is a private Liberal arts College affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and located on a 100- Acre ^[82]

See also: List of colleges and universities in South Dakota and List of high schools in South Dakota

Miscellaneous topics

South Dakota is home to the largest naturally heated indoor swimming pool in the world. The following is a list of Colleges and universities in the U This is a list of high schools in the state of South Dakota. Aurora County Plankinton High School Plankinton Stickney Evans Plunge, heated from natural mineral springs, is in Hot Springs. Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States.

The Black Hills of South Dakota was one of the sites considered for the permanent home of the United Nations. The Black Hills ( Pahá Sápa in Lakota, Moˀȯhta-voˀhonáaeva in Cheyenne) are a small isolated Mountain range rising from the The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security

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. Hutterites are a communal branch of Anabaptists who like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century

The largest and most complete fossil of Tyrannosaurus rex ever found was uncovered near Faith in 1990. Tyrannosaurus ( or, meaning 'tyrant lizard' is a Genus of Theropod Dinosaur. Faith is a city in Meade County, South Dakota, United States. Named "Sue," the remains are over 90% complete and are currently on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Tyrannosaurus ( or, meaning 'tyrant lizard' is a Genus of Theropod Dinosaur. The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

The 1990 movie Dances with Wolves directed by and starring Kevin Costner as Lieutenant John Dunbar was filmed almost entirely in South Dakota. Dances with Wolves is a 1990 Epic film which tells the story of a United States Lieutenant who travels to the American Frontier to find a military post Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American Actor, producer and Academy Award -winning director

Three US Navy ships have been named USS South Dakota in honor of the state. Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS South Dakota in honor of the 40th state.

Five of South Dakota's counties lie entirely within Indian reservations. An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau They are: Corson, Dewey, Shannon, Todd, and Ziebach. Corson County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. Dewey County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. Shannon County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. } Todd County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota. Ziebach County is a County located in the US state of South Dakota.

Pierre is the second-smallest (in terms of population) state capital; only Montpelier, Vermont, has fewer people. The city of Pierre (ˈpɪər "peer") is the Capital of the U Montpelier (mɒntˈpiːljɚ is a city in the US state of Vermont that serves as the state Capital and

State symbols

Some of South Dakota's official state symbols include:^[83]

South Dakota state quarter

State bird: Ring-neck Pheasant

State flower: American Pasque flower

State tree: Black Hills Spruce

State nicknames: Mount Rushmore State (official), Coyote state & Sunshine state (both unofficial)

State motto: "Under God, the people rule"

State slogan: "Great Faces. This is a list of the official state symbols of the US State of South Dakota. The 50 State Quarters program ( is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. This is a list of US state birds as designated by each state's legislature The Common Pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus) is a bird in the Pheasant family (Phasianidae This is a list of US state flowers: See also List of US state trees Lists of U A pasque flower (or pasqueflower) is a Deciduous perennial that is found in short clumps in Meadows and Prairies of North This List of US state trees includes official trees of the following states and U Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental Granite sculpture by Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941 located The coyote (kaɪˈoʊti ˈkaɪoʊt ( Canis latrans) also known as the prairie wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora Sunlight, in the broad sense is the total spectrum of the Electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. This list of US state slogans is made up the Advertising slogans currently and formerly used by U Great Places. "

State mineral: Rose quartz

State insect: Honey bee - Apis mellifera L. Not every state has an official state mineral rock stone or gemstone Quartz (from German) is the most abundant Mineral in the Earth 's Continental crust (although Feldspar is more common in This is a list of United States state insects note that some states have more than one designated insect or have multiple categories (e

State animal: Coyote

State fish: Walleye

State gemstone: Fairburn agate

State jewelry: Black Hills Gold

State dessert: Kuchen

State drink: Milk

State bread: Fry bread

State grass: Western Wheat grass

State sport: Rodeo

State song: "Hail, South Dakota!"

State fossil: Triceratops

State soil: Houdek loam

Famous South Dakotans

See also

• List of South Dakota-related topics

References

External links

• Official website of State of South Dakota
• South Dakota State Databases - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by South Dakota state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of South Dakota
• U.S. Census Bureau
• South Dakota State Facts
• South Dakota State Historical Society Press Books and journals published by the State Historical Society