South Dakota (IPA: /?s???d?'ko?t?/)
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 simultaneously.)
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."[3] In the southwestern portion of the
state rise the Black Hills, 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 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.[4] 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.
Contents [hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Regions
1.2 Ecology
1.3 Climate
1.4 National Parks and Monuments
2 History
3 Demographics
3.1 Population
3.2 Race and Ethnicity
3.3 Growth and Rural Flight
3.4 Religion
4 Economy
4.1 State Taxes
5 Transportation
6 Law and government
6.1 Politics
7 Notable Cities and Towns
8 Education
9 Miscellaneous topics
9.1 State symbols
9.2 Famous South Dakotans
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
[edit] 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. 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 (199,905 km²), making the state the 17th largest
in the Union.[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.
[edit] 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 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.
Geographic and political features of South DakotaThe 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.
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
miles (15,500 km².) 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.[2] This is the highest point in the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains.[5] 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.
South Dakotans also divide the state at the Missouri River into
two general regions, known as West River and East River. 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.[3][6]
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. 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.
[edit] Ecology
A pronghorn in Wind Cave National ParkMuch of South Dakota, with
the notable exception of the Black Hills, is dominated by a temperate
grasslands biome.[7] 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.[8] Mammals in this area
include bison, deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie dogs.[9] 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.[10][11] Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support
populations of walleye, carp, pike, and bass, along with other species.[9]
The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic paddlefish.[12]
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.[13] 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.[9][14][15]
[edit] Climate
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.
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,[16] and South Dakota
experiences an average of 23 tornadoes per year.[17] Winters are
somewhat more stable, although severe weather in the form of blizzards
and ice storms can occur during the season.
Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various South Dakota
Cities
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Aberdeen 21/1 28/9 40/21 57/33 70/46 79/55 85/60 84/57 73/46 59/34
39/20 26/6
Rapid City 34/11 39/16 47/23 57/32 67/43 77/52 86/58 86/57 75/46
62/35 45/22 36/13
Sioux Falls 25/3 32/10 44/21 59/32 71/45 81/54 86/60 83/58 74/48
61/35 42/21 29/8
[5]
[edit] National Parks and Monuments
Badlands National Park
Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black HillsSouth 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.[18] The park features a highly
eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands.[19]
Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills,
contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of bison.[20]
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.[21]
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.[22]
[edit] History
Main article: History of South Dakota
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.[23]
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.[24][25] In 1817, an American fur trading
post was set up at present-day Fort Pierre, beginning continuous
American settlement of the area.[26] In 1855, the U.S. Army bought
Fort Pierre but abandoned it the following year in favor of Fort
Randall to the south.[26] 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.[27]
Deadwood, like many other Black Hills towns, was founded after the
discovery of goldLand 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).[28] 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.[26]
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. 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.[29][30]
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.[31]
A South Dakota farm during the Dust Bowl, 1936During 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.[32] 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. 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. 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.[33]
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.[34] In 2007, the site of the recently-closed
Homestake gold mine near Lead was chosen as the location of a new
underground research facility.[35] 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.[36]
[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of South Dakota
[edit] 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 0.7%, 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.[37]
[edit] Race and Ethnicity
In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated that 88.5% of South Dakotans
were White, 8.8% were American Indian or Alaskan Native, 2.1 were
Hispanic (of any race), 0.8% were Black, 0.7% were Asian, while
2.1% belonged to more than one race.[38] The five largest ancestry
groups in South Dakota are: German (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.
South Dakota has a number of large Indian reservations (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.[39]
[edit] 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. 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.[40] 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.[38]
[edit] Religion
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.[41]
[edit] Economy
A B-1B Lancer lifts off from Ellsworth Air Force Base, one of South
Dakota's largest employersThe current-dollar gross state product
of South Dakota was $32.3 billion as of 2006.[42] The per capita
personal income was $26,894 in 2004, the 37th highest in the nation
and 13.08 percent below the national average. 13.2% of the population
is below the poverty line. As of July 2007, South Dakota's unemployment
rate was 3.0%, the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the nation.[43]
The service industry is the largest economic contributor in South
Dakota. This sector includes the retail, finance, and health care
industries. Government spending is another important segment of
the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state
product.[44] Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-largest
single employer in the state.[45]
Ethanol plant in Turner CountyAgriculture has historically been
a key component of the South Dakota economy. Although other industries
have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production
is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural
areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota
are cattle, corn (maize), soybeans, hogs, and wheat.[46] Agriculture-related
industries such as meat packing and ethanol production also have
a considerable economic impact on the state. South Dakota is one
of the top five ethanol-producing states in the nation.[47]
Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism.
Many travel to view the attractions of the state, particularly those
of the Black Hills region such as historic Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore,
and the nearby state and national parks. One of the largest tourist
events in the state is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The
three-day event drew over 450,000 attendants in 2006, significant
considering the state has a population of only 750,000.[48] In 2006,
tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed
over two billion US$ to the economy of South Dakota.[49]
[edit] State Taxes
As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax
rate in the United States.[50] The state does not levy personal
or corporate income taxes,[51] inheritance taxes,[52] or taxes on
intangible personal property. The state sales tax rate is 4 percent.[53]
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 taxes 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.
[edit] Transportation
A rest stop "tipi" is a frequent sight on a trip across
the stateSouth Dakota has a total of 83,609 miles of highways, roads,
and streets, along with 679 miles of interstate highways.[54] 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. 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. highways
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.
South Dakota contains two National Scenic Byways. 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. Other scenic byways include the Badlands Loop
Scenic Byway, the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, and the Wildlife
Loop Road Scenic Byway.[55]
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.[56] BNSF Railway is the largest railroad operating
in South Dakota, with the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad
being another important carrier.[57][58] Rail transportation in
the state is confined only to freight, however, as South Dakota
is one of the few states without any Amtrak service.[59]
South Dakota license plates 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 [6], and counties
10–64 are numbered alphabetically.
List of South Dakota railroads
Category: Transportation in South Dakota
[edit] Law and government
Main article: Government of South Dakota
South Dakota State Capitol in PierreThe 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 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. There are
12 full-time and three part-time magistrate judges in the seven
circuits. Magistrate courts 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.[60]
[edit] Politics
Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 59.91% 232,584 38.44% 149,244
2000 60.3% 190,700 37.56% 118,804
1996 46.49% 150,543 43.03% 139,333
1992 40.66% 136,718 37.14% 124,888
1988 52.85% 165,415 46.51% 145,560
1984 63.0% 200,267 36.53% 116,113
1980 60.53% 198,343 31.69% 103,855
1976 50.39% 151,505 48.91% 147,068
1972 54.15% 166,467 45.52% 139,945
1968 53.27% 149,841 41.96% 118,023
1964 44.39% 130,108 55.61% 163,010
1960 58.21% 178,417 41.79% 128,070
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.[61][62] In 2004, George W. Bush won the state's three electoral
votes with 59.9% of the vote.[63] 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.[64][65][66]
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.[67]
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.[68][69][70]
See also: Governor of South Dakota and List of United States Senators
from South Dakota
[edit] Notable Cities and Towns
Ten Largest[71] Cities By 2006 Population Sioux Falls 142,396
Rapid City 62,715
Aberdeen 24,071
Watertown 20,526
Brookings 18,802
Mitchell 14,857
Pierre 14,095
Yankton 13,767
Huron 10,909
Vermillion 9,862
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
[edit] 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.[72] There are 703 public schools in
168 school districts, giving South Dakota the highest number of
schools per capita in the United States.[73][74][75] The current
high school graduation rate is 89.9%, and the average ACT score
is 21.8, slightly above the national average of 21.1.[76][77] 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.[78]
The South Dakota Board of Regents, whose members are appointed
by the governor, controls the six public universities in the state.
South Dakota State University, in Brookings, is the largest university
in the state, with an enrollment of 11,377.[79] 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. South
Dakota also has several private universities, the largest of which
is Augustana College in Sioux Falls.[79]
See also: List of colleges and universities in South Dakota and
List of high schools in South Dakota
[edit] Miscellaneous topics
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and
removing inappropriate ones.
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 Indian reservations.
They are: Corson, Dewey, Shannon, Todd, and Ziebach.
Pierre is the second-smallest (in terms of population) state capital;
only Montpelier, Vermont, has fewer people.
[edit] State symbols
Some of South Dakota's official state symbols include:[80]
South Dakota state quarterState 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. Great Places."
State mineral: Rose quartz
State insect: Honey bee - Apis mellifera L.
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
Senator James Abourezk
Sparky Anderson
Catherine Bach
Bob Barker
L. Frank Baum
Tom Brokaw
Seth Bullock
Dave Collins
Shawn Colvin
Tom Daschle
Pete Dexter
Harvey Dunn
Mark Ellis
Billy Etbauer
Myron Floren
Joe Foss
Terry Francona
Mary GrandPre
Chad Greenway
Becky Hammon
Joseph Hansen
Mary Hart
Wild Bill Hickok
Crazy Horse
Oscar Howe
Hubert Humphrey
Calamity Jane
Bill Janklow
David C. Jones
Nicky Katt
Cheryl Ladd
Ernest Orlando Lawrence
Frank Leahy
Brock Lesnar
Lawrence Lessig
George McGovern
Russell Means
Mike Miller
Vernon C. Miller
Billy Mills
Al Neuharth
Pat O'Brien
James "Scotty" Philip
Eric Piatkowski
Dorothy Provine
Rain-in-the-Face
Red Cloud
Terry Redlin
Joseph Robbie
Sitting Bull
David Soul
Jess Thomas
Casey Tibbs
Norm Van Brocklin
Mamie Van Doren
Thomas Vanek
Adam Vinatieri
Abby Whiteside
Laura Ingalls Wilder
James Edward Zimmerman
Korczak Ziólkowski
CONTACT
msn: milantoplica@hotmail.com or mob: +381
63 427 577
