- The South Dakota constitution of 1889 legalized the state seal, and in 1961 colors for it were …
The state of South Dakota is located in the north-central part of the United States. The Missouri River divides this rectangular state into two nearly equal parts. Crops grow in the eastern half, while livestock are raised in the grazing land of the west. - Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.
GeographySouth Dakota covers an area of 77,116 square miles (199,730 square kilometers). It is bordered on the south by Nebraska, on the west by Montana and Wyoming, on the north by North Dakota, and on the east by Minnesota and Iowa. - Harney Peak (center) rises over Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills region of …
Eastern South Dakota is a flat prairie region. The western two thirds of the state consists of plains that are higher in elevation than the eastern prairies. The landscape in this area is broken by hills and canyons. Within the western plains is a large region called the Badlands, which contains some of the most rugged terrain in the United States. In the far west is a mountainous, forested area known as the Black Hills. This area is home to Mount Rushmore and to Harney Peak—which at 7,242 feet (2,207 meters) is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. The state has some 250 natural lakes, nearly 1,200 man-made lakes, and more than 1,000 rivers and creeks. South Dakota's climate is generally sunny and fair. The state experiences great extremes between summer and winter temperatures. The western plains are drier than the eastern prairies. Plants and animalsThe rich prairie land of eastern South Dakota supports many types of plants. Very few trees are found on the western plains. Buffalo grass is the main vegetation of the Badlands. Bison, elk, deer, bobcats, beavers, porcupines, and antelope live in the Black Hills. Bald and golden eagles are found along the Missouri River valley and in the Badlands. Many jackrabbits and prairie dogs can be found west of the Missouri. East of the river are badgers, weasels, skunks, muskrat, and gophers. The eastern prairies also are home to quail, pheasant, prairie chickens, and wild turkeys. People and cultureNative Americans known as Mound Builders were the first people to live in the area that became South Dakota. The Arikara, or Ree, Indians came in the early 1600s but were driven out by the Dakota (Sioux) between 1750 and 1800. European immigrants began to settle in the territory in the late 18th century. They came mainly from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Russia. The discovery of gold in the 1870s brought many whites to the area. The great majority of the state's residents today are of European heritage. Native Americans are the largest minority group, making up more than 8 percent of the population. Many live on reservations. CitiesWith a fairly small number of people living in a large area, South Dakota is one of the least densely populated states in the Union. Only about one third of the people live in urban areas. The largest city is Sioux Falls, located on the Big Sioux River. Rapid City, the second-largest population center, is located in the western part of the state near the Black Hills. The capital, Pierre, is on the banks of the Missouri. Deadwood, a tourist center in the Black Hills, was a frontier gambling town in the Gold Rush days of the 1870s. The city of Lead is the site of the Homestake Mine, once a leading gold producer in the United States. RecreationIn addition to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota's mountains, canyons, and waterfalls attract thousands of visitors yearly. Hunters pursue a variety of animals, and fishing is popular in mountain streams and lakes. A rodeo known as the Black Hills Roundup, held in Belle Fourche, is a popular summer event. EducationThe first permanent school in what is now South Dakota was built at Vermillion in 1862. That same year the legislature of the territory set up a common school system. The main public institutions of higher learning are the University of South Dakota, which opened at Vermillion in 1882; South Dakota State University, founded at Brookings in 1881; and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, which opened at Rapid City in 1887. South Dakota also has several private colleges, some of which focus on the education of Native Americans. EconomyAgricultureAgriculture has always been a central part of South Dakota's economy. Crops grown in the state include corn, wheat, soybeans, rye, flaxseed, and alfalfa seed. Livestock raising is also important. The state is a leading producer of beef and wool. IndustryManufacturing was the fastest-growing part of South Dakota's economy in the late 20th century. The main manufacturing industries include food processing and the production of industrial machinery. Service industries such as tourism and health care are also a large and expanding part of the state's economy. MiningGold and other minerals are mined in the Black Hills. The Homestake Mine once produced millions of dollars in gold each year. Declining profits, however, led to the announcement of the mine's closing in 2000. The state's other mineral products include cement, stone, gravel, and sand. HistoryNative Americans lived in what is now South Dakota for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. French explorers claimed the region for their country in the 1740s. The territory was later claimed by Spain, but it was returned to France in 1800. France sold the land to the United States in 1803 as part of a deal known as the Louisiana Purchase. The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through the region in 1804. Settlement and statehoodThe first permanent European settlement in the area was a trading post established on the Missouri River in 1817. The Dakota Territory was created in 1861. White settlement in the area expanded after gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874. South Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 40th state in 1889. Native Americans and white settlers fought wars from time to time beginning in the 1850s. The years of conflict ended in 1890, when United States troops massacred more than 200 Sioux men, women, and children in the battle of Wounded Knee. After this date most Native Americans were confined to reservations. The 20th centuryFarmers known as homesteaders continued to claim pieces of land in the first decades of the 20th century. The horrible 1930s drought known as the Dust Bowl caused many people to lose their farms. Conditions improved for farmers beginning in the 1940s. Water and soil conservation projects were started, including the development of the vast Missouri River basin. The state's dams produce electric power that is exported to other states. In 1973 members of an organization known as the American Indian Movement occupied the town of Wounded Knee for more than two months. They wanted to call attention to the needs of Native Americans. In 1979 the United States government gave the Sioux Nation millions of dollars as repayment for forcing them from the Black Hills region. In the 1990s many tribes built casinos as a way of making money. Population (2000 census), 754,844. |