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| State of South Dakota (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Name | South Dakota |
| Motto | "Under God the People Rule" |
| Nickname | "Mount Rushmore State" |
| Capital | Pierre |
| Largest city | Sioux Falls |
| Admission date | November 2, 1889 |
| Population | 895376 |
| Area total sq mi | 77116 |
| Timezone | Central Time Zone |
State of South Dakota (United States) is a U.S. state in the Midwestern and Great Plains regions, admitted as the 40th state in 1889. It is known for landmarks such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Badlands National Park, and the Missouri River, and for political events tied to presidential primaries and Custer County history. The state combines agricultural plains, Native American reservations like the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and cities such as Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre.
The name "South Dakota" derives from the Dakota people, part of the Great Sioux Nation confederation, and was formalized during territorial organization in the late 19th century alongside North Dakota. State symbols include the Western meadowlark as state bird, the Black Hills spruce as state tree, and the Pasque flower as state flower, while the state motto mirrors civic ideals found in other states. Monuments like Mount Rushmore National Memorial feature presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, reflecting national symbolism interwoven with regional identity shaped by treaties such as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.
Pre-contact history includes millennia of habitation by peoples associated with artifacts linked to the Plains Woodland culture and the Mound Builders, later inhabited by Dhegihan Siouan-speaking groups and the Lakota. European exploration brought figures such as Lewis and Clark Expedition and traders from the Hudson's Bay Company and American Fur Company, while missionary activity involved Catholic Church missions and Methodist Episcopal Church efforts. Territorial conflicts escalated during the Dakota War of 1862 and culminated in engagements like the Battle of Little Bighorn contextually linked to leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse; the aftermath included massacres and federal responses under presidents including Ulysses S. Grant. The late 19th century saw settlement accelerated by the Homestead Act, railroad expansion by companies like the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, and statehood concurrent with national politics involving Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland. The 20th century featured agricultural developments, New Deal projects such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration, social movements exemplified by figures like Tom Brokaw's journalistic coverage, and 21st-century debates over land use involving Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and tribal sovereignty cases heard by the United States Supreme Court.
South Dakota spans the Great Plains and the Black Hills, with physiographic distinctions between the eastern prairie and western highlands; elevations range from the Missouri River valley to Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak). The state contains protected areas managed by agencies including the National Park Service and United States Forest Service, such as Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, and parts of the Black Hills National Forest, alongside state parks like Custer State Park. Hydrology centers on tributaries of the Missouri River including the James River and Big Sioux River, affecting ecosystems like the Prairie Pothole Region and bird habitats important to groups such as the Ducks Unlimited conservation network. Natural resources include minerals mined historically by companies like the Homestake Mining Company and wind resources developed in projects associated with Xcel Energy and federal renewable programs tied to the Department of Energy.
Population centers include Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Brookings, South Dakota, and Watertown, South Dakota, while significant Native American communities reside on reservations such as Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Oglala Sioux), Rosebud Indian Reservation (Sicangu Lakota), and Yankton Indian Reservation. Census data reflect influences from immigration streams including German-Russian settlers associated with Dakota Territory migration, Norwegian communities linked to Scandinavian Americans, and more recent demographic changes involving Hispanic and Hmong populations. Major institutions affecting demographic studies include the United States Census Bureau, nonprofit research by the Brookings Institution and policy analysis from the South Dakota State University Extension.
Economic sectors include agriculture (corn, soybeans, cattle) led by producers and associations such as the South Dakota Soybean Association and National Cattlemen's Beef Association, manufacturing in centers like Sioux Falls and mining in regions historically associated with the Black Hills and operations by firms such as Barrick Gold and the former Homestake Mining Company. Service industries include tourism centered on Mount Rushmore, cultural attractions like the Crazy Horse Memorial, and events such as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, with transportation infrastructure served by Interstate 90, Interstate 29, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, regional rail lines like BNSF Railway, and river navigation on the Missouri River managed under the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Financial institutions including First National Bank of Omaha affiliates and credit unions operate alongside state tax structures delineated by the South Dakota Department of Revenue.
State governance is conducted through a constitution drafted at the state convention and ratified upon admission; key offices include the Governor of South Dakota, the South Dakota Legislature (bicameral with South Dakota Senate and South Dakota House of Representatives), and judicial review by the South Dakota Supreme Court. Political history shows prominence in national politics with figures such as Tom Daschle, George McGovern, and Kristi Noem shaping federal and state dialogues; ballot measures and primary contests draw attention from organizations such as the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee. Tribal governance structures like the Oglala Sioux Tribe and federal-tribal relations are often litigated in courts including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court on issues related to treaties and jurisdiction.
Cultural life includes festivals and institutions such as the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, the Black Hills Film Festival, and museums like the South Dakota Art Museum and Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society. Higher education is anchored by South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and tribal colleges such as Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska University, with research collaborations involving the National Science Foundation and agricultural extension programs tied to the United States Department of Agriculture. Media outlets include the Argus Leader, public broadcasting through South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and regional networks such as KELOLAND TV, while sports and recreation feature teams and events hosted in venues associated with South Dakota Coyotes and municipal parks linked to the National Recreation and Park Association.