South Dakota State Facts and History

Discover the wonders of South Dakota! You will get a wealth information of the state of South Dakota

state flag of South Dakota

South Dakota Quick Facts

  • Current Governor: Kristi Noem (Republican)
  • Capital: Pierre
  • Population: 884,659 (2019 est.)
  • Land Area: 75,811.00 sq km
  • Water Area: 1,304.68 sq km
  • Total Area: 77,115.68 SQ KM
  • Width: 210 mi (340 km)
  • Length: 380 mi (610 km)
  • State Motto: “Under God the People Rule”
  • Nickname: The Mount Rushmore State
  • Electoral votes: 3
  • Seats in U.S. House of Representatives: 1 (of 435)
  • State Song: “Hail, South Dakota”
  • Date of Statehood: November 2, 1889
  • Time Zone: Central (GMT − 6 hours)
  • Official Website of South Dakota: sd.gov
  • State abbreviation/Postal code: SD
  • Origin of name: Dakota taken from the Sioux tribe, meaning “allies.” North and South Dakota were one territory until 1889. Dakota was named for the Dakota, Sioux tribe which lived in the region.

State Symbol of South Dakota

State AnimalCoyote
State BirdRing-necked pheasant
State BreadFry bread
State ColorsBlue and gold
State DessertKuchen
State FishWalleye
State FlowerAmerican pasqueflower
State FossilTriceratops
State GemstoneFairburn agate
State GrassWestern wheat grass
State InsectHoneybee
State JewelryBlack Hills gold
State Mineral StoneRose quartz
State MottoUnder God the people rule
State Musical InstrumentFiddle
State NicknameMount Rushmore State; Coyote State
State SoilHoudek
State Song“Hail! South Dakota”
State SportRodeo
State TreeBlack Hills spruce

College & Universities

Augustana College
Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Black Hills Beauty College
Black Hills State University
Colorado Technical University-Sioux Falls
Dakota State University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Headlines Academy Inc
Kilian Community College
Lake Area Technical Institute
Mitchell Technical Institute
Mount Marty College
National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension
National American University-Rapid City
National American University-Sioux Falls
Northern State University
Oglala Lakota College
Presentation College
Sanford Medical Center
Si Tanka University-Eagle Butte Campus
Sinte Gleska University
Sioux Falls Seminary
Sisseton Wahpeton College
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota State University
Southeast Technical Institute
Stewart School
University of Sioux Falls
University of South Dakota
Western Dakota Technical Institute

Popular Tourist Attractions

  1. Mount Rushmore
  2. Badlands National Park
  3. Crazy Horse Memorial
  4. Custer State Park
  5. Sylvan Lake
  6. Corn Palace
  7. Wind Cave National Park
  8. Reptile Gardens
  9. Black Hills National Forest
  10. Washington Pavilion
  11. Bear Country USA
  12. Harney Peak
  13. Falls Park
  14. Great Plains Zoo
  15. Terry Peak
  16. Spearfish Canyon
  17. Bullock Hotel

Famous Natives and Residents

NameProfession
Sparky Andersonbaseball manager;
Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-Sa)Sioux writer and pan-Indian activist;
Tom BrokawTV newscaster;
Robert Caseywriter;
Shawn ColvinSinger, songwriter;
Myron Florenaccordionist;
Joseph J. Foss WW IIMarine fighter ace;
Terry Franconaformer baseball player, former Boston Red Sox manager;
Mary HartTV host;
Crazy HorseOglala chief;
Oscar HoweSioux artist;
Hubert H. Humphreyvice president;
January Jonesactor;
Cheryl Laddactor;
Ernest Orlando Lawrencephysicist;
Russell MeansAmerican Indian activist;
George McGovernpolitician;
Arthur C. Mellettefirst governor;
Dorothy Provineactor;
Rain-in-the-FaceHunkpapa Sioux chief;
Red Cloudchief of the Oglala Sioux;
Ben ReifelBrulé Sioux congressman;
Ole Edvart Rølvaagwriter;
Sitting Bullchief of Hunkpappa Sioux;
Norm Van Brocklinfootball player;
Mamie Van Dorenactor;
Adam Vinatierifootball player.

Famous Actors And Actresses

  1. January Jones
  2. Nicky Katt
  3. Cheryl Ladd

Map of South Dakota

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