Welcome to TheseUnitedStates - South Dakota

South Dakota, our 40th state, was admitted to the Union November 2, 1889.   The 2000 census has South Dakota's population at 754,844, ranking  46th in the US.  With a total area of  77,116 square miles, the state ranks 17th  in size.  South Dakota's capital is Pierre; its largest city is Sioux Falls.

Useful Internet Links for South Dakota:

Official Website of South Dakota  

http://www.state.sd.us

Travel and Tourism Department  

http://www.travelsd.com

Call toll free 1-800-SDAKOTA

Congress.org - South Dakota Elected Officials

South Dakota Weather from Weather.com

National Park Service Sites in South Dakota

South Dakota News from USA Today

South Dakota fun facts:

South Dakota State Bird:  Chinese ring-necked pheasant

South Dakota State Flower:  Pasqueflower

South Dakota State Motto:  Under God, the people rule

South Dakota State Song:  Hail, South Dakota

South Dakota State Tree:  Black Hills Spruce

Nicknames:  Coyote State, Mount Rushmore State

The geographic center of South Dakota lies in Hughes County, 8 miles NE of Pierre.  At 7,242 feet, Harney Peak in the Black Hills is the state's highest point and the highest peak east of the Rockies.  Dakota is Sioux for "friend" or "ally."

Brief History:  The French Verendrye brothers found Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Sioux living in the area when the explored  in 1742-1743.  The US acquired the area in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.  Lewis and Clark passed through 1804-1806.  In 1817 a trading post was opened at Fort Pierre, which later became the site of the first European settlement in South Dakota.  In 1874, gold was discovered in the Black Hills on the great Sioux reservation; the "Great Dakota Boom" began in 1879.  Conflicts with Native Americans led to the Great Sioux Agreement of 1889, which extablished reservations and opened up more land for white settlement.  The Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890 ended Sioux resistance.

South Dakota is home to Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks, Jewel Cave National Monument, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  Other popular South Dakota destinations include the Black Hills; Needles Highway; Deadwood, 1876 Gold Rush town; Custer State Park; "Great Lakes of South Dakota"; Fort Sisseton; Great Plains Zoo and Museum, Sioux Falls; Corn Palace, Mitchell; and the Crazy Horse Memorial, mountain carving in progress.

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