South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. South Dakota is the 17th most extensive, but the 5th least populous and the 5th least densely populated of the 50 United States. Once the southern portion of the Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls, with a population of nearly 160,000, is South Dakota's largest city. South Dakota is bordered by the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana....
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quick facts
Founded:November 2, 1889
Capital:Pierre
Current governorMike Rounds
Population:804,194
Area:77,183.8 sq. mi.
GDP:$33,934,000,000
Also known as:Mount Rushmore State, SD, S Dak
Time zone:Central Time zone, UTC-7, Mountain Time Zone, UTC-6

Capital city of South Dakota

Pierre
Pierre
Population:12,918
County:Hughes County

Pierre is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. Founded in 1880 on the Missouri River opposite Fort Pierre, Pierre has been South Dakota's capital since it gained statehood on November 11, 1889, having been chosen for its location in the geographic center of the state. Fort...
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Famous landmarks of South Dakota

Fort Randall
Fort Randall

The Fort Randall Military Post was established in 1856 to help keep peace on the frontier. It was located on the south side of the Missouri River in...
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Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University

Dakota Wesleyan University is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, founded in 1885, that is affiliated with the United...
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South Dakota State Capitol
South Dakota State Capitol

The South Dakota State Capitol is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of South Dakota. Housing the South Dakota State Legislature, it is...
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South Dakota School for the Deaf
South Dakota School for the Deaf

The South Dakota School for the Deaf is a state-supported school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that provides services to meet the educational...
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Hattie O. and Henry Drake Octagon House
Hattie O. and Henry Drake Octagon House

The Hattie O. and Henry Drake Octagon House built in 1893 is an historic octagonal house located at 605 3rd Street, South West, in Huron, South...
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Major cities in South Dakota

CityCountyPopulation
Sioux Falls Minnehaha County 154,997
Rapid City Pennington County 65,491
Aberdeen Brown County 24,460
Watertown Codington County 20,488
Mitchell Davison County 14,752
Pierre Hughes County 13,899
Yankton Yankton County 13,798
Huron Beadle County 11,033
Vermillion Clay County 10,495
Spearfish Lawrence County 10,010
Rosebud Indian Reservation 9,050
Brandon Minnehaha County 8,757
Madison Lake County 6,482
Sturgis Meade County 5,950
Belle Fourche Butte County 4,979
Harrisburg Lincoln County 4,270
Hot Springs Fall River County 4,028
Tea Lincoln County 3,761
Canton Lincoln County 3,633
Box Elder Pennington County 3,517
Dell Rapids Minnehaha County 3,431
Milbank Grant County 3,203
Mobridge Walworth County 3,154
Lead Lawrence County 2,892
Winner Tripp County 2,744
North Sioux City Union County 2,520
Sisseton Roberts County 2,447
Hartford Minnehaha County 2,436
Lennox Lincoln County 2,417
Redfield Spink County 2,273
Chamberlain Brule County 2,264
Flandreau Moody County 2,222
Beresford Union County 2,150
Fort Pierre Stanley County 2,010
Custer Custer County 1,940
Elk Point Union County 1,939
Webster Day County 1,669
Volga Brookings County 1,583
Wagner Charles Mix County 1,551
Springfield Bon Homme County 1,487
Parkston Hutchinson County 1,486
Groton Brown County 1,408
Miller Hand County 1,341
Salem McCook County 1,321
Platte Charles Mix County 1,284
Deadwood Lawrence County 1,283
Britton Marshall County 1,266
Clear Lake Deuel County 1,225
Mission Todd County 1,223
Crooks Minnehaha County 1,218
Garretson Minnehaha County 1,198
Freeman Hutchinson County 1,194
Lemmon Perkins County 1,185
Gregory Gregory County 1,182
Tyndall Bon Homme County 1,102
Clark Clark County 1,062
Gettysburg Potter County 1,058
De Smet Kingsbury County 1,051
Baltic Minnehaha County 1,004
Martin Bennett County 995
Worthing Lincoln County 993
Parker Turner County 983
Eureka McPherson County 937
Arlington Kingsbury County 935
Eagle Butte Dewey County 925
Hill City Pennington County 908
Alcester Union County 892
Howard Miner County 891
Ipswich Edmunds County 866
Valley Springs Minnehaha County 857
Whitewood Lawrence County 849
Wessington Springs Jerauld County 846
Centerville Turner County 844
Marion Turner County 825
Wall Pennington County 802
Scotland Bon Homme County 790
Edgemont Fall River County 788
Viborg Turner County 774
St. Francis Todd County 767
Lake Andes Charles Mix County 756
Philip Haakon County 731
McLaughlin Corson County 730
Highmore Hyde County 714
Kimball Brule County 692
Castlewood Hamlin County 677
Colton Minnehaha County 676
New Underwood Pennington County 675
Faulkton Faulk County 666
Estelline Hamlin County 666
Canistota McCook County 656
Menno Hutchinson County 655
Armour Douglas County 654
Lake Preston Kingsbury County 653
Alexandria Hanson County 650
Selby Walworth County 647
Elkton Brookings County 644
Woonsocket Sanborn County 641
Kadoka Jackson County 635
Tripp Hutchinson County 631
Lyons Minnehaha County 629
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Population history of South Dakota

YearEstimated Population
2011 824,082
2009 812,383
2008 804,194
2007 795,689
2006 787,380
2005 779,315
2004 773,539
2003 766,440
2002 761,709
2001 758,705
2000 755,657
1999 750,412
1998 746,058
1997 744,223
1996 742,213
1995 737,925
1994 730,790
1993 722,159
1992 712,801
1991 703,669
1990 697,101
1989 696,698
1988 698,160
1987 696,034
1986 696,036
1985 698,404
1984 697,250
1983 693,009
1982 690,597
1981 689,584
1980 690,768
1970 665,507
1960 680,514
1950 652,740
1940 642,961
1930 692,849
1920 636,547
1910 583,888
1900 401,570
1890 348,600
1880 98,268
1870 11,776
1860 4,837
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State symbols for South Dakota

Milk
Milk
State beverage
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
State bird
Walleye
Walleye
State Fish
Spruce
Spruce
State tree
American Pasque flower
American Pasque flower
State flower
Under God the people rule
Under God the people rule
Motto

Governor of South Dakota

Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds
Age:57
Birthplace:Huron
Term began:2003

Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds is an American politician. Rounds served as the 31st Governor of South Dakota. Rounds was first inaugurated on January 7, 2003, having been elected on November 5, 2002, and was re-elected on November 7, 2006. His term expired in January 2011. Rounds currently serves as a co-chair of the Health Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Rounds, the eldest of eleven siblings, was born in Huron, South Dakota and has...
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Government officials from South Dakota

OfficialOfficeStart of Term
Tim Johnson United States Senator 1997
John Thune United States Senator 2005
Jason Gant Secretary of State of South Dakota 2011
Marty Jackley South Dakota Attorney General 2009
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Religions practiced in South Dakota

Pie chart showing the religions of South Dakota
ReligionPercentage of Population
Lutheranism 27%
Roman Catholicism 25%
Methodism 13%
Baptist 4%
Christianity 4%
Presbyterianism 4%
Protestantism 3%
Pentecostalism 2%
United Church of Christ 2%
Episcopal Church 1%
Non-denominational Christianity 1%
Seventh-day Adventist Church 1%
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Colleges and universities in South Dakota

National American University, Watertown
National American University, Watertown
National American University, Sioux Falls
National American University, Sioux Falls
National American University
National American University
Founded:1941

Famous residents of South Dakota

George McGovern
George McGovern
Film Actor, Author, TV Actor

George Stanley McGovern is a historian, author, and former United States U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election. McGovern grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he was a renowned debater. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Forces...
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Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Author, Film Actor, TV Actor

Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He is the only person to host...
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Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar
Football Player, TV Actor, Film Actor

Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the #2 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog. Lesnar is an accomplished amateur wrestler, winning the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling...
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Bob Barker
Bob Barker
TV Actor, Film Actor

Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975. Born...
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Catherine Bach
Catherine Bach
Film Actor, TV Actor, Musical Artist

Catherine Bach is an American actress. She is known for playing Daisy Duke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard and Margo Dutton in African Skies. Bach's professional debut was as one of the children in a production of The Sound of Music. Bach's first screen appearance was in the Burt...
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States adjoining South Dakota

Montana
Montana

Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found...
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North Dakota
North Dakota

North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the...
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Minnesota
Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and...
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Nebraska
Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. Nebraska is the 16th most extensive, the 38th most populous, and the 8th...
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Iowa
Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway...
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q:
    What famous people were born in South Dakota?
  • A:
    Famous people born here include:
    - Nicky Katt
    - Mary GrandPré
    - Steven L. Jordan
    - Mike Kopp
    - Alton Ochsner
    - Harry George Armstrong
    - Phil Graham
  • Q:
    What is South Dakota's state capital?
  • A:
    The capital of South Dakota is Pierre.

Lists

Map of South Dakota

Map of South Dakota
South Dakota
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