South Dakota is one of the northwest prairie states of the
United States. It covers 199,731 km². To the west are the Black
Hills, to the east are the Badlands, and to the east of the
state is the Coteau des Prairies. The largest city is Sioux
Falls, the capital is Pierre. South Dakota is home to several
Native American reservations, most notably the Lakota. The state
has the third largest population of Native Americans in the
United States, after Alaska and
New Mexico. South Dakota is bordered by
North Dakota to the
north, Minnesota and Iowa to the east,
Nebraska to the south, and
Wyoming and Montana to the west.
With 814,180 rooms. In 2010, it is the fifth least populated
state in the country - ahead of Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont
and the least populated, Wyoming - and, with 4.1
inhabitants/km², the fifth least densely populated, ahead of
North Dakota. North, Montana, Wyoming and the less densely
populated, Alaska. It was admitted to the Union on November 2,
1889 as the 40th state.
Its name comes from the Lakota
and Dakota (Sioux) Amerindian tribes. In its territory is Mount
Rushmore (Black Hills), where the busts of four Presidents of
the United States are sculpted. This enormous sculptural group
is one of the best-known tourist attractions in the world, and
gives the state the nickname The Mount Rushmore State.
Its territory is divided by the Missouri River, which separates
it into two socially and economically distinct halves known to
residents as "east of the river" and "west of the river."
Agriculture has historically been its main source of wealth. It
is one of the leading states in the Union in wheat production.
It also has one of the largest cattle herds in the country.
Dominated by an economy based on the primary sector, it has
sought to diversify to attract and maintain its residents. It
remains, however, mostly rural.
The region that currently
forms South Dakota was one of the last areas of the continental
United States to be explored and settled by Americans. In 1858,
the federal government would create the Dakota Territory, which
included present-day North and South Dakotas, until then part of
Minnesota. It was sparsely populated until the 19th century,
when the first railway lines crossed it and this encouraged
agriculture. Initially, only a few large landowners dominated
the territory's economy. However, the success of these
landowners and the railroads attracted thousands of people to
the region. On November 2, 1889, the Dakota Territory was
divided into present-day North Dakota and South Dakota, and both
were elevated to state status, joining the Union.
Southeast South Dakota
This densely inhabited southeastern portion
of the state is home to South Dakota's biggest urban center, Sioux
Falls, which serves as a major transportation hub where Interstate
Highways 90 and 29 converge. With a population exceeding 200,000 in
Sioux Falls alone, this area features lower elevations, higher
precipitation (up to 25 inches annually), and fertile glacial till soils
that support thriving agriculture and temperate grasslands. The
landscape includes rolling hills of the Dissected Till Plains, the Big
Sioux River, and attractions like scenic riverfront strolls, state park
cliffs, quirky roadside stops, and family-friendly events such as
holiday movie series and culinary camps. It's a blend of small-town
charm with arts, culture, and outdoor adventures, including trails,
shops, and itineraries exploring Native American heritage.
Glacial Lakes
Located in the northeastern corner of South Dakota,
this predominantly rural and farming-oriented area boasts a vast
agricultural landscape dotted with countless glacial lakes and the
prominent plateau known as the Coteau des Prairies. The region
experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and hot
summers, supporting mid- and tall-grass prairies that host wildlife like
bison, deer, pronghorn, and birds such as pheasants. Key cities include
Aberdeen, Brookings, De Smet, Huron, and Watertown, with attractions
ranging from Storybook Land and the Land of Oz theme park to museums
like the Children's Museum of South Dakota, South Dakota Art Museum, and
Codington County Heritage Museum. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy premier
hunting for pheasants and other game, fishing in the lakes,
birdwatching, camping, and events like the Brookings Summer Arts
Festival, making it an adventure hub for nature lovers and sunset
admirers.
Great Lakes
The central region of South Dakota,
situated along the banks of the Missouri River, encompasses the state
capital of Pierre and features expansive reservoirs often referred to as
the "great lakes" due to their size and recreational appeal. This area
includes four major reservoirs—Lake Oahe (with 2,250 miles of
shoreline), Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark
Lake—formed by hydroelectric dams that provide half the state's
electricity. With a transitional climate from humid continental to
semi-arid, it offers prairies, grasslands, wetlands, buttes, bluffs, and
rolling hills teeming with big game and fowl. Attractions highlight
historical sites tracing Lewis and Clark's expedition, preserved 1880s
buildings, cultural museums with Wild West and tribal artifacts, and
small towns rich in pioneer and Native American heritage. Popular
activities include year-round fishing for walleye and pike, hunting,
boating, kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, and camping, all amid 217
sunny days a year and uncrowded spaces for peaceful exploration.
Badlands and Black Hills
Occupying the western quarter of South
Dakota, this rugged expanse is renowned for its vast national parks,
dense forests, open grasslands, historic frontier towns, iconic
landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the
state's largest Native American reservations. Spanning over 5 million
acres, the area features dramatic landscapes including the eroded,
colorful buttes of Badlands National Park, the coniferous-covered Black
Hills mountains rising to Black Elk Peak (7,242 feet), ravines, plains,
and cave systems like Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. Major cities include
Rapid City, with a semi-arid climate outside the hills (13-18 inches of
precipitation) shifting to more humid conditions in the forested areas
(up to 30 inches). Attractions encompass Custer State Park's wildlife
loops with bison and begging burros, the 1880 Train rides, mining
history at sites like the former Homestake Mine, and protected areas
such as Black Hills National Forest. Outdoor pursuits involve hiking,
wildlife spotting (elk, antelope, coyotes), fishing for trout, and epic
adventures amid short-grass prairies and mineral-rich terrain, blending
natural wonders with tales of discovery and cultural significance.
Pierre (Lakota: Čhúŋkaške): Serving as South Dakota's state capital
and located along the Missouri River, this city offers visitors the
chance to explore the historic South Dakota State Capitol building,
various museums highlighting regional history, and recreational fishing
opportunities at the expansive Lake Oahe near the Oahe Dam. With a
population of around 14,091 as of 2020, Pierre was founded in 1880 and
chosen as the capital in 1889 for its central location in the state.
It's one of the few U.S. state capitals not connected to the Interstate
Highway System, emphasizing its somewhat isolated yet scenic position on
river bluffs at an elevation of about 1,700 feet. The area also features
outdoor activities enhanced by Lake Oahe, one of the world's largest
man-made lakes, and the city experiences a humid continental climate
with moderate precipitation.
Aberdeen (Lakota: Ablíla): As the
third-largest city in South Dakota and a vibrant college town, Aberdeen
hosts institutions like Northern State University, which provides a
range of academic programs and contributes to the local cultural scene.
The population stands at approximately 28,495 from the 2020 census, and
the city was established in 1881, earning the nickname "Hub City of the
Dakotas" due to its converging railroads. Attractions include the
Dacotah Prairie Museum for regional history, Wylie Park with its
Storybook Land themed around L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
(Baum lived here from 1888-1891), and outdoor spots like Richmond Lake
for camping and trails. Notably, Aberdeen has hosted visits from five
U.S. presidents and features a humid continental climate with extreme
temperature variations.
Brookings: This city is renowned for being
the home of South Dakota State University, the state's premier higher
education institution with over 12,000 students, driving innovation in
fields like agriculture and engineering. With a 2020 population of
23,377, Brookings was founded in 1879 and named after pioneer Wilmot
Brookings; it grew rapidly with the railroad's arrival. Key attractions
encompass the South Dakota Art Museum, the Children's Museum of South
Dakota, and the annual Brookings Summer Arts Festival. Often called
"Scoreboard Town" for its sports enthusiasm, the city also hosts
manufacturing firms like Daktronics and boasts a highly educated
populace, with nearly 50% holding bachelor's degrees or higher.
Custer: Recognized as the oldest European-established town in the Black
Hills, founded in 1875 amid the gold rush, Custer is where the massive
Crazy Horse Memorial—a mountain carving honoring the Lakota leader—is
under ongoing construction. The city has a population of about 1,919 and
serves as the county seat at an elevation of 5,315 feet. Nearby draws
include Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Custer
State Park, and Mount Rushmore. Historically tied to the 1874 Black
Hills Expedition led by George Armstrong Custer, the area celebrates
Gold Discovery Days annually in July. Its climate features variable
winters with chinook winds and an average snowfall of nearly 58 inches.
Deadwood (Lakota: Owáyasuta): A legendary historic town that boomed as
the central hub of the 1870s Black Hills Gold Rush, Deadwood boasts
beautifully preserved architecture from that era, evoking the Wild West.
With a 2020 population of 1,156, it was founded in 1876 and once swelled
to 25,000 residents, attracting figures like Wild Bill Hickok (buried in
Mount Moriah Cemetery) and Calamity Jane. The entire city is a National
Historic Landmark District, featuring museums run by Deadwood History,
Inc., and legalized gambling since 1989 to support preservation.
Attractions also include the George S. Mickelson Trail for outdoor
recreation and proximity to Sheridan Lake and Spearfish Canyon.
Interestingly, it adopted electricity in 1883, just years after Edison's
innovations, and hosted a diverse community including a Chinatown.
Mitchell: Famous for housing the world's unique Corn Palace—a building
adorned annually with corn and grain murals—and the Dakota Discovery
Museum, which showcases prairie history and Native American artifacts,
Mitchell is a cultural gem. The 2020 census recorded a population of
15,660, and the city was incorporated in 1883, named after railroad
president Alexander Mitchell. Other sites include the Mitchell
Prehistoric Indian Village, an archaeological dig under a dome, and
notable trees like state champion black cherry. Home to Dakota Wesleyan
University and once residence of politician George McGovern, Mitchell
lies along the James River in Tornado Alley, with a history tied to
railroads and agriculture.
Rapid City (Lakota: Mni Lúzahaŋ
Otȟúŋwahe): Positioned at the foot of the Black Hills as South Dakota's
second-largest city, Rapid City provides access to iconic sites like
Mount Rushmore and serves as a major tourism gateway. Its 2020
population is 74,703, founded in 1876 and nicknamed the "City of
Presidents" for bronze statues of U.S. presidents downtown. Attractions
within the city include Dinosaur Park, the Journey Museum, Art Alley,
and Main Street Square, while nearby are Crazy Horse Memorial and
Badlands National Park. The 1972 Black Hills Flood devastated the area
but led to resilient rebuilding with parks. Economically diverse with
bases like Ellsworth Air Force Base, it hosts the annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Sioux Falls (Lakota: Íŋyaŋ Okábleča Otȟúŋwahe): The state's biggest
city, named for the stunning waterfalls on the Big Sioux River, Sioux
Falls is a bustling hub with cascading falls formed 14,000 years ago.
Boasting a 2020 population of 192,517, it was founded in 1856 and
incorporated in 1883, growing rapidly since the 1970s through sectors
like health care and finance (e.g., Citibank's presence). Highlights
include Falls Park for river views, the Washington Pavilion with arts
and science exhibits, the Great Plains Zoo, and events like JazzFest and
the Sioux Empire Fair. Once dubbed a "Divorce Colony" in the 1890s for
lenient laws, it features a humid continental climate and ancient burial
mounds from indigenous peoples.
Wall (Lakota: Makȟóšiča Aglágla
Otȟuŋwahe): Acting as an entry point to Badlands National Park and among
the tiniest cities in the U.S., Wall draws travelers with its proximity
to dramatic rock formations. With a 2020 population of just 699, it was
platted in 1907 and named for the "wall"-like badlands features,
incorporating in 1908. Key spots include the famous Wall Drug Store, a
Depression-era roadside attraction that expanded into a tourist complex,
and the National Grasslands Visitor Center. The city also has a
municipal airport and bus services, rooted in railroad history and its
strategic location across the Cheyenne River.
Badlands National Park:
Spanning 244,000 acres, this park features dramatically eroded buttes
and pinnacles that form an otherworldly, lunar-like landscape. It has
yielded thousands of fossils from ancient animals, with ongoing
archaeological and paleontological excavations that sometimes allow
visitors to join in. Additionally, the park is a haven for modern
wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed
ferrets, and offers over 100 miles of hiking trails through its layered
rock formations dating back 75 million years, showcasing colorful
sedimentary bands.
Black Hills National Forest: Covering 1.2 million
acres of dense pine and spruce woodlands interspersed with rugged
granite summits, this forest is a hub for outdoor activities. The
striking granite formations called the Needles offer demanding rock
climbing routes, while the 114-mile (183-km) George S. Mickelson Trail—a
converted rail path in the state park system—provides easy gradients and
historic bridges for cyclists and walkers from Deadwood to Edgemont.
Black Elk Peak stands as the tallest summit in the U.S. east of the
Rockies at 7,244 feet. The forest also borders attractions like Custer
State Park and is home to diverse ecosystems supporting deer, elk, and
mountain lions, with opportunities for camping, fishing, and scenic
drives.
Jewel Cave National Monument: Recognized as the third-longest
cave system globally, with over 200 miles (322 km) of mapped passages
that continue to expand through ongoing exploration, this monument
dazzles with vibrant calcite crystals forming jewel-esque structures
that inspired its name. Visitors can explore via ranger-led tours,
including the historic lantern tour along the original discovery route,
while above-ground trails wind through ponderosa pine forests. The
cave's unique formations, such as flowstone and draperies, highlight its
geological wonders, and it's only accessible with guides for safety.
Lewis and Clark Trail: During their famed 1803-1806 expedition to
the Pacific Northwest, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
traversed South Dakota along the Missouri River, documenting Native
American cultures, wildlife, and landscapes. This segment is part of the
broader 4,900-mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which honors
the journey through more than 60 Tribal nations' homelands and offers
interpretive sites, river recreation, and historical markers for modern
travelers to follow their path.
Minuteman Missile National
Historic Site: Preserving Cold War-era relics, this site features the
Delta-01 Launch Control Facility and Delta-09 Missile Silo, which were
among the oldest in the nation, equipped with 1960s technology from the
Cuban Missile Crisis period. Minimal changes have been made to these
deactivated installations, keeping original equipment and furnishings
intact for educational tours. It provides insight into nuclear
deterrence history, with ranger-guided visits to underground bunkers and
exhibits on the site's role in U.S. defense strategy during tense global
standoffs.
Missouri National Recreational River: This protected
waterway along the South Dakota-Nebraska border safeguards two
unchannelized stretches of the Missouri River—totaling about 100
miles—preserving its natural flow, scenic bluffs, sandbars, and riparian
habitats like cottonwood forests. It's ideal for boating, kayaking,
fishing for species like catfish and walleye, and wildlife watching,
including bald eagles and migratory birds, while highlighting the
river's ecological and cultural significance to Native American tribes
and early explorers.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Dubbed
America's "Shrine of Democracy," this iconic site was sculpted starting
in 1927 by artist Gutzon Borglum, who chiseled 60-foot granite faces of
Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and
Abraham Lincoln into a Black Hills mountain, symbolizing the nation's
founding, expansion, development, and conservation. Completed in 1941,
it draws millions annually to its visitor center, which features
interactive exhibits, a sculptor's studio, and evening lighting
ceremonies, surrounded by hiking trails and views of the surrounding
ponderosa pine forests.
Wind Cave National Park:
Renowned for its namesake cave, a sacred site to Native Americans where
barometric winds cause air to rush in or out, creating a "breathing"
effect, the underground network boasts rare boxwork formations—delicate,
honeycomb-like calcite veins—alongside other features like frostwork and
popcorn. Above ground, the 33,970-acre park (expanded from the original
28,295 acres) encompasses mixed-grass prairies, ponderosa pine
woodlands, and herds of roaming bison, elk, and prairie dogs.
Established in 1903 as the first national park created to protect a
cave, it offers various cave tours and over 30 miles of hiking trails
for wildlife viewing and scenic exploration.
Bear Butte is a natural geologic formation in Meade Country, South Dakota. Before the arrival of white settlers Bear Butte was revered as a religious site.
By plane
The entry form is filled out on the plane - remember to
register on the official ESTA website at least three days before
departure to avoid unpleasant surprises at customs. South Dakota is one
of the relatively remote states. From Europe you will have to change
trains once or twice. Flights to Rapid City depart from Dallas, Texas,
for example.
By bus
The Greyhound buses run from Denver to
Rapid City via Buffalo, Wyoming in about 12 hours and also to Rapid City
from Chicago via Sioux Falls and the endless Great Plains in about 21
hours. During this trip you will be changing time zones, so don't be an
hour too soon to celebrate.
In the street
The 90 freeway
traverses all of South Dakota between Wisconsin and Buffalo, Wyoming.
Don't underestimate the distances, the plains are really huge and
crossing them can be very nerve wracking. Plan enough breaks and, if
necessary, an overnight stay.
Having your own vehicle is strongly recommended in South Dakota, especially in the Black Hills area, as there are only a few regular bus and train connections and the locals, as in many parts of the USA, usually do not trust hitchhikers. Taxis are expensive and the distances are long. Without your own vehicle, the trip to Mount Rushmore can become a day's hike.
When the first European explorers arrived in the region they found
the Arikara, a sedentary people who lived mainly from agriculture, and
the Cheyennes, who were nomads who lived mainly from hunting. Relations
between these tribes were friendly. During the 18th century, after the
arrival of the first European explorers, the Lakota, from the Sioux
group, settled in the region. These were not well received by the
Arikara, and they clashed frequently during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The first European explorers of the area were the brothers François
and Louis-Joseph Gaultier de la Vérendrye, in 1743. They buried a lead
inscription, with their names, where Fort Pierre is currently located.
This was discovered by chance by some children at a school in the city,
in 1913. Since then, this plaque has been part of the historical
collection of the South Dakota State Historical Museum.
However,
several decades before the arrival of the Vérendrye, the Frenchman René
Robert Cavelier claimed the entire watershed of the Mississippi-Missouri
River, which included all of present-day South Dakota, and which was
part of the administrative division of the French colony. from
Louisiana. After the departure of the Vérendryes in 1743, there would be
few Europeans in the region. Only in 1785 did the first settler of
European descent (Pierre Dorion, a French-Canadian merchant and hunter)
settle permanently.
In 1763, as part of the Treaty of Paris,
France ceded all of its territories west of the Mississippi River to
Spain, the western half of the territory known as Louisiana. Thus, much
of present-day North Dakota came under Spanish control. In 1800, the
Spanish ceded these territories to France. He sold all of Louisiana to
the United States in 1803.
President Thomas Jefferson tasked
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with exploring the region. They began
doing so in August 1804. They camped near present-day Elk Point and
established friendly relations with the Native American tribes of the
region. In September, they headed northeast toward present-day North
Dakota. They would return once again in 1806, on the return trip to the
American east coast.
Lewis and Clark described it as a region
full of animals whose hides were coveted by traders (such as bison)
which attracted many hunters and traders to the region. The first
trading post was founded in 1817. This trading post would later become
the present-day town of Fort Pierre. However, the growing European
population caused Native American tribes to increasingly fear the loss
of their lands. Tensions then arose between Native Americans and
Americans of European descent. In 1823, the Arikara attacked an American
community, massacring its inhabitants. In response, the US government
sent troops. The Sioux, enemies of the Arikara, allied themselves with
the American troops. The Arikara were defeated the same year and
confined to reserves.
Present-day South Dakota, initially part of
the Louisiana Territory, was incorporated into the Missouri Territory in
1812. In 1834, the western portion would be ceded to the Territory of
Michigan, a portion that would later belong to the territories of
Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
It developed rapidly during the
1830s, when it was discovered that steamships were capable of
circulating in the region of the Mississippi River that cuts through its
territory, encouraging hunting and the fur trade in the region. Hunting
was the main source of income until the 1850s. Starting in 1857, large
consortiums purchased significant amounts of land. These companies
divided their land into small plots that were rented to farmers willing
to farm in the region. These same companies also founded various cities
in the area, such as Bon Homme, Vermillion and Yankton. In 1858, the
Sioux agreed to cede their lands in the southwest. The consortiums and
the departure of the southwestern Sioux from the region would attract
many people during the end of the decade.
In 1861, the US
government created the Dakota Territory (northern part of the Louisiana
Purchase). This territory incorporated what is now the Dakotas, as well
as parts of present-day Montana and Wyoming. In 1863, parts of the
Dakota Territory were ceded to the territories of Montana and Wyoming,
leaving only the territory currently formed by both Dakotas. The
Homestead Act provided plots of land at no cost to families willing to
settle in the region, in an effort to encourage settlement of the still
sparsely populated region.
Various conflicts between European
Americans and the Sioux Native Americans occurred during the 1860s. One
of these conflicts was the Red Cloud War, which occurred between 1866
and 1868. The Sioux were against the construction of roads and the
presence of white Americans within the present-day Midwest, believing
that such roads would interfere with their way of life. The war was
marked by various surprise attacks against citadels and American troops.
The Sioux attacks ended in 1868, when the federal government agreed,
through the Treaty of Laramie, not to build roads and prevent the
settlement of the west-central region, west of the Missouri River,
making the region a gigantic Native American reservation, the Great
Sioux Reservation.
The federal government violated the terms of
the Treaty of Laramie in 1874, when it sent troops led by General Custer
within the boundaries of the Sioux Native American reservation, heading
for the Black Hills, in search of gold. Large reserves of gold were
found within the boundaries of the Indian reservation between 1876 and
1877, causing a "gold rush" that attracted thousands of people from
other American states and immigrants to the region. In 1872, the first
railway line was inaugurated that connected the state with the rest of
the country, promoting the departure of gold extracted in the region and
encouraging the settlement of the population and the cultivation of land
in isolated regions. It became a large producer of wheat and corn. The
agricultural industry would surpass mining as the region's main source
of income during the 1880s.
The violation of the Treaty of
Laramie led to one of the great rebellions by the Sioux, led by Crazy
Horse and Sitting Bull. The Native Americans carried out various attacks
against white settlements, but were definitively defeated in 1877 and
definitively confined to small reservations.
Thanks to gold
mining and agriculture and ranching, the population of the entire Dakota
Territory (including the region of present-day South Dakota) began to
grow rapidly. However, the railroads that had led to the rise of the
wheat and mining industries, as well as the settlement of the region,
began to cause border-type tensions between the northern and southern
regions of the Dakota Territory. These railroads (which were
transcontinental, linking the American east coast with the west coast)
crossed the Dakota Territory in an east-west direction. There were no
roads connecting the north of the territory with the south, and
transportation between both regions was difficult. The rapid population
growth of the Dakota Territory caused the territory's government and its
inhabitants to begin pressuring the United States government to have the
territory elevated to statehood. However, due to divisive tensions, the
inhabitants of the north and south of the Dakota Territory quickly
demanded that each region have its own government.
In February
1889, the US Congress divided the Dakota Territory in two. Both
territories then acquired their current political borders. The rivalry
between both Dakotas was such that, after approval by Congress, both
Dakotas demanded to be the first to become a state, therefore, US
President Benjamin Harrison (after the ratification of the US
Constitution by both Dakotas) ordered the Secretary of State James
Blaine to mix up both documents, thus preventing us from seeing which of
the two was officially elevated first, and President Harrison always
refused to say which one had signed first, so it was never known who
became a first. State of the Union. Thus, on November 2, 1889, South
Dakota became the 39th American state, along with North Dakota. However,
the North Dakota proclamation was published first in the Statutes at
Large (by the simple fact of being first in alphabetical order) and
often appears that way in many documents.
The same year it became a state, a Native American movement began on
the state's Sioux Indian reservations. This movement called for the
return of ancient traditions and ways of life among the Sioux
population. They had been forced to abandon many of these traditions and
lifestyles as they were confined to small reserves, becoming sedentary.
The name of this move was Ghost Dance. This movement was considered a
threat by the US government. Their leader, Sitting Bull, was murdered by
Indian police sent to arrest him. Many of Sitting Bull's followers armed
themselves and united under the leadership of Big Foot. American
soldiers were sent to disarm the Sioux. However, American soldiers ended
up killing nearly 300 Indians, including women, children and the
elderly, in the Wound Creek Massacre. This confrontation was the last
attempt at Native American resistance against the occupation of the
interior of the United States by Americans of European descent.
The first decades as a state were marked by the instability of the
economy and the growth of the state's population. The population had
grown rapidly, during the time when the region was part of the Dakota
Territory. However, a period of prolonged drought began in 1889, and
lasted until 1897. Agriculture and ranching entered a period of great
recession, and the state's population growth stagnated. The end of the
drought period in 1897 and the increase in wheat and corn prices, as
well as the establishment of new free lands for cultivation (at the
expense of the Native Americans, segregating them on reservations) began
a new period of great population increase and economic prosperity in the
state, which would last until 1911, when a new period of drought began.
The end of this period, in 1914, and the First World War, made the state
prosper economically again.
The largest period of economic
recession in its history began in the mid-1920s, when declining wheat
and corn prices on the domestic and international markets caused large
debt among farmers. Many of these, unable to pay their debts, were
forced to give up their properties to banks and move to other regions.
This caused the suspension of payments of countless banking
establishments in the state. This recession was aggravated with the
beginning of the Great Depression, in 1929, and would last until the
beginning of the 1940s.
To make matters worse, the longest period
of drought in its history fell on the state (from 1930 to 1940) in
addition to great sand storms and swarms of grasshoppers, which caused
the destruction of the agrarian industry, great misery and poverty,
which made that many went to other states in search of work, drastically
decreasing the state's population, which went from 692,849 inhabitants
in 1930, to 642,961 in 1940. Various socioeconomic assistance programs
and public constructions by the local and federal governments, They were
put in place in an attempt to minimize the effects of the recession.
Between 1927 and 1941, sculptor Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers
sculpted busts of four United States Presidents on Mount Rushmore in the
Black Hills: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and
Abraham Lincoln. The inauguration of this gigantic sculpture, near the
city of Keystone, served as a framework for the history of the United
States, and turned South Dakota into a major tourist focus.
The
recession of the 1930s ended in 1941, with the entry of the United
States into World War II, the period of drought and the fall in prices
of agricultural products in general. South Dakota once again prospered
economically, selling large quantities of agricultural and livestock
products to the government. The local government also adopted programs
encouraging tourism and secondary industry, seeking to reduce the
state's dependence on the agricultural industry, as well as the
population exodus (especially of young people) to other American states.
However, economic diversification was slow and gradual. Between 1944 and
1966, four large hydroelectric plants were built in the state. The
importance of tourism in the economy would become increasingly greater
beginning in the 1960s. A recession in the state's agricultural industry
would cause a demographic decline in the 1960s, although since 1970, the
state's population has experienced growth. constant, and the problem of
population exodus decreased.
In 1972, large floods destroyed the
Rapid City Canyon Lake dam. The waters released by the dam failure ended
up killing 238 people in Rapid City. In 1973, the town of Wounded Knee
would be invaded and occupied by nearly 200 armed Native Americans.
Native Americans demanded that the state government pay more attention
to the problems facing the state's Native American tribes. The town was
occupied for 71 days, with several shootouts between the natives and
military troops, and two of the Native American Protestants died. In
1980, the United States Supreme Court ordered the government to pay $105
million to the South Dakota Sioux as compensation for land confiscated
by the government in the 1870s. The Sioux rejected it, and to this day
They continue to request the return of their lands.
During the
1980s, South Dakota sought to become a financial center, providing tax
benefits to banks interested in locating their corporate headquarters in
the state. However, Delaware provided better tax benefits, and most of
the banks that intended to set up shop in the state moved to Delaware.
Even so, various banks (mainly small or medium-sized) established
themselves in the state, making the provision of financial services the
main source of income for the state since then. The manufacturing
industry developed drastically during the 1990s, beginning a period of
relatively large population growth, which continues to the present day.
It is bordered to the north by North Dakota, to the east by Minnesota
and Iowa, to the south by Nebraska, and to the west by Wyoming and
Montana.
The most important river is the Missouri. The Missouri
and its tributaries flow through practically the entire state, with the
exception of the northeast region. The state's largest lake, Lake Oahe,
is man-made, formed by the Oahe Dam. Forests cover approximately 4% of
the territory.
The state can be divided into four distinct
geographic regions:
The Dissected Till Plains occupy the southeast.
They are characterized by the presence of large amounts of glacial
sediments, left by ancient glaciers. It is also characterized by its
relatively flat terrain and very fertile terrain. The region's soil
erodes easily, causing the region's rivers to carve very deep valleys.
The Praire Drift occupies most of the eastern region. It is
characterized by its terrain covered by small flat mountains, its
fertile soil and its small glacial lakes, which attract thousands of
wild ducks every year.
The Great Plains cover most of South Dakota,
covering the entire central region, most of the western region, and much
of the eastern region of the state. It is characterized by its
relatively uneven terrain, marked by the continued presence of low
mountains, by its low altitude, and by its fertile soil (although less
than that of Drift Praire. Badlands (regions whose soil was extensively
eroded) are common. on the Great Plains of South Dakota.
Black Hills
(the smallest of the four geographic regions) covers the central west,
located between the Belle Fourche River and the Cheyenne River, it is a
small enclave of the Great Plains. The Black Hills are characterized by
being a mountainous region, with an altitude between 600 and 1200
meters. The region has rugged terrain, with various deep valleys and
rock formations, and is rich in minerals such as gold, silver, copper
and lead. These geographical features make the Black Hills the main
tourist attraction in the state. In one of these rock formations is
Mount Rushmore. The Black Hills are also home to the highest point in
the state, Harney's Peak, at 2,207 meters above sea level.
Much of its territory, excluding the Black Hills, is dominated by temperate grasslands. Mammals in this area include bison, deer, antelope, coyotes, and prairie dogs. Due to its altitude and precipitation, the ecology of The Black Hills differs significantly from the plains. The mountains are densely covered by various types of pines, mostly of the ponderosa and spruce varieties.
Due to its slightly rugged terrain and distance from large bodies of
water, it has large temperature variations and an unstable climate,
although not as unstable as its neighbor North Dakota. It has a
continental climate with four distinct seasons that range from cold and
dry winters to warm and semi-humid summers. During the summer, the
average high temperature across the state is often around 32°C, although
it drops to 16°C at night. It is not unusual for long periods of heat
and severe drought to occur during the summer, with temperatures above
38 °C several times a year. Winters are cold, with average maximum
temperatures in January below 0 °C and minimum average temperatures
below −12 °C) in most of the state. The lowest temperature recorded in
the state was -50 °C, in McIntosh, on February 17, 1936, and the highest
was 49 °C, in Usta, on July 15, 2006.
The average annual rainfall
ranges from semi-arid conditions in the northwestern part of the state
(around 380 mm) to semi-humid conditions in the southeastern region of
the state (around 640 mm), although a small area centered on Lead, in
the Black Hills, It has an average rainfall of 760 mm per year.
In summer there are frequent, sometimes severe, thunderstorms with
strong winds, thunder and hail. The eastern part of the state is often
considered part of Tornado Alley, and the state experiences an average
of 30 tornadoes each year. Severe weather in the form of blizzards and
ice storms often occurs during the winter.
The current South Dakota Constitution was adopted in 1889. Amendments
to the Constitution are proposed by the Legislature, and to be approved,
they require the favorable votes of at least 51% of the state Senate and
House of Representatives. , and by 51% or more of the electoral
population in a referendum. The state's population can also propose
amendments to the state Constitution through a process known as an
initiative and referendum, a petition signed by at least 4% of the
state's population. If this 4% is reached, a referendum would be held,
where, to be approved, it needs to have at least 51% of the votes in
favor. It was the first American state to implement the initiative and
referendum process. A third method to make amendments to the
constitution is through holding a constitutional convention, which to be
carried out, needs to be proposed by one of the Chambers of the local
Legislature, and approved by 75% of the members of both Chambers, and
then, by at least 51% of the state's electoral population, through
holding a referendum.
The main official of the Executive Branch
is the Governor. This is elected by the voters of the state for terms of
up to four years in duration. A person can serve as governor as many
times as he can. Other elected officials are the lieutenant-governor,
the treasurer, the secretary of state, the attorney general, the
commissioner of agriculture and the superintendent of education, among
others, for terms of up to 4 years.
The Legislative Branch is
made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has a
total of 35 members, while the House of Representatives has a total of
70 members. It is divided into 35 legislative districts. The voters of
each district elect one senator and two representatives, who represent
each district in the Senate/House of Representatives. The term of office
of the senators is four years, and that of the representatives is two
years.
The highest court in the Judiciary is the South Dakota
Supreme Court, composed of five justices. The term of office of persons
who are elected for the first time as a judge of the Supreme Court is up
to three years in length. At the end of this period, the population of
the state, through a new vote, chooses between ending the term of this
judge or allowing his position to continue. If he is re-elected, the
judge in question is elected by the population of the state for a term
of up to eight years, where after this period, a new vote is held again.
It is divided into seven judicial districts, each composed of at least
four judges. These judges are elected by the population of their
districts for terms of up to 8 years. These judicial courts are headed
by a chief justice, elected by the judges of their respective courts for
terms of up to 8 years.
It is divided into 66 counties. Each of
these counties is governed by a board of commissioners, composed of
three to five members elected by the population of their respective
counties for terms of up to four years in length. It has about 300
cities. These cities are free to choose their government structure. Most
cities are governed by a mayor and a municipal council.
About 40%
of the local budget is generated by state taxes, and the rest comes from
budgets received from the federal government and from loans. In 2002,
the state government spent 2.77 billion dollars, having generated 2.49
billion dollars. Government debt is $2.31 billion. The debt per capita
is $3,036, the value of state taxes per capita is $1,285, and the value
of government expenditures per capita is $3,647.
Since its
creation and elevation to statehood in 1889, it has been dominated
politically by the Republican Party. The state's first governor was a
Republican. Historically, of every four people elected to the governor's
office, three have been Republicans. Most politicians elected to
legislative positions in cities and counties are also Republicans. At
the national level, the majority of senators and members of the federal
House of Representatives have been Republicans. Democrats only gained
some strength in the 1950s, although Republicans remain dominant today.
The tribes based in South Dakota belong to the large language family of the Sioux and are assigned to the Lakota, Dakota or Nakota. They make up 20 percent of the population in some counties, e.g. B. West River. There are seven major Indian reservations in the state formed from portions of the West River Greater Sioux Reservation, Standing Rock Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation, Pine Ridge Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Yankton Reservation, Crow Creek Reservation and Lower Brule Reservation. This large reservation was assigned to the once resident Sioux by the US government. Another large reservation is in the northeast of the state, the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation. There are also some smaller ones like the Flandreau Indian Reservation. The Indian tribes also own large areas outside of the reservations called off reservation trust land. South Dakota has the third highest percentage of Native Americans in the United States after Alaska and New Mexico.
South Dakota has 814,180 inhabitants (as of the 2010 census), of which 87.2% are white, 0.7% black and African American, 8.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian. 2.0% Hispanics. In 2000, 40% of the residents had German ancestors. The German language is still used by 1.8% of the population.
The first public school was founded in 1860, in Bon Homme, although
this school was demolished just three months later, and its material
used for the construction of a defense wall against indigenous attacks.
In 1862, the Dakota Territory government created a public education
system, and in 1864 the territory's first superintendent of public
education was appointed. The first school built permanently was founded
in 1865, in Vermillion. When the Dakotas were created, each continued to
financially support all English language schools in the state. Later,
the state also began providing budgets to schools that taught Native
American languages on Indian reservations.
Currently, all
educational institutions are required to follow the rules and
regulations issued by the South Dakota State Board of Education. The
Council is made up of nine members appointed by the governor and
approved by the Senate, for periods of up to four years. Each major city
(city), various secondary cities (towns), and each county is served by a
school district. In cities, the responsibility for managing schools lies
with the municipal school district, while in less densely populated
regions, this responsibility lies with school districts operating
throughout the county as a whole. Each school district has its own
superintendents. South Dakota does not allow the operation of "charter
schools," independent public schools that are not managed by school
districts but rely on public budgets for their operation. School
attendance is mandatory for all children and adolescents over six years
of age, until the completion of secondary education or until the age of
fifteen.
In 1999, the state's public schools served nearly
131,000 students, employing approximately 9,400 teachers. The private
schools served about 9,400 students, employing approximately 700
teachers. The state's public school system consumed about $697 million,
and public school spending was approximately $5.6 thousand per student.
About 88.7% of the state's inhabitants over 25 years of age have a high
school diploma.
The first public libraries were founded during
the 1880s. Currently, the state has 126 different public library
systems, which annually move an average of 8 books per inhabitant. The
first institution of higher education founded in the state was Yankton
College, founded in 1881, and closed in 1984. Currently, the state has
27 institutions of higher education, of which 14 are public and 13 are
private. Of these institutions, 10 are universities and 17 are colleges.
The largest university in the state is South Dakota State University.
Its gross domestic product was $23.12 billion in 2003. The state's
per capita income, meanwhile, was $30,722. Its unemployment rate is
3.5%, the third lowest in the country, higher only than the unemployment
rates in Hawaii and North Dakota.
The primary sector accounts for
8% of its GDP. Together, agriculture and livestock correspond to 8% of
the GDP, and employ approximately 44 thousand people. The effects of
fishing and forestry are minimal on the state's economy. Agriculture is
one of the main sources of its income, no state in the United States
depends as much on agriculture and livestock as South Dakota, and as a
consequence, the percentage of the participation of the agricultural
industry in the state GDP is the largest of any American state. The
state has 33 thousand farms, covering approximately 90% of the state. It
is one of the national leaders in the production of wheat, corn,
sunflower seeds and bovine meat and milk, and has one of the largest
bovine herds in the country.
The secondary sector contributes 18%
of the GDP. Secondary industry accounts for 13% of the state's GDP and
employs approximately 52 thousand people. The total value of products
manufactured in the state is $5.5 billion. The main industrialized
products manufactured in the state are electronic equipment in general,
industrially processed foods, machinery, transportation equipment and
petroleum products. The construction industry accounts for 4% of the
state's GDP, employing approximately 28 thousand people. Mining
contributes 1% of its GDP, employing about 1.6 thousand people. The main
products are oil, granite and sandstone.
The tertiary sector
accounts for 74% of its GDP. The state is a large financial center,
which attracted various financial institutions through tax incentive
programs. Financial and real estate services account for close to 20% of
GDP, employing approximately 43 thousand people. Approximately 18% of
the state's GDP is generated through community and personal services.
This sector employs about 146 thousand people. Wholesale and retail
trade, with 16% of GDP, employs approximately 111 thousand people.
Government Services account for 14% of its GDP, employing approximately
71 thousand people. Transportation, telecommunications and public
utilities employ 23 thousand people, and account for 8% of the GDP.
About 56% of the electricity generated in the state is produced in
hydroelectric plants. Most of the rest is generated in coal- or
oil-fired thermoelectric plants.
The first railroad line connecting South Dakota with other regions of
the country was inaugurated in 1872, in Vermillion. In 2002 it had 2,956
kilometers of railway lines. In 2003, it owned 134,683 kilometers of
public roads, of which 1,093 kilometers were interstate highways,
considered part of the United States federal highway system. Currently,
two railroad companies provide freight transportation, but the state's
Amtrak intercity network does not serve this state.
The busiest
airport is Sioux Falls. Many airfields are scattered throughout rural
areas of South Dakota, connecting more isolated regions to the rest of
the state. Sioux Falls is the main road, rail and airport in the state.
The first newspaper, The Dakota Democrat, was first published in
1859, in Sioux Falls. For its part, the oldest newspaper in the state
still in circulation is the Weekly Dakotian, a weekly newspaper printed
for the first time in 1861, also in Sioux Falls, and which would become
the current Daily Dakotian, with daily circulation, in 1875. Currently,
about 125 newspapers are published in the state, of which nine are daily
newspapers.
The first radio station was founded in 1922, in Rapid
City. The first television station was founded in 1953, in Sioux Falls.
There are currently 83 radio stations (of which 36 are AM and 47 are FM)
and 19 television stations.
As a state of the United States, South Dakota is a semi-sovereign
constituent entity with its own state-level institutions on the one hand
and participation in the state-level institutions on the other.
The population of South Dakota is considered conservative. Republicans
dominate and South Dakota is considered a classic red state.
Republican Kristi Noem has been governor since 2019.
The state legislature is divided into a House of Representatives
with 70 members and a Senate with 35 members. Because of the
first-past-the-post system, South Dakota is divided into 35 Senate and
70 House constituencies. The Republican Party has a majority in both
chambers (as of 2019).
The Supreme Court is the highest court in
the state. It consists of a chief justice and four other judges.
presidential elections
Republican candidates have
consistently won presidential elections over the past few decades. The
last Democratic presidential candidate to win South Dakota was
conservative Southerner Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 election. The
state provides three electors in presidential elections.
congressional elections
Like every state, South Dakota has two US
senators and - due to the small population - only one representative in
the US House of Representatives. South Dakota has been represented in
the Senate by Republicans Mike Rounds and John Thune since 2015 and in
the House of Representatives since 2019 by Republican Dusty Johnson.
As in North Dakota, its neighbor to the north, the prevailing
combination of social conservatism and economic dependence on
legislative subsidies for agriculture leads to a split in political
allegiances: while Republicans have been the only victors in
presidential elections since 1964, South Dakota has been the dominant
force Democrats more often elected to Congress; the leader of the Senate
Democrats until 2004, Tom Daschle, hails from South Dakota. George
McGovern, who clearly lost to Richard Nixon in 1972 with an election
campaign aimed at ending the Vietnam War, also came from this state.