47 Amazing Facts About South Dakota: 'The Mount Rushmore State'

South Dakota had become the 40th state to join the USA.

It is also known by its nicknames: ' Mount Rushmore State' and 'Land of Infinite Variety.' Before joining the USA, South Dakota was once part of the Great Sioux Nation.

The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, while its largest city is Sioux Falls. The state also has the highest point in the United States on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. The citizens know the two distinct areas on either side of the river of Missouri of the states as 'West River' and 'East River.' The state slogan of South Dakota is 'Great Faces. Great Places.'

History Of South Dakota

In addition to being incredibly diverse, the state of South Dakota also has a rich history attached to it. Some facts related to the history of the state are mentioned as follows.

Humans have inhabited the region, which is today recognized as South Dakota, for thousands of years.

Paleoindian hunters and gatherers are considered the first people who inhabited this area. However, it is estimated that they left the area in about 5000 BC.

The eastern and central regions of South Dakota were inhabited by the Mound Builders, a semi-nomadic community during 500-800 AD.

The instance of the Crow Creek Massacre took place in the 14th century.

The Arikara, also known as 'Ree,' settled in the Missouri River valley region in 1500.

Europeans first discovered the region of the present-day state when the LaVarendrye brothers explored it in 1743.

The region became a part of Spanish Louisiana in 1762 and remained so until 1802.

The Arikara were replaced by the Sioux people in the 19th-century, who became the dominant group living in the region.

The United States bought the area of the Louisiana territory, including a large portion of South Dakota, from the French in 1803.

Over the next few years, while the Americans explored the region and began to settle down in the area, the population of the Europeans living in the area increased too.

The Dakota Territory, which included both North Dakota and South Dakota, was established by the United States in 1861.

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 occurred due to George A Custer's military expedition in the area.

This event led to an increase in illegal migration to the Black Hills region, which was then a territory of the Sioux through 1868's Treaty of Laramie.

When control couldn't be established over these illegal entries and mining, war broke out between the United States and Sioux people.

The conflict lasted until the United States government won, and the Great Sioux Reservation was broken down into five different regions.

Due to political concerns and a growing population, the Dakota Territory was divided into North Dakota and South Dakota, officially accepted as part of the union in 1889.

The economy and lifestyle of South Dakota were also affected by the Great Depression, and it transformed from mainly an agricultural economy to a more diverse one.

Geography And Climate

South Dakota is situated in the north-central part of the United States. According to the US Census Board, this state falls under the midwest part of the country. Some wonderful facts about the geography and climate of this state are listed below.

The region of South Dakota is part of the Great Plains region.

The state's highest point is Black Elk Peak, previously known as Harney Peak, while the lowest point is Big Stone Lake's shoreline.

South Dakota shares its borders with North Dakota on the north, Nebraska on the south, Minnesota and Iowa on the east, and Montana Wyoming on the west.

The state's longest and largest river is the Missouri River.

South Dakota broadly consists of the Black Hills, western South Dakota, and eastern South Dakota.

The social, geographical, and political boundaries between eastern and western South Dakota are maintained through the Missouri River.

With the exception of the Black Hills, the rest of South Dakota is home to a temperate grassland biome, including fertile farmland and glacial lakes.

The region is covered with crops, grass, and deciduous trees like cottonwoods, willows, and elms.

The mountain area facing the western skyline, on the other hand, has a thick blanket of different kinds of pines and spruces.

South Dakota experiences a continental climate and four clear seasons.

The state has dry and cold winters as well as semi-humid summers.

During the summer months, there are also dry spells, which can be severely hot.

Religion, Language, Culture, And Ethnicity

South Dakota is known for the rich diversity it houses. People from all over the world visit the state to look and partake in this diversity. Some wonderful facts about the culture, language, ethnicity, and religion of South Dakota are mentioned as follows.

According to the 1995 legislature, English is the state's common language.

The official indigenous languages are Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota.

South Dakotans speak English as well as Dakota, German, and Spanish. Some people also speak in the other indigenous languages and Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese.

The majority of the population living in South Dakota follow the Christian faith, including Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations.

A smaller portion of the population also follows other varied religious faiths.

According to a survey, in terms of ethnicity, the percentage of the South Dakotan population that is Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino is 2.7%.

The state's culture represents that of Native American, western, European, and rural origins.

There are several events held in the state to celebrate the historical heritage and ethnicity of the state every year.

Cities, Towns, National Parks, And Monuments

The state of South Dakota boasts some historical cities and monuments and several other places of interest. Below are some facts about the monuments and places you could visit on your trip to South Dakota.

One of the most famous attractions of South Dakota is Mount Rushmore.

It is present at the Black Hills and presents the faces of four ex-presidents of the United States sculpted onto the rocks.

The state has two national parks; while the Wind Cave National Park is in the Black Hills and was founded in 1903, Badlands National Park was founded in 1978.

Badlands is the place where the distinct bed of fossils was found. The fossils found in the national park included a saber-toothed cat, dog-sized camel, and three-toed horse.

The Mammoth Site located close to Hot Springs is a private attraction containing the most extensive collection of mammoth remains globally.

Some of the popular cities of the state include Custer, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

There is a statue of every US president made of bronze in Rapid City's streets.

Other Fun Facts

While the state has a diverse culture and a rich historical past, South Dakota still has more. Some more fun facts about that state are listed below.

The presidents whose faces are sculpted on Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Joseph Foss wasn't just the Governor of South Dakota; he was also World War Two Fighter Ace and Commissioner of the American Football League.

Another famous South Dakotan is Benjamin Reifel, who was the US Congressman and the US Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

FAQs

Q: What is South Dakota well known for?

A: South Dakota is famous for being home to Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore.

Q: Is South Dakota a good place to live?

A: South Dakota offers a high-quality lifestyle, good job markets, and a strong economy to those who wish to settle down in the state.

Q: What is South Dakota's nickname?

A: South Dakota is also known by its popular nickname, 'Mount Rushmore State,' among others.

Q: Does South Dakota get snow?

A: Yes, South Dakota experiences snowfall during the winter season.

Q: What food is famous in South Dakota?

A: Chislic, bison, and gabubu bread are some of the famous foods of South Dakota.

Q: How common are tornadoes in South Dakota?

A: On average, around 30 tornadoes occur in South Dakota each year.

Q: How many months of winter does South Dakota have?

A: The winter lasts for about 3.6 months in South Dakota, occurring between November and March.

Q: What is the warmest city in South Dakota?

A: Hot Springs is considered one of the warmest cities in South Dakota.

Q: Is there a banana belt in South Dakota?

A: Black Hills' southern fringe located to the south of Custer State Park is known as the 'banana belt.'

Q: What is the oldest city in South Dakota?

A: Custer is the oldest city in South Dakota, established in 1875.

Q: What is the state flag for South Dakota?

A: The state flag of South Dakota has the state seal with a background of a field of sky blue and bordered by a blazing golden sun.

Q: How old is Hill City, South Dakota?

A: Hill city, located in South Dakota, was founded in 1945.