South Dakota
South Dakota was the fortieth state to enter into the Union, on November 2, 1889. It entered the same day as North Dakota, but is considered to be second because of alphabetical order. The State capital is Pierre, and the largest city is Sioux Falls. [1]
Acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, the region that is now South Dakota was originally part of the Dakota Territory, before being separated from North Dakota.
The state is bordered on the north by North Dakota, on the south by Nebraska, on the east by Minnesota and Iowa, and on the west by Wyoming and Montana. [2]
South Dakota is known for it's black hills, the highest Point is 7,242 ft at Harney Peak. The indigenous Indian peoples are the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota tribes, which make up the Sioux Nation. Lewis and Clark traveled through South Dakota in 1804 and 1806 on their journey to the West Coast. [3]
Famous Places in South Dakota
- Mount Rushmore is the most famous site in South Dakota, it is a mountain carved to show the heads of 4 United States Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln.
Other notable sites include:
- Badlands National Park
- Black Hills National Forest
- Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
- Black Hills Caves
State Facts
- Population: 781,919 [4]
- State Tree: Black Hills Spruce
- State Flower: Pasque
- State Animal: Coyote
- State Bird: Chinese ring-necked pheasant
- State Mineral: Rose quartz
Notable people from South Dakota
- Tom Brokaw (TV newscaster)
- Hubert H. Humphrey (former US Vice President 1965-1969)
- Cheryl Ladd (Actress)
- Mary Hart (TV talk show host)
- Tom Daschle (Senator) [5]