Travel & Geography > The States & Territories
Travel to the United States | The States & Territories
The Regions of the United States | Facts & StatisticsSouth Dakota, the "Coyote State" "Sunshine State"
Abbreviation: SD
State Flag
State SealSouth Dakota was named for the Dakota division of the Sioux Indians. Dakota means "Friend". Today, just less than 10 percent of its population is American Indian. In 1889, South Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 40th state. On the same day, North Dakota was admitted. The Dakota Territory was divided along the 46th parallel. South Dakota is mainly a rural state. It is known for two monumental sculptures carved into the Black Hills -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which honors presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, and the Crazy Horse Monument, still under construction, which honors the Oglala Sioux war chief. South Dakota is a state of many startling and beautiful contrasts. The wide Missouri River flows southward through the middle of the state. Low hills, formed by ancient glaciers and vast stretches of fertile cropland lie east of the river. The enchanting Black Hills rise abruptly in the southwest. Southeast of the Black Hills are the weirdly beautiful Badlands.
South Dakota erhielt seinen Namen von dem Dakota-Stamm der Sioux Indianer, die vor der Ankunft der Europäer in der Prärie lebten. "Dakota" bedeutet "Freund". 1889 wurde North Dakota als 40. Bundesstaat aufgenommen. Zeitgleich wurde auch South Dakota ein Bundesstaat. Das Dakota Territorium wurde entlang des 46. Breitengrades geteilt. South Dakota ist ein vorwiegend landwirtschaftlich geprägter Staat. Bekannt ist South Dakota vor allem für zwei monumentale Skulpturen in den Black Hills -- Mount Rushmore National Memorial, dass die Präsidenten George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt und Abraham Lincoln ehrt, und das sich noch im Bau befindliche Crazy Horse Monument zu Ehren des Oglala Sioux Häuptlings. South Dakota ist ein Staat vieler überraschender und schöner Kontraste. Der breite Missouri River fließt durch das Landesinnere nach Süden. Östlich des Flusses liegen sanfte Hügel, die zu Urzeiten von Gletschern gebildet wurden, und riesige Landstriche fruchtbaren Getreidelandes. Die beeindruckenden Black Hills erheben sich plötzlich im Südwesten. Süd-östlich befinden sich die seltsam anmutenden, aber schönen Badlands.
GOVERNMENT
STATISTICS
Capital: Pierre
Governor: Mike Rounds, R (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: John Thune, R (to Jan. 2011); Tim Johnson, D (to Jan. 2009)
House of Representatives: 1 district | Search by zip code
Population (July 2004): 771,000; National Rank: 46; Percent change since April 2000: 2.1%
Land Area: 75,898 sq mi. (196,575 sq km); National Rank: 17
10 largest cities (2003 est.): Sioux Falls, 133,834; Rapid City, 60,876; Aberdeen, 24,086; Watertown, 20,191; Brookings, 18,464; Mitchell, 14,677; Pierre, 13,939; Yankton, 13,440; Huron, 11,377; Vermillion, 10,070ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 2003 est. (millions of dollars): 26,578 (% of U.S. total: 0.2)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $26,566; National Rank: 37 (87% of the national average)
State Exports 2003 (millions of dollars): 597; National Rank: 47
Agriculture: Cattle, hogs, wheat, soybeans, milk, corn.
Industry: Food processing, machinery, lumber and wood products, tourism.
Government
· State of South Dakota Official Homepage
· Project VoteSmart
· State and Local Government on the Internet (Piper Resources)
Statistics
· South Dakota Profile - Fedstats
· U.S. Census Bureau: 2000 Data for the State of South Dakota
· U.S. Census Bureau: State Data Centers: South Dakota
Economy
· South Dakota - Regional Accounts Data
Background
· 50States.com
· InfoPlease
· Mount Rushmore (PBS)
· State of South Dakota: State Symbols
· Wikipedia.de: South Dakota
· Wissen.de: South DakotaTravel
· State of South Dakota Tourist Office
· Map (MapQuest)
· South Dakota State: State Parks
For High School Students
· ClassBrain.com: State Report
· Explore the States
· Stately Knowledge
Teacher Resources
· ProTeacher: Lessons by State: South Dakota
Link Lists
· GovEngine.com: Federal, State & Local Government Site
· South Dakota (Google)
· South Dakota (Yahoo) Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials. What kind of information materials are available?
CD: These documents are available in fulltext format on the About the USA CD-ROM. Teachers: Request a copy for classroom use.
L: Selected documents are available in German as well as other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.
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Updated: December 2006