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Capital:
Pierre
Governor: William J. Janklow, R (to Jan. 2003)
Lieut.
Governor: Carole Hillard, R (to Jan. 3003)
Senators: Thomas A. Daschle, D (to Jan. 2005); Tim Johnson,
D (to Jan. 2003)
Atty.
General: Mark Barnett, R (to Jan. 2003)
Secy.
of State: Joyce Hazeltine, R (to Jan. 2003)
Auditor: Vern Larson, R (to Jan. 2003)
Treasurer: Richard Butler, D (to Jan. 2003)
Organized as territory: March 2, 1861
Entered
Union (rank): Nov. 2, 1889 (40)
Present
constitution adopted: 1889
Motto:
Under God the people rule
State Symbols:
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flower
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American pasqueflower (1903) |
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grass
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Western wheat grass (1970) |
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soil
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houdek (1990) |
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tree
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black hills spruce (1947) |
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bird
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ring-necked pheasant (1943) |
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insect
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honeybee (1978) |
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animal
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coyote (1949) |
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mineral stone
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rose quartz (1966) |
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gemstone
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fairburn agate (1966) |
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colors
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blue and gold (in state flag) |
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song
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"Hail! South Dakota" (1943) |
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fish
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walleye (1982) |
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musical instrument
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fiddle (1989) |
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dessert
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kuchen (2000) |
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Exploration
of this area began in 1743 when Louis-Joseph and François
Verendrye came from France in search of a route to the Pacific.
The U.S.
acquired the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803
and it was explored by Lewis and Clark in 1804-06. Fort Pierre,
the first permanent settlement, was established in 1817.
Settlement
of South Dakota did not begin in earnest until the arrival of
the railroad in 1873 and the discovery of gold in the Black
Hills the following year.
Agriculture is a cultural and economic mainstay, but it no
longer leads the state in employment or share of gross state
product. Durable-goods manufacturing and private services have
evolved as the drivers of the economy. Tourism is also a booming
industry in the state, generating approximately $1.25 billion
worth of economic activity each year.
South
Dakota is the second largest producer of flaxseed and sunflower
seed in the nation. It is the third largest producer of hay and
rye.
South
Dakota is the nation's second leading producer of gold and the
Homestake Mine is the richest in the U.S. Other minerals
produced include berylium, bentonite, granite, silver, and
uranium.
The Black
Hills are the highest mountains east of the Rockies. Mt.
Rushmore, in this group, is famous for the likenesses of
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, which
were carved in granite by Gutzon Borglum. A memorial to Crazy
Horse is also being carved in granite near Custer.
Other
tourist attractions include the Badlands; the World's Only Corn
Palace, in Mitchell; and the city of Deadwood, where Wild Bill
Hickok was killed in 1876 and where gambling was recently
legalized.
Nickname: Mount Rushmore State;
Coyote State
Origin of name: From the Sioux
tribe, meaning "allies"
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Sioux Falls, 116,720; Rapid City, 58,268; Aberdeen, 25,019;
Watertown, 20,063; Brookings, 17,286; Mitchell, 14,232; Yankton,
14,079; Pierre, 13,357; Huron, 11,742; Vermillion, 10,066
Land area:
75,898 sq mi. (196,575 sq km)
Geographic center: In Hughes
Co., 8 mi. NE of Pierre
Number of counties:
67 (64 county governments)
Largest county by population and area:
Minnehaha, 142,821 (1999 est.); Meade, 3,471 sq mi.
State forests: None*
State parks: 13 plus 39
recreational areas (87,269 ac.)**
Residents: South Dakotan
1999 resident population est.:
733,133
1990 resident census population (rank):
696,004 (45). Male: 342,498;
Female: 353,506.
White: 637,515 (91.6%);
Black: 3,258 (0.5%);
American Indian: 50,575 (7.3%);
Asian: 3,123 (0.4%); Other
race: 1,533 (0.2%);
Hispanic: 5,252 (0.8%). 1990
percent population under 18: 28.5;
65 and over: 14.7; median
age: 32.4. |
