Fun Fact 2: The state flag is a field of blue with the state seal centrally located, surrounded by yellow sunrays and the words "South Dakota" and "The Mount Rushmore State". The state seal depicts an image of local scenery; the hills, a river, a famer ploughing a field with horses, a mine, cattle and a boat, the image represents natural resources, industry, trade and commerce. The year of statehood and the state motto are also included on the state seal
Fun Fact 3: The capital city of South Dakota is Pierre. Pierre has been the state capital since South Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889. Did you know that Pierre is one of just five U.S. state capitals that doesn't have a major interstate highway going through it!
Fun Fact 4: The area of the State covers 199,905 square kilometers or 77,116 square miles
Fun Fact 5: There are six states that border South Dakota they are; Iowa Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming
Fun Fact 6: The South Dakota state nickname is "The Mount Rushmore State" in reference to the Mount Rushmore sculpture of four Presidents. The sculpture by Gutzon Borglum measures 60ft (18M) tall, it is carved into the rock face granite situated in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota
Fun Fact 7: The official State Song is called "Hail, South Dakota" it was written by Deecort Hammitt and officially adopted in 1943
Fun Fact 8: The three largest cities in South Dakota are Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Aberdeen
Fun Fact 9: The State Motto is "Under God the People Rule"
Fun Fact 10: A brief history of South Dakota – The region was first settled by French-Canadian explorer in 1743; they claimed the region as French. The area was purchased by America through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. North and South Dakota were one territory until statehood in 1889. South Dakota became the 40th State to be admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889
Fun Fact 11: The abbreviation letters for the state of South Dakota are - S.D. The Postal Code abbreviation is - SD
Fun Fact 12: SD state symbols include; SD animal symbol - the Coyote. SD state bird symbol - the Ring-necked Pheasant. SD state flower symbol - the Pasque, May Day Flower. SD state insect emblem - the Honeybee. SD State tree - the Black Hills Spruce tree
Fun Fact 13: The Black Hills is a mountain range that was named by the Lakota people of the Sioux tribes. The name "Black Hills" is a direct translation of the Sioux Lakota words "Pahá Sápa". The hills were given the name because of the color of their appearance
Fun Fact 14: Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state; it is the county seat of Minnehaha, to the south it crosses into Lincoln County. The city of Sioux Falls was built close to the Big Sioux River where the waterfalls cascade. The Big Sioux River was officially named in 1931
Fun Fact 15: The US Department of Commerce Census Bureau states that the Population of South Dakota in 2012 was an estimated 833,354. This compares to a population of 401,570 filed on census from the year 1900 |
