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South Dakota State Profile!
Capital: Pierre
Governor: M. Michael Rounds, R
Lieut. Governor: Dennis Daugaard, R
Senators:
John Thune, R
Tim Johnson, D
Representative: Stephanie Herseth, D
Attorney General: Larry Long
Sec. of State: Chris Nelson
Auditor: Rich Sattgast
Treasurer: Vernon L. Larson
Commissioner of School and Public Lands: Jarrod Johnson
Public Utilities Commissioner: Dusty Johnson
Public Utilities Commissioner: Gary Hanson
Public Utilities Commissioner: Steve Kolbeck
Legislators: 2008 Senate has 20 Republicans and 15 Democrats with President Pro
Tempore Tim Rave. House has 50 Republicans and 20 Democrats with Speaker Thomas J. Deadrick. http://legis.state.sd.us/.
Organized as territory: March 2, 1861
Entered Union (rank): Nov. 2, 1889 (40)
Present constitution adopted: 1889
Origin of name: From the Sioux tribe, meaning "allies"
10 largest cities (1998 est.):
Sioux Falls, 136,695
Rapid City, 61,459
Aberdeen, 24,196
Watertown, 20,207
Brookings, 18,705
Mitchell, 14,887
Pierre, 13,983
Yankton, 13,491
Huron, 11,198
Vermillion, 9,975
Land area: 75,898 sq mi. (196,575 sq km)
Geographic center: In Hughes Co., 8 mi. NE of Pierre
Number of counties: 66
Largest county (2006 pop. est.): Minnehaha, 163,281
State forests: None - No designated state forests; about 13,000 acres of state land is forestland.
State parks: 12 plus 47 recreational areas
2006 resident population est.: 781,919
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. In 1831, the first Missouri River steamboat reached
the fort.
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.
South Dakota's economy in recent years has benefited from an expanding and diversifying
industrial base. 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.
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 to truly recapture the city's Old West flavor.
Famous natives and residents:
Laura Ingalls Wilder - Author of "Little House on the
Prairie" books
Sitting Bull - A Hunkpapa Sioux, led
the army that defeated Lt. Col. George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn
Crazy Horse - An Oglala Sioux chief,
fought at the Battle of Little Big Horn. Crazy Horse never surrendered, never signed a treaty,
and never went on the reservation
Korczak Ziolkowski - Sculptor who devoted 35
years of his life to the Crazy Horse mountain carving, a memorial to the North American Indian
Hubert H. Humphrey - Vice
President under Lyndon Johnson
Harvey Dunn - Famed prairie artist
L. Frank Baum - Author of
"The Wizard of Oz"
George McGovern - U.S.
Senator and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate
Tom Brokaw - NBC anchorman
Mary Hart - "Entertainment Tonight"
co-host
Pat O'Brien - CBS sports commentator
Bob Barker - Former game show host
Cheryl Ladd - Actress, formerly on "Charlie's Angels"
Catherine Bach - Actress, formerly Daisy Duke on "Dukes of Hazard"
Joe Foss - Former South Dakota Governor
and World War II flying ace, he was instrumental in creating the American Football League
Terry Redlin - World renowned artist from Watertown.
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