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4. Questions - Got a question about South Dakota then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

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6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your South Dakota wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your South Dakota then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the South Dakota site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about South Dakota, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your South Dakota, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{US state |Name = South Dakota | Fullname = State of South Dakota | Flag = Flag of South Dakota.svg | Flaglink = [Flag of South Dakota | Seal = SouthDakotastateseal.jpg | Map = Map of USA SD.svg | Nickname = The Mount Rushmore State (official),
The Sunshine State | Motto = Under God the people rule | Capital = [Pierre, South Dakota | OfficialLang = [English language | LargestCity = [Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Governor = [M. Michael Rounds (R)| Senators = [Tim Johnson (South Dakota) (D)
[John Thune (R) = [Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) | PostalAbbreviation = SD | AreaRank = 17th | TotalAreaUS = 77,116{{cite web| url =http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108355.html| title =Land and Water Area of States (2000)| publisher =www.infoplease.com| accessdate = 2007-09-03 | accessyear = 2007--> | TotalArea = 199,905 | LandAreaUS = 75,689 | LandArea = 196,735 | WaterAreaUS = 1,225 | WaterArea = 3,173 | PCWater = 1.6 | PopRank = 46th | 2000Pop = 754,844 | DensityRank = 46th | 2000DensityUS = 9.9 | 2000Density = 3.84 | AdmittanceOrder = 40th | AdmittanceDate = November 2, [ | TimeZone = [Central Standard Time Zone: [UTC-6/[Daylight saving time | TZ1Where = eastern half | TimeZone2 = [Mountain Standard Time Zone: [UTC-7/[Daylight saving time | TZ2Where = western half | Latitude = 42° 29′ N to 45° 56′ N | Longitude = 96° 26′ W to 104° 03′ W | WidthUS = 210 | Width = 340 | LengthUS = 380 | Length = 610 | HighestPoint = Harney Peak{{cite web [ | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = November 7 | accessyear = 2006--> | HighestElevUS = 7,242 | HighestElev = 2,209 | MeanElevUS = 2,200 | MeanElev = 670 | LowestPoint = [Big Stone Lake | LowestElevUS = 966 | LowestElev = 295 | ISOCode = US-SD | Website = www.state.sd.us -->South Dakota (IPA: /IPA chart for English/) is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States of the United States of America. It is named after the Lakota people and Sioux (Sioux) Native Americans in the United States tribes. South Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889. (North Dakota was admitted simultaneously.)

Located in the north-central United States, South Dakota is bisected by the Missouri River, dividing the state into two socially and economically distinct halves, known to residents as "East River" and "West River."Hasselstrom, Linda: Roadside History of South Dakota, pages 2-4. Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1994 In the southwestern portion of the state rise the Black Hills, a group of low, pine-covered mountains. A region of great religious importance to local American Indians as well as a major draw for the state tourism industry, the Black Hills are also the location of Mt. Rushmore, probably the best-known location in the state and a widely-used unofficial symbol of South Dakota.

Historically dominated by an agricultural economy and a rural lifestyle, South Dakota has recently sought to diversify its economy in an effort to attract and retain residents. The state is still largely rural, though, with one of the lowest population densities in the United States. The centrally-located city of Pierre, South Dakota serves as the state capital, and Sioux Falls, with 150,000 people, is the largest city in the state.

Geography South Dakota is situated in the north-central United States, and is usually considered to be a part of the Midwest, although the Great Plains region also covers the state. Additionally, South Dakota is at times considered to be a part of the western United States. The Missouri River runs through the central part of South Dakota. To the east of the river lie low hills and lakes formed by glaciers. Fertile farm country covers the area. To the west of the river the land consists of deep canyons and rolling plains. South Dakota has a total land area of 77,116 sq. miles (199,905 km²), making the state the List of U.S. states by area in the Union. South Dakota is bordered to the north by North Dakota; to the south by Nebraska; to the east by Iowa and Minnesota; and to the west by Wyoming and Montana.

Regions South Dakota has four major land regions: the Drift Prairie, the Dissected Till Plains, the Great Plains, and the Black Hills.

The Drift Prairie covers most of eastern South Dakota. This is the land of low hills and glacial lakes. This area was called Coteau des Prairies (Prairie Hills) by early French traders. In the north, the Coteau des Prairies is bordered on the east by the Minnesota River Valley and on the west by the James River Basin. The James River Basin is mostly flat land, following the flow of the James River (Dakotas) through South Dakota from north to south.

The Dissected Till Plains lie in the southeastern corner of South Dakota. This area of rolling hills is criss-crossed by many streams.The Great Plains cover most of the western two-thirds of South Dakota. The Coteau de Missouri hills and valleys lie between the James River Basin of the Drift Prairie and the Missouri River. West of the Missouri River the landscape becomes more rugged and consists of rolling hills, plains, canyons, and steep flat-topped hills called buttes. These buttes sometimes rise 400 to 600 foot (unit of length) (120 to 180 metre) above the plains. In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota Badlands National Park.

The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming. This range of low mountains covers 6,000 square miles (15,500 square kilometre) with mountains that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases. The highest point in South Dakota, Harney Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), is in the Black Hills.This is the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and the French Alps. The Black Hills are rich in minerals such as gold, silver, copper, and lead. The Homestake Mine (South Dakota), one of the largest gold mines in the United States, is located in the Black Hills.

The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state. Other major South Dakota rivers include the Cheyenne River, the James, the Big Sioux River, and the White River (South Dakota). South Dakota has many natural lakes, mostly occurring in the eastern part of the state. Additionally, dam on the Missouri River create four large reservoir: Oahe Dam, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake.

Ecology in Wind Cave National ParkMuch of South Dakota, with the notable exception of the Black Hills, is dominated by a temperate grasslands biome. Although grasses and crops cover most of this region, deciduous trees such as cottonwood, elm, and willow are common near rivers and in shelter belt.Mammals in this area include American bison, deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie dog. The state bird, the common pheasant, has adapted particularily well to the area after being introduced from China, and growing populations of bald eagle are spread throughout the state, especially near the Missouri River.Hetland, Cara. South Dakota bald eagles make a comeback Minnesota Public Radio. 8 February 2007. (accessed 22 September, 2007) Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support populations of walleye, carp, Pike (fish), and bass (fish), along with other species. The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic American paddlefish.

Due to higher elevation and precipitation, the ecology of the Black Hills differs significantly from that of the plains. The mountains are thickly blanketed by various types of pine, mostly of the ponderosa pine and spruce varieties. Black Hills mammals include mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and mountain lion, while the streams and lakes contain several species of trout.

Climate South Dakota has a continental climate with four very distinct seasons ranging from typically very cold winters and hot summers. During the summers, the average high temperature throughout the state is close to 90 °F for the high temperature, although it often cools down to close to 60 °F at night. It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 °F for the high temperature for days or weeks at a time. Winters are cold with high temperatures in January averaging below freezing and low temperatures averaging below 10 °F in most of the state.

The precipitation of the state ranges from semi-arid, in the northwestern part of the state (around 15 inches of annual precipitation) to semi-humid around the southeast portion of the state (around 25 inches of annual precipitation), although a small area centered around Lawrence County, South Dakota has the highest precipitation at nearly 30 inches per annum.

over Rapid City, South Dakota on August 8, 2002.South Dakota summers bring frequent thunderstorms which can be severe with high winds, thunder, and hail. The eastern part of the state is often considered part of tornado alley with the rate of tornadoes per square 10,000 miles approaching that of parts of Oklahoma or Kansas, although the western part of the state is also vulnerable to tornadoes as well. Winters are somewhat more stable. Severe winter storms, occasionally blizzards, can happen in the winter, although the bulk of the snow which falls in South Dakota tends to be in the late autumn and early spring.
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;"|Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various South Dakota Cities|-! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" | City! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jan! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Feb! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Mar! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Apr! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | May! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jun! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jul! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Aug! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Sep! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Oct! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Nov! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Dec|-! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Aberdeen| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 21/1| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 28/9| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 40/21| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 57/33| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 70/46| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 79/55| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 85/60| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/57| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 73/46| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 59/34| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 39/20| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 26/6|-! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Huron| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 25/4| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 31/11| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 43/22| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 58/34| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 70/46| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 80/55| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 86/61| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 84/59| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 75/47| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 61/35| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 41/21| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 29/8|-! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rapid City| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 34/11| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 39/16| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 47/23| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 57/32| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67/43| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 77/52| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/58| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/57| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 75/46| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 62/35| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 45/22| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 36/13|-! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Sioux Falls| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 25/3| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 32/10| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 44/21| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 59/32| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 71/45| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 81/54| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 86/60| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 83/58| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 74/48| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 61/35| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 42/21| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 29/8|-| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;"||}

National Parks and Monuments in the Black HillsSouth Dakota contains several sites that are protected by the National Park Service.Two national parks have been established in South Dakota, both of which are located in the southwestern part of the state. Badlands National Park was created in 1978. The park features a highly eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands. Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of American Bison. Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The well-known attraction features a mountain carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to resemble four former U.S. presidents. Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer, South Dakota, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which features a decommissioned nuclear missile silo, and the Missouri National Recreational River.

==History==Human beings have lived in what is today South Dakota for at least several thousand years. France and other European ethnic groups explorers in the 1700s encountered a variety of groups including the Omaha (tribe) and Arikara (Ree), but by the early 1800s the Sioux (Sioux, Lakota people, and Nakota) were dominant. In 1743, the Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye brothers buried a plate near the site of modern day Pierre, claiming the region for France as part of Louisiana (New France). In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon.

President Thomas Jefferson organized a group called the Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (explorer) (commonly referred to as "Lewis and Clark Expedition"), to explore the newly-acquired region. In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at present-day Fort Pierre, beginning continuous American settlement of the area. In 1855, the U.S. Army bought Fort Pierre but abandoned it the following year in favor of Fort Randall to the south. Settlement by Americans and Europeans was, by this time, increasing rapidly, and in 1858, the Yankton Sioux signed the List of United States treaties, ceding most of present-day eastern South Dakota to the United States., like many other Black Hills towns, was founded after the discovery of gold

Land speculators founded two of eastern South Dakota's largest present-day cities: Sioux Falls in 1856 and Yankton, South Dakota in 1859. In 1861, Dakota Territory was established by the United States government (this initially included North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming). Settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and Russia, as well as elsewhere in Europe and from the eastern U.S. states increased from a trickle to a flood, especially after the completion of an eastern railway link to the territorial capital of Yankton in 1872, and the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 during a military expedition led by George A. Custer. This expedition took place despite the fact that the western half of present day South Dakota had been granted to the Sioux by the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. The Sioux declined to grant mining rights or land in the Black Hills, and war broke out after the U.S. failed to stop white miners and settlers from entering the region. The Sioux were eventually defeated and settled on reservations within South Dakota and North Dakota.

An increasing population in Dakota Territory caused the territory to be divided in half and a bill (proposed law) for U.S. state for North Dakota and South Dakota (as well as Montana and Washington) titled the Enabling Act of 1889 was passed on February 22, 1889 during the Administration of Grover Cleveland. It was left to his successor, Benjamin Harrison, to sign proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on November 2, 1889. Harrison directed his United States Secretary of State James G. Blaine to shuffle the papers and obscure from him which he was signing first and the actual order went unrecorded. U.S. Mint Coin of the Month Library of Congress, Dakota Territory and Statehood

On December 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Commonly cited as the last major armed conflict between the United States and the Sioux Nation, the massacre resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300 Sioux, many of them women and children. 25 U.S. soldiers were also killed in the conflict.

, 1936During the 1930s, several economic and climatic conditions combined with disastrous results for South Dakota. A lack of rainfall, extremely high temperatures and over-cultivation of farmland produced what was known as the Dust Bowl in South Dakota and several other plains states. Fertile topsoil was blown away in massive dust storms, and several harvests were completely ruined. The experiences of the Dust Bowl, coupled with local bank foreclosures and the general economic effects of the Great Depression resulted in many South Dakotans leaving the state. The population of South Dakota declined by more than seven percent between 1930 and 1940.

Economic stability returned with the U.S. entry into World War II in 1941, when demand for the state's agricultural and industrial products grew as the nation mobilized for war. In 1944, the Pick-Sloan Plan was passed as part of the Flood Control Act of 1944 by the U.S. Congress, resulting in the construction of six large dams on the Missouri River, four of which are at least partially located in South Dakota. Flood control, hydroelectricity and recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing are provided by the dams and their reservoirs.

In recent decades, South Dakota has transformed from a state dominated by agriculture to one with a more diversified economy. The tourism industry has grown considerably since the completion of the interstate system in the 1960s, with the Black Hills being especially impacted. The financial service industry began to grow in the state as well, with Citibank moving its credit card operations from New York to Sioux Falls in 1981, a move that has since been followed by several other financial companies.Hetland, Cara. Sioux Falls 25 years after Citibank's arrival. Minnesota Public Radio. 24 February 2006. (accessed 23 March, 2007) In 2007, the site of the recently-closed Homestake Mine (South Dakota) near Lead, South Dakota was chosen as the location of a new underground research facility. Despite a growing state population and recent economic development, many rural areas have been struggling over the past 50 years with locally declining populations and the emigration of educated young adults to larger South Dakota cities, such as Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or to other states.

Demographics {{USCensusPop|1860 = 4837|1870 = 11776|1880 = 98268|1890 = 348600|1900 = 401570|1910 = 583888|1920 = 636547|1930 = 692849|1940 = 642961|1950 = 652740|1960 = 680514|1970 = 665507|1980 = 690768|1990 = 696004|2000 = 754844-->

Population According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2005, South Dakota has an estimated population of 775,933, which is an increase of 5,312, or 0.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 21,093, or 2.8%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 19,199 people (that is 56,247 births minus 37,048 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 3,222 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 3,957 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 735 people. 6.8% of South Dakota's population were reported as under 5, 26.8% under 18, and 14.3% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.4% of the population.The center of population of South Dakota is located in Buffalo County, South Dakota, in the unincorporated county seat of Gannvalley, South Dakota.

Race and Ethnicity In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated that 88.5% of South Dakotans were white people, 8.8% were Native Americans in the United States or Alaskan Native, 2.1 were Hispanic (of any race), 0.8% were black people, 0.7% were asian people, while 2.1% belonged to biracial. The five largest ancestry groups in South Dakota are: German-American (40.7%), Norwegian-American (15.3%), Irish American (10.4%), Native American (U.S. Census) (8.3%), and British-American (7.1%). German-Americans are the largest ancestry group in most parts of the state, especially in the east, although there are also large Scandinavian populations in some counties. American Indians, largely Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota (Sioux) are predominant in several counties. South Dakota has the fourth highest proportion of Native Americans of any state, behind Alaska, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. (shown in pink). As of the 2000 census, 1.90% of the population aged 5 or older speak German language at home, while 1.51% speak Dakota language, and 1.43% Spanish language.

Growth and Rural Flight South Dakota, in common with five other Midwest states (Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Iowa), is experiencing a trend of falling populations in rural counties, despite an overall increase in population for all of these states except North Dakota. 89% of the total number of cities in these six states have fewer than 3,000 people; hundreds have fewer than 1000. Between 1996 and 2004, almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers.

The effect of rural flight has not been spread evenly through South Dakota, however. Although most rural counties and small towns have lost population, the Sioux Falls area and the Black Hills have gained population. In fact, Lincoln County, South Dakota, near Sioux Falls, is the ninth-fastest growing county (by percentage) in the United States. The growth in these areas has compensated for losses in the rest of the state, and South Dakota's total population continues to increase steadily, albeit at a slower rate than the national average.

Religion According to a 2001 survey, 86% of South Dakotans described themselves as being members of a Christian denomination, while 8% said that they were not religious and 3% claimed faith in a non-Christian religion. The largest Christian denomination was Lutheran (27%), followed closely by Roman Catholic Church at 25%. Other Christian denominations mentioned included Methodist (13%), Baptist (4%), Presbyterian (4%), Pentecostal (2%), Congregational (2%), Episcopal Church in the United States (1%), and Seventh-day Adventist Church (1%). 7% responded either as a non-denominational or a Protestant, while 2% refused to answer.

Economy plant in Turner County, South DakotaThe current-dollar gross state product of South Dakota was $32.3 billion as of 2006. The per capita personal income was $26,894 in 2004, the 37th highest in the nation and 13.08 percent below the national average. 13.2% of the population is below the poverty line. As of July, 2007, South Dakota's unemployment rate was 3.0%, the fifth-lowest jobless rate in the nation.

The service industry is the largest economic contributor in South Dakota. This sector includes the retail, finance, and health care industries. Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state product. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-largest single employer in the state.Reha, Bob. South Dakota's Ellsworth AFB to stay open. Minnesota Public Radio. 26 August 2005. (accessed 8 September, 2007)

Agriculture has historically been a key component of the South Dakota economy. Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. Major products of South Dakota agriculture include beef, wheat, maize, pork, wool, soybeans, oats, Lamb (food), alfalfa, sunflowers, and poultry. Agriculture-related industries such as meat packing and ethanol production also have a considerable economic impact on the state. South Dakota is one of the top five ethanol-producing states in the nation.

Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism. Many travel to view the attractions of the state, particularly those of the Black Hills region such as historic Deadwood, South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, and the nearby state and national parks. One of the largest tourist events in the state is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The three-day event drew over 450,000 attendants in 2006, significant considering the state has a population of only 750,000. In 2006, tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed over two billion US$ to the economy of South Dakota. State Taxes As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax rate in the United States. The state does not levy inheritance taxes, personal or corporate income taxes or taxes on personal property. The state sales tax rate is 4 percent. Various localities have local levies so that in some areas the rate is 6 percent. The state sales tax does not apply to sales to Indigenous peoples of the Americas on Indian Reservations, but many reservations have a compact with the state. Businesses on the reservation collect the tax and the state refunds to the Indian Tribes the percentage of sales tax collections relating to the ratio of Indian population to total population in the county or area affected.

Ad valorem tax property taxes are local taxes and are a large source of funding for school systems, counties, municipalities and other local government units. Their administration is a local responsibility. The state revenue department does not collect or use property taxes, but it does centrally assess the property of large companies. The legislature sets some standards by general acts.

Transportation "tipi" is a frequent sight on a trip across the stateSouth Dakota has a total of 83,609 miles of highways, roads, and streets, along with 679 miles of interstate highways. Two major interstates pass through South Dakota: Interstate 90, which runs east and west; and Interstate 29, running north and south in the eastern portion of the state. The counties and towns along Interstate 29 make up what is locally referred to as "the I-29 corridor." This area features generally higher rates of population and economic growth than areas in eastern South Dakota that are further from the interstate. Interstate 90, being a major route between western national parks and large cities to the east, brings many out-of-state travelers through South Dakota, thus helping to boost the tourism and hospitality industries. Also located in the state are the shorter interstates Interstate 190 (South Dakota), a spur route into central Rapid City, and Interstate 229 (South Dakota), a loop route around eastern and southern Sioux Falls. Several major U.S. highways pass through the state. U.S. routes U.S. Route 12, U.S. Route 14, U.S. Route 16, U.S. Route 18, and U.S. Route 212 travel east and west, while U.S. routes U.S. Route 81, U.S. Route 83, U.S. Route 85 and U.S. Route 281 run north and south.

Railroads are another important means of transporting freight in South Dakota. While 4,420 miles of track have been built in the state, all prior to 1948, only 1,839 miles of railroad are currently operational. BNSF Railway is the largest railroad operating in South Dakota, with the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad being another important carrier. Rail transportation in the state is confined only to freight, however, as South Dakota is one of the few states without any Amtrak service.

South Dakota license plates are numbered by county, with the first digit referring to the county of origin. Such a numbering system allows one to easily determine where the vehicle was registered. Counties 1–9 are ranked by 1950 population , and counties 10–64 are numbered alphabetically.



Law and government in Pierre, South Dakota

The state of South Dakota has three branches of government: executive (government), legislature, and judiciary.

The current governor is M. Michael Rounds.

Currently, there are 35 members of the state Senate and 70 members of the House of Representatives. The state is composed of 35 legislative districts. Voters elect one senator and two representatives from each district. The legislature meets once a year on the second Tuesday in January, and also if the governor calls a special session.

The state Supreme Court is the highest court in South Dakota and the court of last resort for state appellate actions. The chief justice and four justices comprise the South Dakota Supreme Court. South Dakota is divided into seven judicial circuits. There are 39 circuit judges serving in the seven circuits. Circuit courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction. There are 12 full-time and 3 part-time Limited jurisdictions in the seven circuits. Limited jurisdictions assist the circuit courts in disposing of misdemeanor criminal cases and minor civil actions. These courts of limited jurisdiction make the judicial system more accessible to the public by providing a means of direct court contact for the average citizen.

South Dakota is represented at the federal level by United States Senate Tim Johnson (South Dakota), Senator John Thune, and United States House of Representatives Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

Politics {| align="right" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"|+ Presidential elections results|- bgcolor=lightgrey! Year! Republican Party (United States)! Democratic Party (United States)|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2004|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|59.91% 232,584|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.44% 149,244|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 2000|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|60.3% 190,700|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.56% 118,804|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1996|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|46.49% 150,543|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.03% 139,333|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1992|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|40.66% 136,718|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.14% 124,888|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1988|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|52.85% 165,415|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.51% 145,560|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1984|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|63.0% 200,267|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|36.53% 116,113|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1980|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|60.53% 198,343|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|31.69% 103,855|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1976|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|50.39% 151,505|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|48.91% 147,068|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1972|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|54.15% 166,467|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|45.52% 139,945|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1968|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|53.27% 149,841|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.96% 118,023|-|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|U.S. presidential election, 1964|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|44.39% 130,108|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'55.61% 163,010|-|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|U.S. presidential election, 1960|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|58.21%' 178,417|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|41.79% 128,070|-

|}

South Dakota politics are generally dominated by the Republican Party (United States), and the state has not supported a Democratic Party (United States) presidential candidate since 1964 — especially notable when one considers that George McGovern, the Democratic nominee in 1972, was from South Dakota. In 2004, George W. Bush won the state's three electoral vote with 59.9% of the vote. Additionally, a Democrat has not won the governorship since 1978. As of 2006, Republicans hold a 10% voter registration advantage over Democrats and hold majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate. All but one of the current statewide elected officers are Republicans.

Despite the state's general Republican and conservative leanings, Democrats have found success in various state-wide elections, most notably in those involving South Dakota's congressional representatives in Washington D.C.. Two of the three current members of the state's congressional delegation are Democrats, and until his electoral defeat in 2004 Senator Tom Daschle served as both senator for South Dakota as well as the senate minority (briefly majority) leader.

Contemporary political issues in South Dakota include the legality of the South Dakota Lottery, South Dakota's relatively low rankings in education spending (particularly teacher pay), and recent Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act to ban abortion in the state.

Notable Cities and Towns {| class="wikitable" align=right|+Ten Largest Cities By 2006 Population|-| Sioux Falls || 142,396|-| Rapid City || 62,715|-| Aberdeen || 24,071|-| Watertown || 20,526|-| Brookings || 18,802|-| Mitchell || 14,857|-| Pierre || 14,095|-| Yankton || 13,767|-| Huron || 10,909|-|Vermillion || 9,862|}



Education

Miscellaneous topics South Dakota is home to the largest naturally heated indoor swimming pool in the world. Evans Plunge, heated from natural mineral springs, is in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

The Black Hills of South Dakota was one of the sites considered for the permanent home of the United Nations.

South Dakota has the largest U.S. population of Hutterites, who originally emigrated from Ukraine in 1874, left en masse for Canada in 1918 following persecution over their pacifist religious beliefs, and partially returned in the 1930s.

The largest and most complete fossil of Tyrannosaurus rex ever found was uncovered near Faith, South Dakota in 1990. Named "Tyrannosaurus," the remains are over 90% complete and are currently on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

The 1990 movie Dances with Wolves directed by and starring Kevin Costner as Lieutenant John Dunbar was filmed entirely in South Dakota.

Three United States Navy ships have been named USS South Dakota in honor of the state.

Five of South Dakota's counties lie entirely within Indian reservations. They are: Corson County, South Dakota, Dewey County, South Dakota, Shannon County, South Dakota, Todd County, South Dakota, and Ziebach County, South Dakota.

Pierre, South Dakota is the second-smallest (in terms of population) state capital; only Montpelier, Vermont, has fewer people.

The 68-mile-long Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway offers views of the Black Hills along Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road.

State symbols Signs and Symbols of South Dakota List of U.S. state birds: Ring-neck common pheasant List of U.S. state flowers: American Pasque flower List of U.S. state trees: Black Hills Spruce List of U.S. state nicknames: Mount Rushmore State (official), Coyote state & Sunlight state (both unofficial) List of U.S. state mottos: "Under God, the people rule" List of U.S. state slogans: "Great Faces. Great Places." List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones: Rose quartz List of U.S. state insects: Western honey bee - Apis mellifera L. List of U.S. state animals: Coyote List of U.S. state fish: Walleye List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones: Fairburn, South Dakota agate State jewelry: Black Hills Gold State dessert: Kuchen List of U.S. state beverages: Milk State bread: Fry bread List of U.S. state grasses: Wheat grass List of U.S. state sports: Rodeo List of U.S. state songs: "Hail, South Dakota!" List of U.S. state fossils: Triceratops List of U.S. state soils: Houdek (soil)

Famous South Dakotans
 

South Dakota



 
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