South Dakota

History: For about 13,000 years, humans have lived in what today is South Dakota. A few different groups occupied the area, such as the Arikara in the Missouri River valley. The LaVerendrye group claimed the region for France as part of the Louisiana Territory in 1743. In 1803, the area came under U.S. control as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Lewis & Clark expedition passed through and explored during 1803-1805. By the early 19^th century, the Lakota and Dakota Sioux had become the dominant group in the area. But American settlement was steadily increasing, and a Gold Rush in 1874 led to much fighting with the Sioux. South Dakota (and North Dakota) was admitted to the Union together on November 2, 1889, as either the 39^th or 40^th state.

Economy: The primary source of revenue for South Carolina is agriculture. They are the second-largest producer of sunflower seed and oil in the U.S. Also, South Carolina is a leading producer of several small grains, like, oats, barley, rye, and flaxseed. The state manufactures durable goods such as appliances, automobiles, etc. Tourism contributes over a billion dollars’ worth to the economy yearly.

Geography: South Dakota is made up of three main regions; eastern South Dakota, western South Dakota, and the Black Hills. The eastern section of the state gets more precipitation (rainfall, water) than the western part of the state. The Missouri River runs north to south through the middle of the state; dividing the eastern and western sections. The western majority of the state is made up of the Great Plains, with canyons and flat-topped hills called buttes. The Badlands, one of the richest fossil beds on Earth are also located here.

Climate: There are four distinct seasons in South Dakota. It has a continental climate, going from cold, dry winters to hot and semi-humid summers. The average high temperature in the Summer is close to 90 degrees, then down to around 60 degrees at night. It has often had severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The eastern part of the state is often considered to be part of Tornado Alley. South Dakota experiences an average of 30 tornadoes, yearly.

Fun Facts:

Mount Rushmore, with four Presidents carved from rock, is visited by nearly three million people a year.
The Black Hills are the highest mountains east of the Rockies.
South Dakota has been called the land of infinite variety due to its diverse weather, scenery, economy, and state symbols.
South Dakota has more miles of shoreline (lakes, rivers, etc.) than the state of Florida.
The “Black Hills” are actually composed of shades of greens, reds, grays, browns, and golds, everything but black.
Two of the longest cave systems in the world are in South Dakota, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave.

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