|
Capital: Pierre
State
abbreviation/Postal code: S.D./SD
Governor: Mike Rounds, R
(to Jan. 2011)
Lieut. Governor: Dennis
Daugaard, R (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: John R. Thune,
R (to Jan. 2011); Tim Johnson, D (to Jan. 2009)
U.S. Representatives: 1
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Atty. General: Larry
Long, R (to Jan. 2011)
Secy. of State: Chris
Nelson, R (to Jan. 2011)
Treasurer: Vernon L.
Larson, R (to Jan. 2011)
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:
|
flower |
American
pasqueflower (1903) |
|
grass |
Western wheat
grass (1970) |
|
soil |
houdek (1990) |
|
tree |
black hills
spruce (1947) |
|
bird |
ring-necked
pheasant (1943) |
|
insect |
honeybee
(1978) |
|
animal |
coyote (1949) |
|
mineral
stone |
rose quartz
(1966) |
|
gemstone |
fairburn agate
(1966) |
|
colors |
blue and gold
(in state flag) |
|
song |
�Hail! South
Dakota� (1943) |
|
fish |
walleye (1982) |
|
musical
instrument |
fiddle (1989) |
|
dessert |
kuchen (2000) |
Nicknames: Mount
Rushmore State; Coyote State
Origin of name: From the
Sioux tribe, meaning �allies�
10 largest cities (2005
est.): Sioux Falls, 139,517; Rapid City, 62,167;
Aberdeen, 24,098; Watertown, 20,265; Brookings,
18,715; Mitchell, 14,696; Pierre, 14,052; Yankton,
13,716; Huron, 11,086; Vermillion, 9,964
Land area: 75,885 sq mi.
(196,542 sq km)
Geographic center: In
Hughes Co., 8 mi. NE of Pierre
Number of counties: 66
(64 county governments)
Largest county by population
and area: Minnehaha, 160,087 (2005); Meade,
3,471 sq mi.
State parks: 12
Residents: South Dakotan
2005 resident population est.: 775,933
2000 resident census
population (rank): 754,844 (46). Male:
374,558 (49.6%); Female: 380,286 (50.4%).
White: 669,404 (88.7%); Black: 4,685
(0.6%); American Indian: 62,283 (8.3%);
Asian: 4,378 (0.6%); Other race: 3,677
(0.5%); Two or more races: 10,156 (1.3%);
Hispanic/Latino: 10,903 (1.4%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 73.2; 65 and over:
14.3; median age: 35.6.
State
Index |
Information
|
Fast Facts
|
Geography
|
Government
|
Economy |
History
|
