South Dakota (SD) is located in the American Midwest and is famous for the iconic rock formation Mount Rushmore, in which the faces of four presidents are carved. The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, while the largest city is Sioux Falls. Agriculture, mineral extraction and tourism are important to the state’s economy. Popular attractions in South Dakota include the Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name South Dakota Abbreviation SD Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls (Population: 206 410) Current time 9:35 Time zone The eastern part of the state follows CST (UTC-6), the western part follows MST (UTC-7). The state follows daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) and MDT (UTC-6) Population 886,668 (#46 most populous US state) Area 77,115 mi² (#17 largest US state) Admitted to the Union November 2, 1889 (#40 state to join) ⭐ Capital of South Dakota
The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, which was founded in 1880 on the opposite bank of the Missouri River from Fort Pierre. The name refers to the fur trader Pierre Chouteau Jr. who operated in the area. Pierre became the capital as soon as South Dakota entered the Union in 1889.
🏙️ Largest City in South Dakota
The largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls, with a population of 206,410 in 2023. The second largest city in the state is Rapid City with a population of 79,404 and the third largest is Aberdeen with a population of 28,110.
🕒 Time in South Dakota
The current time in South Dakota is [timezone=”America/Chicago” format=”G:i”]. The entire state is divided between two time zones, with the western half using Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) and the eastern half using Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6). All of South Dakota observes daylight saving time from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of South Dakota
According to 2023 data, South Dakota had a population of 886,668, making it the 46th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of South Dakota
The total area of South Dakota is 77,115 mi², of which 75,811 mi² is land and only 1,305 mi² is water. South Dakota is the 17th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About South Dakota
🧩 South Dakota Neighboring States
South Dakota is bordered by six American states. Wyoming to the west, Montana to the northwest, North Dakota to the north, Minnesota to the east, Iowa to the southeast, and Nebraska to the south.
📅 Date of South Dakota Statehood
South Dakota entered the Union on November 2, 1889 as the 40th state when the original Dakota Territory split in two.
📛 Nickname of the State of South Dakota
South Dakota’s widespread nickname “The Mount Rushmore State” refers to the state’s biggest tourist attraction, a granite rock into which the faces of four American presidents are carved.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in South Dakota
The highest mountain in South Dakota is Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills with a height of 7,244 ft.
🏞️ Rivers in South Dakota
The longest river in South Dakota is the Missouri River, with a total length of 2,343 mi. It is followed by the James River (708 mi), White River (578 mi), Little Missouri River (559 mi), and Big Sioux River (419 mi).
🎓 Universities in South Dakota
The largest public university is South Dakota State University, which was founded in 1881 in Brookings and is attended by around 12,000 students. The University of South Dakota is second with around 10 thousand students and the third largest is the much smaller Black Hills State University with around 3,500 students.
✉️ South Dakota ZIP Codes
The state of South Dakota has a dedicated range of 570xx-577xx, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA for more detailed information. You can find out the zip code for a specific address on the USPS website.
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Weather in South Dakota
The best time to visit South Dakota is summer, when most tourist attractions are open and the beautiful weather beckons.
Spring in South Dakota is initially cool with March temperatures around 23°F to 43°F, but gradually warms up to May temperatures of 59°F to 68°F. Rainfall is frequent, with the heaviest rainfall in May.
South Dakota summers are warm, with average temperatures on nice days ranging between 73°F and 82°F. At lower altitudes it can be even warmer, on some days it can be up to 95°F. There are occasional thunderstorms accompanied by rain, but summer is the best time to explore the countryside.
Autumn in South Dakota brings cooler temperatures of 50°F to 59°F. September and October in particular are great for hiking and visiting attractions
Winter in South Dakota is freezing, with temperatures dropping to 5°F. Particularly in December and January, heavy snow showers are to be expected, creating good conditions for skiing and other winter sports.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in South Dakota
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Things to Do in South Dakota
1️⃣ Mount Rushmore National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Monument is one of the most famous landmarks in the USA, attracting millions of visitors each year. The faces of four American presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, are carved into the granite rock.
There are several hiking trails around the monument, and the visitor center provides interesting information about the history of the site and the monument’s contractor.
2️⃣ Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is located in the southwestern part of the state and is known for its limestone rock formations, which have very unusual shapes. Visitors to the park can observe them from several viewpoints or take one of the hiking trails.
The Badlands is also known for its fossils, and the remains of prehistoric mammals have been discovered in several places. Among the living animals, bison, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife can be spotted in the park.
3️⃣ Custer State Park
Custer is one of the largest state parks in the USA and is known for its huge herds of bison, about 1,400 of which live freely here. There are several hiking trails in the park. The most popular of these is the fairly easy Sylvan Lake Trail, which leads to the lake and offers beautiful views of the rock formations. A visit to the park can be combined with a trip to the nearby Mount Rushmore Monument.
4️⃣ Bear Country USA
Bear Country USA is a safari near Rapid City that gives visitors the opportunity to ride in their own car among the wild animals. Of these, grizzly bears, baribal bears, bison and wolves are the most represented.
A separate part of the park is accessible on foot, and in these areas one can admire bear cubs or some of the smaller animals. Bear Country USA is an interesting attraction especially for families with children.
5️⃣ Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is home to one of the longest and largest cave complexes in the world. You can see inside the caves with a guide who will take you through the system of underground chambers and tunnels.
The park’s main attraction is the unique limestone boxwork formation, which is shaped a bit like a honeycomb. There are several hiking trails around the caves, from which you can watch bison, deer and other wildlife.
6️⃣ Corn Palace
The Corn Palace in Mitchell is one of the most bizarre attractions South Dakota has to offer. It is essentially a cultural center that hosts various exhibitions, concerts, and sporting events. Its bizarreness lies in the mosaic of corn and other grains that covers the building.
The decoration and pattern of the mosaic changes every year. The Corn Palace includes an exhibit focusing on the history of agriculture in South Dakota.
7️⃣ Jewel Cave National Monument
The corridors of Jewel Cave discovered so far stretch across 200 mi, making it the third longest cave in the world. Jewel Cave is famous for its sparkling limestone formations, which can remind some people of gems. Visitors to the caves can take guided tours, with several on offer, ranging from easy to very challenging.
8️⃣ Deadwood Western Town
The town of Deadwood is located near the Wyoming border and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its rich history associated with the Wild West. The town has preserved historic buildings, hotels or a museum that commemorates the town’s rugged period.
Visitors can learn about famous figures such as gunslinger Wild Bill Hickock and his girlfriend Calamity Jane, who lived in Deadwood during the Gold Rush.
9️⃣ Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is famous for its annual gathering that attracts thousands of motorcyclists from all over the world. The museum itself is dedicated to the history of motorcycles and its Hall of Fame pays tribute to the legends of the world. The exhibits include historic motorcycles and classic models as well as quite modern machines.
🔟 Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon is one of the most beautiful canyons in South Dakota, popular for its steep limestone walls and abundant vegetation. Hiking trails run across the canyon from which to admire the waterfalls, the most famous being Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls.
The best time to visit Spearfish Canyon is in the fall, when the deciduous trees turn shades of red and orange.
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Largest Cities in South Dakota
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of South Dakota in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Sioux Falls Minnehaha, Lincoln 206,410 Map of Sioux Falls 2 Rapid City Pennington 79,404 Map of Rapid City 3 Aberdeen Brown 28,110 Map of Aberdeen 4 Brookings Brookings 24,312 Map of Brookings 5 Watertown Codington 23,230 Map of Watertown 6 Yankton Yankton 15,630 Map of Yankton 7 Mitchell Davison 15,621 Map of Mitchell 8 Huron Beadle 14,618 Map of Huron 9 Pierre Hughes 13,880 Map of Pierre 10 Box Elder Pennington, Meade 13,868 Map of Box Elder -
Sports Teams in South Dakota
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are no teams from South Dakota playing in the NHL.
🏈 American football (NFL)
South Dakota is not represented in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no team in South Dakota that plays in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no team from South Dakota in the MLB baseball league.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from South Dakota plays in the MLS.
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South Dakota State Symbols
South Dakota law specifies a number of official state symbols, and this article lists just a few of them.
State Flag of South Dakota
The current version of the state flag was not adopted until 1992, when slight modifications were made to the design that had been used since 1963. The flag of South Dakota consists of a blue field with the state seal in the center surrounded by golden triangles representing the sun’s rays. Surrounding all of this is the state’s name and its nickname.
Great Seal of South Dakota
The state seal was designed in 1885 before South Dakota became a member of the Union in 1889. The seal’s motif represents life in South Dakota at the time, consisting of rolling hills, a river with a boat, a mine, and a farmer with cattle. All this is complemented by the name of the state and its motto.
State Flower
The official flower of South Dakota is the pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris). The purple-flowered plant, which grows up to 40 cm, became the official flower in 1903.
State Tree
Since 1947, the official state tree of South Dakota has been the white spruce (Picea glauca var. densata), which grows, for example, in the Black Hills. Interestingly, the tips of the spruce are used in the production of beer, gin and candy.
State Bird
In 1943, a law was passed making the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) the official state bird, although it is not a species native to the USA. More than one million pheasants are taken annually in South Dakota alone.
State Animal
South Dakota’s official state animal since 1949 has been the coyote (Canis latrans). Coyotes live in all 48 states of the continental United States, and the population in South Dakota is estimated at 70,000 to 75,000 individuals.
State Song
South Dakota enacted its national anthem in 1943 when the song “Hail, South Dakota!” was adopted by popular referendum. The music was composed and the words written by local native DeeCort Hammitt during World War II.
State Gem
Since 1966, the official state gemstone has been agate from deposits in Fairburn County in southwestern South Dakota. It is distinguished from other known agates by its color and the shape of its individual bands.
State Fish
In 1982, the walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus) became the official state fish of South Dakota after local fishermen publicized it. The North American candytuft is commonly found in the Missouri River and glacial lakes in eastern South Dakota.
State Beverage
The official state drink of South Dakota has been plain milk since 1986, the goal being to promote the local dairy industry.
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