100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
South Dakota (SD) lies in the American Midwest, and the state is famous for the iconic rock of Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four presidents are carved. The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, and the largest city is Sioux Falls. Agriculture, mineral extraction, and tourism are important to the state’s economy. Popular attractions in South Dakota also include Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park.
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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 1:04 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 sqmi (#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, founded in 1880 on the opposite bank of the Missouri River across from Fort Pierre. The name honors fur trader Pierre Chouteau Jr., who worked in the area. Pierre became the capital as soon as South Dakota joined the Union in 1889.
🏙️ Largest City in South Dakota
The largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls, where 206,410 people lived in 2023. The second largest city is Rapid City with a population of 79,404, and third is Aberdeen with 28,110 residents.
🕒 Time in South Dakota
The current time in South Dakota is 1:04. The state is split between two time zones, with Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) in the western half and Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) in the eastern half. All of South Dakota observes daylight saving time from March through November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of South Dakota
According to 2023 data, South Dakota had 886,668 residents, making it the 46th most populous U.S. state.
📍 Area of South Dakota
The total area of South Dakota is 77,115 sqmi, of which 75,811 sqmi is land and only 1,305 sqmi is water. South Dakota is the 17th largest U.S. state.
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Fun Facts About the State of South Dakota
🧩 Which States Border South Dakota
South Dakota borders six U.S. states. To the west is Wyoming, to the northwest Montana, to the north North Dakota, to the east Minnesota, to the southeast Iowa, and to the south Nebraska.
📅 Date of South Dakota Statehood
South Dakota entered the Union on November 2, 1889 as the 40th state, after the original Dakota Territory was split in two.
📛 South Dakota State Nickname
The common nickname “The Mount Rushmore State” refers to the state’s biggest tourist attraction, the granite mountain with the carved faces of four American presidents.
⛰️ Highest Point in South Dakota
The highest point in South Dakota is Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills, with an elevation of 7,244 ft.
🏞️ Rivers in South Dakota
The longest river in South Dakota is the Missouri River, with a total length across all states 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, founded in 1881 in Brookings and attended by about 12,000 students. Second is University of South Dakota with roughly 10,000 students, and the third largest is the smaller Black Hills State University, with around 3,500 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in South Dakota
South Dakota uses the 570xx–577xx range. You can find more details in the article ZIP Codes in the USA. To look up the ZIP code for a specific address, use the tool 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 weather invites outdoor exploring.
Spring in South Dakota starts out cool, with March temperatures around 23 °F to 43 °F, then it warms up to 59 °F to 68 °F in May. Rain is common, with the most precipitation in May.
Summer in South Dakota is warm, with pleasant-day averages between 73 °F and 82 °F. Lower elevations can be even hotter, and on some days temperatures reach 95 °F. Thunderstorms with rain occur occasionally, yet summer remains the best season for discovering nature.
Fall in South Dakota brings cooler weather, around 50 °F to 59 °F. It rains less than in spring, so September and October work well for hiking and visiting attractions.
Winter in South Dakota is cold, with temperatures dropping to 5 °F. Heavy snow is common in December and January, creating good conditions for skiing and other winter sports.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in South Dakota
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What to See in South Dakota
1️⃣ Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial ranks among the most famous landmarks in the USA and draws millions of visitors each year. The granite mountain bears the carved faces of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Several hiking trails are marked around the memorial, and the visitor center shares insights into the site’s history and the memorial’s creator.
2️⃣ Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park lies in the southwest of the state and is known for its limestone formations with striking, unusual shapes. Visitors can view them from several overlooks or set out on one of the hiking trails.
Badlands is also notable for fossils, and several sites have revealed remains of prehistoric mammals. Wildlife commonly seen in the park includes bison, bighorn sheep, and other species.
3️⃣ Custer State Park
Custer is among the largest state parks in the USA and is best known for its massive bison herds, about 1,400 animals roaming freely. The park features several hiking trails. The most popular is the relatively easy Sylvan Lake Trail, which leads to the lake and offers great views of the rock formations. You can easily combine a visit with nearby Mount Rushmore.
4️⃣ Bear Country USA
Bear Country USA is a safari near Rapid City where visitors drive their own cars among free-roaming animals. The most numerous are grizzly bears, American black bears, bison, and wolves.
A separate walk-through section is accessible on foot, where you can see bear cubs and some smaller animals. Bear Country USA is especially fun for families with children.
5️⃣ Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is home to one of the world’s longest and largest cave systems. You can explore the underground chambers and passages on guided tours.
The park’s standout feature is the unique limestone formation known as boxwork, which resembles a honeycomb. Several hiking trails around the caves offer chances to spot bison, deer, and other wildlife.
6️⃣ Corn Palace
The Corn Palace in Mitchell is one of South Dakota’s quirkiest attractions. It is essentially a cultural center hosting exhibitions, concerts, and sporting events. Its novelty lies in the mosaics made from corn and other grains that cover the building.
The designs change every year. The Corn Palace also features exhibits on the history of agriculture in South Dakota.
7️⃣ Jewel Cave National Monument
The passages discovered so far in Jewel Cave extend over 200 mi, making it the third longest cave in the world. Jewel Cave is known for its glittering limestone formations that can look like gemstones. Visitors can join guided tours, with options ranging from easy to very demanding.
8️⃣ Old West Town of Deadwood
Deadwood lies near the Wyoming border and, thanks to its rich Old West history, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town preserves historic buildings, hotels, and a museum that recalls its rough-and-tumble past.
Visitors learn about famous figures such as gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok and his companion Calamity Jane, who lived in Deadwood during the gold rush.
9️⃣ Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
The museum and hall of fame in Sturgis became famous for its annual rally that attracts thousands of bikers from around the world. The museum is dedicated to motorcycle history, and its hall of fame honors legends of the sport. Exhibits include historic motorcycles, classic models, and modern machines.
🔟 Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon is one of the most beautiful canyons in South Dakota, loved for its steep limestone walls and lush vegetation. Hiking trails run throughout the canyon with views of waterfalls, the best known are Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls.
The best time to visit is fall, when the deciduous trees turn vivid shades of red and orange.
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Largest Cities in South Dakota
The table lists the ten largest cities in South Dakota in 2023. The source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary role is the decennial census.
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
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
No team from South Dakota plays in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
South Dakota has no team in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no South Dakota team in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
No team from South Dakota plays in MLB.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from South Dakota plays in MLS.
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South Dakota State Symbols
South Dakota law defines many official state symbols. This article lists only some of them.
State Flag of South Dakota
The current version of the state flag was adopted in 1992, following minor changes to the design used since 1963. The flag features a blue field with the state seal in the center, surrounded by gold triangles representing the sun’s rays. Around that are the state name and its nickname.
State Seal of South Dakota
The state seal was designed in 1885, four years before South Dakota joined the Union in 1889. The imagery reflects life in South Dakota at the time, with hills, a river with a boat, a mine, and a farmer with livestock, along with the state name and motto.
State Flower
The official state flower is the pasqueflower (Pulsatilla hirsutissima). This purple-blooming plant, which grows up to 40 cm tall, was designated in 1903.
State Tree
Since 1947 the official state tree has been the white spruce (Picea glauca var. densata), which grows in places such as the Black Hills. Interestingly, spruce tips are used to make beer, gin, and candies.
State Bird
In 1943 a law designated the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) as the official state bird, even though it is not native to the USA. More than one million pheasants are harvested annually in South Dakota alone.
State Animal
Since 1949 the official state animal has been the coyote (Canis latrans). Coyotes live in all 48 contiguous states, and the population in South Dakota is estimated at 70,000 to 75,000 animals.
State Song
South Dakota adopted its state song in 1943 by popular referendum, choosing Hail, South Dakota!. Music and lyrics were written by local native DeeCort Hammitt during World War II.
State Gemstone
Since 1966 the official state gemstone has been agate from deposits in Fairburn County in southwestern South Dakota. It differs from other common agates in the color and shape of its bands.
State Fish
In 1982 the state fish became the walleye (Sander vitreus vitreus) after local anglers promoted it. Walleye are common in the Missouri River and in the glacial lakes of eastern South Dakota.
State Beverage
Since 1986 the official state beverage has been plain milk, chosen to support the local dairy industry.
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