Statehood:  November 2, 1889, Fortieth State

 

State Animal:  Coyote

 

State Fish:  Walleye

 

State Flower:  American Pasqueflower

 

State Bird:  Chinese Ring-Necked Pheasant

 

State Insect:  Honey Bee

 

State Tree:  Black Hills Spruce

 

State Mineral:  Rose Quartz

 

State Gemstone:  Fairburn Agate

 

State Jewelry:  Black Hills Gold

 

State Capital:  Pierre

 

State Motto:  "Under God the People Rule"

 

State Nickname:  Mount Rushmore State

 

Area:  77,116 Square Miles (17^th in Area Among States)

 

Population:  754,844 (as of 2,000 Census); 9 Persons per Square Mile (South Dakota is the 46^th most populous state in the USA.)

 

Bordering States:  Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

 

Largest City:  Sioux Falls

 

Weather:  You can expect to experience blistering heat in the summertime, blizzards can be deadly in winter, spring floods can destroy crops and homes, tornadoes are a summer threat, rainfall is uncertain, and drought can quickly spoil a harvest.  But, the weather can also be beautiful.

 

Lakes:  South Dakota contains 250+ natural lakes.  Most of these lakes are in the northeastern part of the state, and were formed by the action of glaciers. 

 

Economy:  South Dakota's economy is dominated by agriculture with most of the state's income coming from raising crops and livestock.  More than 2/3 of South Dakota's agricultural income comes from livestock.

 

Early 1700s:  The Dakota people begin moving into Present-Day South Dakota.

 

1803:  Present-Day South Dakota is purchased from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

 

1831:  The first steamboat on the Missouri River arrives at Present-Day Fort Pierre.

 

1874:  General Custer along with his troops, discover gold in the Black Hills.

 

1889:  South Dakota becomes the fortieth state in the union.