State of South Dakota
The 7 Principles
The Seven Principles of "Leave No Trace" provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. Although Leave No Trace
has its roots in backcountry settings, the Principles have been adapted so that they can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even
in your own backyard.
Read more at lnt.org
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Towns | Counties | Home | Points of Interest
10 Largest Cities in South Dakota
South Dakota State Facts
List of Counties
List of Towns
Points of Interest
Capital: Pierre
Largest city: Sioux Falls
Highest point: Harney Peak, 7,244 ft (2208 m)
Lowest point: Big Stone Lake on Minnesota border, 968 ft (295 m)
Admission to Union: November 2, 1889 (40th)
South Dakota State Information
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota usually during the first full week of August.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills
Beaver Creek Bridge in Wind Cave National Park
Open roads, preserved nature, world-famous roadside attractions, historic landmarks
South Dakota’s scenic drives are well worth the extra tank of gas
Thousands of years of prehistoric human and animal evidence lay buried in South Dakota
Open roads, preserved nature, world-famous roadside attractions, historic landmarks
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs is an active paleontological dig site, which boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world
South Dakota Points of Interest
South Dakota Points of Interest
Points of Interest of South Dakota, Things To Do, Places To Go, People To Meet
South Dakota State Counties
66 Counties in South Dakota
Our Story
The state of South Dakota is located within the Midwestern region of the United States and got its name from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian Tribes. The state is the 17th ranked most extensive with a total land area of 77,116 square miles, as well as the 5th ranked least populated with a total population of 824,082 as of 2011, which also makes it the 5th ranked least densely populated state. The state capital is the city of Pierre, however Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state with a population of roughly 160,000 people.
South Dakota is bordered by the states of North Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Montana. The Missouri River divides the state both geographically and socially which are known locally as “east river” and “west river”. Most of the states population resides in the eastern part of the state, and there is an abundance of fertile soil in this region which is used to grow and harvest a wide range of crops. On the western side of the state, ranching is the top agricultural activity and the economy is this region is more dependent on tourism as well as defense spending.
There are numerous major bodies of water in the state which include the Missouri River, James River, Cheyenne River, White River, Lake Francis Case, Lewis and Clark Lake, and Lake Oahe. The highest point of elevation in the state is Harney Peak which tops out at 7,242 feet above sea level, while the lowest point is Big Stone Lake which is 962 feet above sea level. The state consists of 64 counties and is nicknames “Mount Rushmore State”. The state motto is “Under God the people rule” and the state song is “Hail, South Dakota”. The state bird is the Chinese Ring-Necked Pheasant, the state fish is the Walleye, the state flower is the American Pasqueflower, and the state tree is the Black Hills Spruce tree. While many tourist visit the state each year to view Mt. Rushmore, many others come to enjoy its natural scenery and open space, making it an ideal retreat for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota. It depicts Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance
Custer State Park in East Custer, the park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison
Thousands of years of prehistoric human and animal evidence lay buried in South Dakota
