South Dakota Vacation Guide System
South Dakota Fun Facts
Capital: Pierre
State abbreviation/Postal code: S.D./SD
Governor: Dennis Daugaard, R (to Jan. 2015)Lieut. Governor: Matt Michels, R (to Jan. 2015)
Senators: John R. Thune, R (to Jan. 2017); Tim Johnson, D (to Jan. 2015)
U.S. Representatives: 1
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Atty. General: Marty Jackley, R (to Jan. 2015)
Secy. of State: Jason M. Gant, R (to Jan. 2015)
Treasurer: Rich Sattgast, R (to Jan. 2015)
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.
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