South Dakota
South Dakota is a landlocked state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota Sioux tribe, which comprises a large portion of the population with nine reservations currently in the state and has historically dominated the territory. South Dakota is the 17th largest by area, but the 5th least populous, and the 5th least densely populated of the 50 United States. Pierre is the state capital, and Sioux Falls, with a population of about 213,900, is South Dakota's most populous city. The state is bisected by the Missouri River, dividing South Dakota into two geographically and socially distinct halves, known to residents as "East River" and "West River". South Dakota is bordered by North Dakota to the north, Minnesota to the east, Iowa to the southeast, Nebraska to the south, Wyoming to the west, and Montana to the northwest.
Some of the key events about South Dakota
- 1803The Louisiana Purchase included the territory that would become South Dakota
- 1858The first permanent white settlement was established at present-day Sioux Falls
- 1862The largest mass execution in U.S. history occurred when 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota, following the Dakota War
- 1874Gold was discovered in the Black Hills, sparking a gold rush
- 1889South Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 40th state
- 1890The Wounded Knee Massacre took place, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children
- 1927Work began on carving Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- 1930sSouth Dakota was severely affected by the Dust Bowl, causing widespread crop failures and economic hardship
- 1936The state experienced its worst drought on record, devastating agriculture and exacerbating the effects of the Great Depression
- 1941Construction of the Rapid City Army Air Base (now Ellsworth Air Force Base) began
- 1952The Oahe Dam on the Missouri River was completed, creating Lake Oahe
- 1972A catastrophic flood in Rapid City killed 238 people and caused extensive damage
- 1973The American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee for 71 days, bringing national attention to Native American issues
- 1975The Pine Ridge Reservation shootout resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents and one Native American activist
- 1980A severe blizzard struck the state, causing 16 deaths and significant economic losses
- 1990The Mickelson Trail, a 109-mile recreational trail, opened in the Black Hills
- 1999A powerful tornado hit the town of Spencer, killing six people and destroying most of the town
- 2011Severe flooding along the Missouri River caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure
- 2016The Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead began operating, conducting groundbreaking physics experiments
- 2019Severe spring blizzards and flooding caused extensive agricultural losses and property damage across the state
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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