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South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of
the United States of America. It is named after the Lakota and
Dakota (Sioux) American Indian tribes. South Dakota was admitted
to the Union on November 2, 1889. (North Dakota was admitted
simultaneously.) Located in the north-central United States,
South Dakota is bisected by the Missouri River, dividing the
state into two socially and economically distinct halves, known
to residents as "West River" and "East River."
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In the southwestern
portion of the state rise the Black Hills, a
group of low, pine-covered mountains. A
region of great religious importance to
local American Indians as well as a major
draw for the state tourism industry, the
Black Hills are also the location of Mt.
Rushmore, probably the best-known location
in the state and a widely-used symbol of
South Dakota. Historically dominated by an
agricultural economy and a rural lifestyle,
South Dakota has recently sought to
diversify its economy in an effort to
attract and retain residents. The state is
still largely rural, though, with one of the
lowest population densities in the United
States. The centrally-located city of Pierre
serves as the state capital, and Sioux
Falls, with 150,000 people, is the largest
city in the state.
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