Welcome to A's Page on South Dakota

A's Page about South Dakota

South Dakota

Admission to the Union:

The bill that created South Dakota as a state was signed by President Grover Cleveland on February 22, 1889. South Dakota was one of four states; North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington admitted by what is called the Omnibus Statehood Bill. It was determined that South Dakota was the 40th state admitted to the Union. The Omnibus Statehood bill gave official statehood to South Dakota November 02, 1889.

Geography

GEOGRAPHY of the State of South Dakota

State Map - Click Here

Total Area - 77, 116 Square miles 380 miles from East to West 245 miles from North to South
Population is 696,004 67 Counties in South Dakota Highest Point: Harney Peak, 7,242 ft
State Capitol - Pierre, S.D. Lowest Point: Big Stone Lake, 962 ft Average Annual Precipitation: 18 inches
Hottest Temperature: 120 Degrees Coldest Temperature: -58 Degrees  
  • Major rivers in South Dakota: Bad, Big Sioux, Cheyenne, Grand, James, Little Missouri, Missouri, Vermillion, White.
  • Major Lakes in South Dakota: Francis Case, Oahe and Sharpe.
  • Trees in South Dakota: Ash, Cottonwood, Juniper, Oak, Pine and Spruces.
  • Wild Plants: American Pawqueflower, Black-eyed Susan, Cactus, Forget-me-not, goldenrod, Lady Slipper, Larkspur, Mariposa, lily, Sunflower and Wild Orange Geranium.
  • Animals: Buffalo, Bighorn sheep, Coyote, Mule deer, Elk, Pronghorn deer, Rocky Mountain Goat and White-tailed deer.
  • Birds: Hungarian Partridge, Prairie Chicken, Ring-necked Pheasant, Sage Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Wild Turkey.
  • Fish: Bas, Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Northern Pike, Paddlefish, Perch, Sauger, Sturgeon, Trout and Walleyed Pike.
  • Endangered Animals: American Burying Beetle, Bald Eagle, Banded Killfish, Blackfooted Ferret, Blacknose Shiner, Blanding's Turtle, Centeral Mudminnow, Eskimo Curlew, Finescale Dace, Gray Wolf, Interior Least Tern, Lined Snake, Pallid Sturgeon, Peregrine Falcon and Whooping Crane.
  • Endangered Plants: None Endangered; One Threatened: Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
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    South Dakota's Official State Symbols

    State Bird Ring Neck Pheasant
    State Fish Walleye
    State Animal Coyote
    State Insect Honey Bee
    State Mineral Rose Quartz
    State Gem Fairburn Agate
    State Flower American Pasque
    State Tree Black Hills Spruce
    State Fossil Triceratops
    State Jewelry Black Hills Gold
    State Instrument Fiddle
    State Soil Houdek
    State Grass Western Wheat Grass
    State Drink Milk
    State Dessert Kuchen
    State Song Hail South Dakota
    State Nickname Land of Infinite Variety
      The Sunshine State
      The Coyote State
    State Motto Under God the People Rule
    State Colors Blue and Gold
    State Slogan Great Faces. Great Places
    State Greeting "How Kola!"

    South Dakota Flag

    The Flag: The flag was adopted in 1992. The state seal lies at the center and is encircled by a yellow sunburst against a blue background. The words "South Dakota The Mount Rushmore State" are printed around the sunburst.

    South Dakota Seal

    THE SEAL: The border reads "State of South Dakota, Great Seal 1889". The picture inside the circle shows the elements of the state's economy. A farmer plows in the foreground. A steam boat, smelter furnace, and grazing cattle in the background represent trade, industry, and agriculture. The state motto, "Under God the People Rule", is written at the top of the picture.

     

    Territorial Governors

    Name

    Home State

    Dates Governor
    William Jayne Illinois 1861 to 1863
    Newton Edmunds Michigan 1863 to 1866
    Andrew J Faulk Pennsylvania 1866 to 1869
    John A Burbank Nebraska 1869 to 1874
    John L Pennington Alabama 1874 to 1878
    William A Howard Michigan 1878 to 1880
    Nehimiah G Ordway New Hampshire 1880 to 1884
    Gilber A Pierce Illinois 1884 to 1887
    Louis K Church New York 1887 to 1889
    Arthur C Mellette Dakota 1889

    Governors of South Dakota

    Name

    Party

    Home Town

    Occupation

    Dates Governor
    Arthur C Mellette R Watertown Lawyer 1889 to 1893
    Charles H Sheldon R Pierpont Farmer 1893 to 1897
    Andrew E Lee Fusion Vermillion Businessman 1897 to 1901
    Charles N Herried R Leola Banker 1901 to 1905
    Samuel H Elrod R Clark Lawyer 1905 to 1907
    Coe I Crawford R Huron Lawyer 1907 to 1909
    Robert S Vessey R Wessing Springs Banker 1909 to 1913
    Frank M Byrne R Faulkton Farmer 1913 to 1917
    Peter Norbeck R Redfield Well Driller 1917 to 1921
    William H McMaster R Yankton Banker 1921 to 1925
    Carl Gunderson R Mitchell Farmer 1925 to 1927
    William J Bulow D Beresford Lawyer 1927 to 1931
    Warren E Green R Hamlin Farmer 1931 to 1933
    Tom Berry D Belvidere Rancher 1933 to 1937
    Leslie Jensen R Hot Springs Operated Telephone Co. 1937 to 1939
    Harlan Bushfield R Miller Lawyer 1939 to 1943
    M. Q. Sharpe R Kennebec Teacher/Lawyer 1943 to 1947
    George T Mickelson R Selby Lawyer 1947 to 1951
    Sigurd Anderson R Webster Lawyer 1951 to 1955
    Joe Foss R Sioux Falls Farmer 1955 to 1959
    Ralph Herseth D Houghton Rancher/Farmer 1959 to 1961
    Archie Gubbrud R Alcester Farmer/Cattle Feeder 1961 to 1965
    Nils Boe R Sioux Falls Lawyer 1965 to 1969
    Frank Farrar R Britton Lawyer 1969 to 1970
    Richard Kneip D Salem Agri-business 1971 to 1978
    Harvey Wollman D Hitchcock Farmer 1978 to 1979
    William Janklow R Flandreau Lawyer 1979 to 1987
    George S Mickelson R Brookings Lawyer 1987 to 1993
    Walter D Miller R Bell Fouche Farmer/Rancher 1993 to 1995
    William Janklow R Flandreau Lawyer 1995 to 2003
    Mike Rounds R Pierre Insurance 2003 to

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