From the rolling prairies and glittering lakes to the granite peaks and towering pines,
South Dakota's landscapes are both diverse and beautiful. In 1743, the Verendrye brothers claimed the region that is now South Dakota for France. The discovery of gold in 1874 in the Black Hills caused a rush to the state, and mining towns like Deadwood and Lead attracted infamous outlaws such as Wild Bill Hickok, Seth Bullock and Calamity Jane. From the city's old western towns to bustling cities and everything in between, South Dakota four distinct regions help create a lifetime of memories for those
moving to the area.
Origin of State's Name: "Dakota" is the Sioux Indian word for friend. President James Buchanan signed the bill creating the Dakota Territory in 1861. The Dakota Territory originally included the area covered today by North and South Dakota as well as
Montana and
Wyoming.
Capital City: As the capital of South Dakota, Pierre has come a long way from its history as a rough frontier town. Over the years, it has transformed into a railroad town and the seat of state government. Today, with over 14,000 residents,
Pierre, South Dakota is an attractive city full of interesting experiences.
Population: South Dakota has a population of approximately 780,000 residents.
Driving: Driver's license information, applications, testing requirements, driver's manuals and testing locations can be found on the
South Dakota Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.
Agriculture and Industry: Major agriculture includes cattle, hogs, wheat, soybeans, milk and corn. Food processing, machinery, lumber and wood products, tourism are the state's leading industries.
State Bird: South Dakota designated the Chinese ring-necked pheasant as state bird in 1943.
State Tree: In 1947, South Dakota designated the Black Hills spruce as the official state tree.
State Flower: The pasque flower (or pasqueflower) was designated the official state flower of South Dakota in 1903. Also called the May Day flower, prairie crocus, windflower, Easter flower and meadow anemone.
State Song: Written by DeeCort Hammitt, "Hail! South Dakota!" is the official state song.