South Dakota

State Info Back to Top	Motto: Under God the people rule Nickname: Mount Rushmore State Flower: American Masque flower Tree: Black Hills Spruce Bird: Ring Necked Pheasant Animal: Coyote Fish: Walleye Gem: Fair Burn Agate Grass: Western Wheat Grass Insect: Honey Bee Mineral: Rose Quart Song: Hail, South Dakota Population: 732,000 Area: 77,121 Rank in Population: 45th Rank in Area: 17th
Important Cities Back to top	Sioux Falls pop. 100,814 Rapid City pop. 54,523 Aberdeen pop. 24,927 Watertown pop. 17,592
State History Back to top	8,000B.C. People first move into what is now South Dakota. 500A.D. Mound builders settle along the MO river. 1743 The La Ve'rendrye brothers explore South Dakota. 1803 Louisiana Purchase. 1876 War for the Black Hills. 1889 South Dakota becomes the 40th state. 1890 Massacre at Wounded Knee. 1944 Construction on the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program is approved. 1973 Indians take over Wounded Knee for 71days. 1990 Sue the dinosaur is found. 1992 South Dakota is nicknamed the Mount Rushmore State.
Important People Back to top	Tom Brokaw Mary Hart Jess Thomas
Industry Back to top	Services 54% Government 20% Agriculture 12% Manufacturing 10% Construction 3% Mining 1%