South Dakota History, Geography, Population, State Facts

The Coyote State

Great Seal of the State of South Dakota

Adoptedin 1885.

Even before South Dakota officially gained statehood, the state had adopted the design for an official seal. South Dakota became a state in 1889, and the seal was defined in 1885.

The official seal is a picturesque representation of South Dakota's commerce, industry, and natural resources. The state's motto "Under God the People Rule", appears over the inner circle. Within the circle is a background of sky and hills. A river runs through agricultural and industrial land. Mining is represented with a smelting furnace. A steam ship plies the waters of the river. A farmer plows a field in front of a herd of cattle and a cornfield. The outer circle of the seal bears the words "State of South Dakota", and "Great Seal 1889"

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Exploration of this area began in 1743 when Louis-Joseph and Fran?ois Verendrye came from France in search of a route to the Pacific.

The U.S. acquired the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and it was explored by Lewis and Clark in 18041806. Fort Pierre, the first permanent settlement, was established in 1817.

Settlement of South Dakota did not begin in earnest until the arrival of the railroad in 1873 and the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874.

Capital City: Pierre

South Dakota Capitol Tour

South Dakota: State of South Dakota Official Web Site

Admission to Statehood: Click for Date & List

Airports: Airports Map |? Airport Links

Area: 77121 sq.mi, 17th ? Land 75898 sq. mi., 16th ? Water 1224 sq.mi., 30th

Area Codes: South Dakota

Biographies: Famous People from South Dakota

Bird: The South Dakota state bird

Border States: Regional List ?Iowa ? Minnesota ? Montana ? Nebraska ? North Dakota ? Wyoming

Cam World: Live Web Cams

Cities & Towns: South Dakota

Climate: South Dakota

Community Pages: South Dakota Cities, Towns, Communities List

Constitution: 40th State

County Profile: County Map ? 67 Counties

Courts: Judicial System

Current Events: South Dakota News Headlines

Department of: Education | Certification? | Hills State University | Dakota State University | Oglala Lakota College | University of South Dakota

Driving: DMV

Economy: Agriculture: Cattle, hogs, wheat, soybeans, milk, corn.?? Industry: Food processing, machinery, lumber and wood products, tourism.

Flag: South Dakota (SD)

Flower: Pasque Flower ? Pulsatilla hirsutissima

Cyndi's List ? Historical Societies

Geographic Center: Hughes, 8 miles northeast of Pierre

Geology Maps: South Dakota

Ghost Towns: Ghost Towns

Governor: Office of Governor

Highest Point: Harney Peak; 7,242 feet, 15th

Highways: South Dakota Highways

History: History Timeline ?

Hotels, Motels & Inns:

Kids Corner: South Dakota DOT Kids Site

Lowest Point: Big Stone lake; 962 feet, 46th

Library: South Dakota

License Plates: South Dakota

Lottery: South Dakota

Maps:

Media: Radio ? TV

Motto: Under God the people rule

Museums: The Virtual Library

Name: South Dakota is the land of the famous Sioux or Dacotah Indians. Dakota Territory and later South Dakotans were named for the tribe.

National Forest: South Dakota

Population: Quick facts ? 754,844; 46th, 12/00

Real Estate: Every South Dakota City, Town & Community

Representatives: South Dakota House: Members? South Dakota Senate: Members? US House: ? 110th Congress? US Senate: ? 110th Congress

Road Side America: South Dakota

School Directory: South Dakota

Song: South Dakota? ??

Soil: South Dakota - Houdek

Sports: South Dakota Teams

State Parks: South Dakota

Symbols: Symbols & Facts

Tourism: www.travelsd.com

Travel: South Dakota Travel

Tree: White Spruce ? Picea glauca ?

Veteran Affairs: South Dakota VA

Visitor Guides: South Dakota Tourism - South Dakota Department of Tourism. | South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks - Discover your own South Dakota.

Weather: Pierre, Pierre Regional Airport

White Pages: AnyWho.com ?- Over 90 million people listings, businesses, emails, & reverse telephone listings.

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