South Dakota

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State of South Dakota
Flag of South Dakota Seal Nickname(s): The Mount Rushmore State (official), The Sunshine State Motto(s): Under God the people rule
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	South Dakotan
Capital	Pierre
Largest city	Sioux Falls
Area	Ranked 17th in the US
- Total	77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)
- Width	210 miles (340 km)
- Length	380 miles (610 km)
- % water	1.6
- Latitude	42° 29′ N to 45° 56′ N
- Longitude	96° 26′ W to 104° 03′ W
Population	Ranked 46th in the US
- Total	804,194 (2008 est.)[2]
- Density	10.5/sq mi  (4.05/km²) Ranked 46th in the US
Elevation
- Highest point	Harney Peak[3] 7,242 ft  (2,209 m)
- Mean	2,200 ft  (670 m)
- Lowest point	Big Stone Lake[3] 966 ft  (295 m)
Admission to Union	November 2, 1889 (40th)
Governor	M. Michael Rounds (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Dennis Daugaard (R)
U.S. Senators	Tim Johnson (D) John Thune (R)
Congressional Delegation	Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) (list)
Time zones
- eastern half	Central: UTC-6/-5
- western half	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Abbreviations	SD US-SD
Website	www.sd.gov

South Dakota ( /ˌsɑʊθ dəˈkoʊtə/ (help·info)) is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. South Dakota was admitted to the Union, alongside North Dakota, on November 2, 1889. The city of Pierre, located in the center of South Dakota, serves as the state capital and Sioux Falls is the state's largest city.

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".^[4] Rich soil in the eastern part of the state is used to grow a variety of crops, while ranching is the predominant agricultural activity in the west. The Black Hills, a group of low pine-covered mountains, is located in the southwest part of the state. The area is of great religious importance to local American Indian tribes. Mount Rushmore is a major state tourist destination in the Black Hills.

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. However, the state is still largely rural and has the fifth-lowest population density among U.S. states.^[5] While several notable Democratic senators have represented South Dakota at the federal level, the state's government is largely dominated by the Republican Party, and Republicans have carried South Dakota in the last eleven presidential elections.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Regions and geology 1.2 Ecology 1.3 Climate 1.4 National Parks and Monuments 2 History 3 Demographics 3.1 Population 3.2 Race and ethnicity 3.3 Growth and rural flight 3.4 Religion 4 Economy 4.1 State taxes 5 Transportation 6 Government and politics 6.1 Government 6.2 Federal representation 6.3 Politics 7 Culture 8 Cities and towns 9 Media 10 Education 11 Sports and recreation 11.1 Organized sports 11.2 Recreation 12 State symbols 13 See also 14 References 15 Bibliography 16 External links

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of South Dakota

South Dakota is situated in the north-central United States, and is usually considered to be a part of the Midwest, although the Great Plains region also covers the state. Additionally, South Dakota is at times considered to be a part of the West. South Dakota has a total land area of 77,116 sq. miles (199,905 km²), making the state the 17^th largest in the Union.^[1] South Dakota is bordered to the north by North Dakota; to the south by Nebraska; to the east by Iowa and Minnesota; and to the west by Wyoming and Montana. The geographical center of the U.S. is 17 miles west of Castle Rock in Butte County.^[6]

The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state. Other major South Dakota rivers include the Cheyenne, the James, the Big Sioux, and the White. South Dakota has many natural lakes, mostly occurring in the eastern part of the state. Additionally, dams on the Missouri River create four large reservoirs: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake.

[edit] Regions and geology

South Dakota can generally be divided into three regions: eastern South Dakota, western South Dakota, and the Black Hills.^[7] The Missouri River serves as a somewhat stark boundary in terms of geographic, social and political differences between eastern and western South Dakota, and the geography of the Black Hills differs from its surroundings to such an extent that it can be considered separate from the rest of western South Dakota. South Dakotans also at times combine the Black Hills with the rest of western South Dakota, and refer to the two resulting regions, divided by the Missouri, as West River and East River.^[4][8]

Eastern South Dakota is generally wetter and features lower topography than the western part of the state. Smaller geographic regions of this area include the Coteau des Prairies, the Dissected Till Plains, and the James River Valley. The Coteau des Prairies is a higher region bordered on the east by the Minnesota River Valley and on the west by the James River Basin.^[7] Further to the west, the James River Basin is mostly low, flat, highly eroded land, following the flow of the James River through South Dakota from north to south. The Dissected Till Plains, an area of rolling hills and fertile soil that covers much of Iowa and Nebraska, also extends into the southeastern corner of South Dakota. Layers deposited during the Pleistocene epoch, starting around two million years ago, cover most of eastern South Dakota.^[9] These are the youngest rock and sediment layers in the state, and are the product of several successive periods of glaciation which deposited a large amount of rocks and soil, known as till, over the area.^[10]

The Great Plains cover most of the western two-thirds of South Dakota. West of the Missouri River the landscape becomes more arid and rugged, consisting of rolling hills, plains, ravines, and steep flat-topped hills called buttes. In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota Badlands. Western South Dakota features rock formed between 250 and 2.5 million years ago. Erosion from the Black Hills, marine skeletons which fell to the bottom of a large shallow sea that once covered the area, and volcanic material all contribute to the geology of this area.^[9][11][12]

The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming. This range of low mountains covers 6,000 square miles (15,500 km².) with mountains that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases. The highest point in South Dakota, Harney Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), is in the Black Hills.^[3] Harney Peak is also the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.^[13] Two billion-year-old Precambrian formations, the oldest rocks in the state, form the central core of the Black Hills.^[9][14] Formations from the Paleozoic Era form the outer ring of the Black Hills;^[15] these were created between roughly 540 and 250 million years ago. This area features rocks such as limestone which were deposited here when the area formed the shoreline of an ancient inland sea.^[15]

[edit] Ecology

Much of South Dakota, with the notable exception of the Black Hills, is dominated by a temperate grasslands biome.^[16] Although grasses and crops cover most of this region, deciduous trees such as cottonwoods, elms, and willows are common near rivers and in shelter belts.^[17] Mammals in this area include bison, deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie dogs.^[18] The state bird, the ring-necked pheasant, has adapted particularly well to the area after being introduced from China, and growing populations of bald eagles are spread throughout the state, especially near the Missouri River.^[19][20] Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support populations of walleye, carp, pike, and bass, along with other species.^[18] The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic paddlefish.^[21]

Due to higher elevation and precipitation, the ecology of the Black Hills differs significantly from that of the plains. The mountains are thickly blanketed by various types of pine, mostly of the ponderosa and spruce varieties.^[22] Black Hills mammals include mule deer, elk (wapiti), bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and mountain lions, while the streams and lakes contain several species of trout.^[18][23][24]

[edit] Climate

South Dakota has a continental climate with four distinct seasons, ranging from very cold winters to hot summers. During the summers, the average high temperature throughout the state is often close to 90 °F (32 °C), although it generally cools down to near 60 °F (15 °C) at night. It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 °F (38 °C) several times every year.^[25] Winters are cold with January high temperatures averaging below freezing and low temperatures averaging below 10 °F (- 12 °C) in most of the state.

Average annual precipitation in South Dakota ranges from semi-arid in the northwestern part of the state (around 15 inches, or 381 mm) to semi-humid around the southeast portion of the state (around 25 inches, or 635 mm),^[25] although a small area centered around Lead in the Black Hills has the highest precipitation at nearly 30 inches (762 mm) per year.^[26]

South Dakota summers bring frequent thunderstorms which can be severe with high winds, thunder, and hail. The eastern part of the state is often considered part of tornado alley,^[27] and South Dakota experiences an average of 23 tornadoes per year.^[28] Winters are somewhat more stable, although severe weather in the form of blizzards and ice storms can occur during the season.

Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various South Dakota Cities
City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Aberdeen	21/1	28/9	40/21	57/33	70/46	79/55	85/60	84/57	73/46	59/34	39/20	26/6
Rapid City	34/11	39/16	47/23	57/32	67/43	77/52	86/58	86/57	75/46	62/35	45/22	36/13
Sioux Falls	25/3	32/10	44/21	59/32	71/45	81/54	86/60	83/58	74/48	61/35	42/21	29/8
[8]

[edit] National Parks and Monuments

South Dakota contains several sites that are protected by the National Park Service. Two national parks have been established in South Dakota, both of which are located in the southwestern part of the state. Badlands National Park was created in 1978.^[29] The park features a highly eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands.^[30] Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of bison.^[31] Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The well-known attraction features a mountain carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to resemble four former U.S. presidents.^[32] Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which features a decommissioned nuclear missile silo, and the Missouri National Recreational River.^[33]

[edit] History

Main article: History of South Dakota

Human beings have lived in what is today South Dakota for at least several thousand years. French and other European explorers in the 1700s encountered a variety of groups including the Omaha and Arikara (Ree), but by the early 1800s the Sioux (Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota) were dominant. In 1743, the LaVerendrye brothers buried a plate near the site of modern day Pierre, claiming the region for France as part of greater Louisiana.^[34]

In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon, and President Thomas Jefferson organized a group commonly referred to as the "Lewis and Clark Expedition" to explore the newly-acquired region.^[35][36] In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at present-day Fort Pierre, beginning continuous American settlement of the area.^[37] In 1855, the U.S. Army bought Fort Pierre but abandoned it the following year in favor of Fort Randall to the south.^[37] Settlement by Americans and Europeans was by this time increasing rapidly, and in 1858 the Yankton Sioux signed the 1858 Treaty, ceding most of present-day eastern South Dakota to the United States.^[38]

Land speculators founded two of eastern South Dakota's largest present-day cities: Sioux Falls in 1856 and Yankton in 1859. In 1861, Dakota Territory was established by the United States government (this initially included North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming).^[39] Settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and Russia, as well as elsewhere in Europe and from the eastern U.S. states increased from a trickle to a flood, especially after the completion of an eastern railway link to the territorial capital of Yankton in 1872, and the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 during a military expedition led by George A. Custer. This expedition took place despite the fact that the western half of present day South Dakota had been granted to the Sioux by the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. The Sioux declined to grant mining rights or land in the Black Hills, and war broke out after the U.S. failed to stop white miners and settlers from entering the region. The Sioux were eventually defeated and settled on reservations within South Dakota and North Dakota.^[37]

An increasing population caused Dakota Territory to be divided in half and a bill for statehood for North Dakota and South Dakota (as well as Montana and Washington) titled the Enabling Act of 1889 was passed on February 22, 1889 during the Administration of Grover Cleveland. It was left to his successor, Benjamin Harrison, to sign proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on November 2, 1889. Harrison had the papers shuffled to obscure from him which he was signing first and the actual order went unrecorded.^[40]

On December 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Commonly cited as the last major armed conflict between the United States and the Sioux Nation, the massacre resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300 Sioux, many of them women and children. 25 U.S. soldiers were also killed in the conflict.^[41]

During the 1930s, several economic and climatic conditions combined with disastrous results for South Dakota. A lack of rainfall, extremely high temperatures and over-cultivation of farmland produced what was known as the Dust Bowl in South Dakota and several other plains states. Fertile topsoil was blown away in massive dust storms, and several harvests were completely ruined.^[42] The experiences of the Dust Bowl, coupled with local bank foreclosures and the general economic effects of the Great Depression resulted in many South Dakotans leaving the state. The population of South Dakota declined by more than seven percent between 1930 and 1940.^[43]

Economic stability returned with the U.S. entry into World War II in 1941, when demand for the state's agricultural and industrial products grew as the nation mobilized for war. In 1944, the Pick-Sloan Plan was passed as part of the Flood Control Act of 1944 by the U.S. Congress, resulting in the construction of six large dams on the Missouri River, four of which are at least partially located in South Dakota. Flood control, hydroelectricity, and recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing are provided by the dams and their reservoirs.^[44]

In recent decades, South Dakota has transformed from a state dominated by agriculture to one with a more diversified economy. The tourism industry has grown considerably since the completion of the interstate system in the 1960s, with the Black Hills being especially impacted. The financial service industry began to grow in the state as well, with Citibank moving its credit card operations from New York to Sioux Falls in 1981, a move that has since been followed by several other financial companies.^[45] In 2007, the site of the recently-closed Homestake gold mine near Lead was chosen as the location of a new underground research facility.^[46] Despite a growing state population and recent economic development, many rural areas have been struggling over the past 50 years with locally declining populations and the emigration of educated young adults to larger South Dakota cities, such as Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or to other states.^[47]

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of South Dakota

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	4,837		—
1870	11,776		143.5%
1880	98,268		734.5%
1890	348,600		254.7%
1900	401,570		15.2%
1910	583,888		45.4%
1920	636,547		9%
1930	692,849		8.8%
1940	642,961		−7.2%
1950	652,740		1.5%
1960	680,514		4.3%
1970	665,507		−2.2%
1980	690,768		3.8%
1990	696,004		0.8%
2000	754,844		8.5%
Est. 2008[2]	804,194		6.5%

[edit] Population

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, South Dakota has an estimated population of 781,919, an increase of 27,075, or 3.6%, since the year 2000.^[48] 7.0% of South Dakota's population were reported as under 5, 24.9% under 18, and 14.2% were 65 or older.^[48] Females made up approximately 50.0% of the population.^[48] As of the 2000 census, South Dakota ranked fifth-lowest in the nation in both population and population density.^[49] The center of population of South Dakota is located in Buffalo County, in the unincorporated county seat of Gannvalley.^[50]

[edit] Race and ethnicity

In 2005, the Census Bureau estimated that 88.5% of South Dakotans are White, 8.8% were American Indian or Alaskan Native, 2.1 were Hispanic (of any race), 0.8% were Black, 0.7% were Asian, while 2.1% belonged to more than one race.^[48] The five largest ancestry groups in South Dakota are: German (40.7%), Norwegian (15.3%), Irish (10.4%), Native American (8.3%), and English (7.1%).^[51] German-Americans are the largest ancestry group in most parts of the state, especially in the east, although there are also large Scandinavian populations in some counties. South Dakota has the nation's largest population of Hutterites,^[52] a communal Anabaptist group who emigrated from Europe in 1874.

American Indians, largely Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota (Sioux) are predominant in several counties. South Dakota has the third highest proportion of Native Americans of any state, behind Alaska and New Mexico.^[53] Five of the state's counties lie entirely within Indian reservations.^[54] Living standards on many reservations is often very low when compared with the national average. The unemployment rate in Fort Thompson, on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, is 70%, and 21% of households there lack plumbing or basic kitchen appliances.^[55] A 1995 study by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 58% of homes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation did not have a telephone.^[56]

As of the 2000 census, 1.90% of the population aged 5 or older speak German at home, while 1.51% speak Dakota, and 1.43% Spanish.^[57]

[edit] Growth and rural flight

South Dakota, in common with other Great Plains states, has been experiencing a falling population in many rural areas over the last several decades, a phenomenon known as 'rural flight'. This trend has continued in recent years, with 30 of South Dakota's counties losing population between the 1990 and the 2000 census.^[58] During that time, nine counties experienced a population loss of greater than 10%, with Harding County, in the northwest corner of the state, losing nearly 19% of its population.^[58] Low birth rates and a lack of younger immigration has caused the median age of many of these counties to increase. In 24 counties, at least 20% of the population is over the age of 65,^[59] compared with a national rate of 12.5%.^[48]

The effect of rural flight has not been spread evenly through South Dakota, however. Although most rural counties and small towns have lost population, the Sioux Falls area, the larger counties along Interstate 29, the Black Hills, and many Indian reservations have all gained population.^[58] In fact, Lincoln County, near Sioux Falls, is the ninth-fastest growing county (by percentage) in the United States.^[60] The growth in these areas has compensated for losses in the rest of the state,^[58] and South Dakota's total population continues to increase steadily, albeit at a slower rate than the national average.^[48]

[edit] Religion

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Roman Catholic Church with 181,434 members; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) with 121,871 members; and the United Methodist Church (UMC) with 37,280 members.^[61] (Both the ELCA and UMC are specific denominations within the broader terms 'Lutheran' and 'Methodist', respectively.) The results of a 2001 survey, in which South Dakotans were asked to identify their religion, are shown below:^[62]

• Protestant (61%)
  • Lutheran (27%)
  • Methodist (13%)
  • Baptist (4%)
  • Presbyterian (4%)
  • Other Protestant (6%)
  • Non-denominational Christian (7%)
• Roman Catholic (25%)
• Not religious (8%)
• A non-Christian religion (3%)
• 2% refused to answer.

[edit] Economy

The current-dollar gross state product of South Dakota was US$32.3 billion as of 2006.^[63] The per capita personal income was $26,894 in 2004, the 37th highest in the nation and 13.08 percent below the national average. 13.2% of the population is below the poverty line. As of October 2008, South Dakota's unemployment rate was 3.3%, the lowest jobless rate in the nation.^[64]

The service industry is the largest economic contributor in South Dakota. This sector includes the retail, finance, and health care industries. Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state product.^[65] Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-largest single employer in the state.^[66]

Agriculture has historically been a key component of the South Dakota economy. Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn (maize), soybeans, hogs, and wheat.^[67] Agriculture-related industries such as meat packing and ethanol production also have a considerable economic impact on the state. South Dakota is the sixth leading ethanol-producing state in the nation.^[68]

Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism. Many travel to view the attractions of the state, particularly those of the Black Hills region such as historic Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, and the nearby state and national parks. One of the largest tourist events in the state is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The five day event drew over 450,000 attendants in 2006, significant considering the state has a population of only 790,000.^[69] In 2006, tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed over two billion dollars to the economy of South Dakota.^[70]

[edit] State taxes

As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax rate in the United States.^[71] The state does not levy personal or corporate income taxes,^[72] inheritance taxes,^[73] or taxes on intangible personal property. The state sales tax rate is 4 percent.^[74] Various localities have local levies so that in some areas the rate is 6 percent. The state sales tax does not apply to sales to Indians on Indian Reservations, but many reservations have a compact with the state. Businesses on the reservation collect the tax and the state refunds to the Indian Tribes the percentage of sales tax collections relating to the ratio of Indian population to total population in the county or area affected. Ad valorem property taxes are local taxes and are a large source of funding for school systems, counties, municipalities and other local government units. The South Dakota Special Tax Division regulates some taxes including cigarette and alcohol related taxes.^[75]

[edit] Transportation

See also: List of South Dakota railroads, List of South Dakota numbered highways, and Category:Transportation in South Dakota

South Dakota has a total of 83,609 miles of highways, roads, and streets, along with 679 miles of interstate highways.^[76] Two major interstates pass through South Dakota: Interstate 90, which runs east and west; and Interstate 29, running north and south in the eastern portion of the state. The counties and towns along Interstate 29 make up what is locally referred to as "the I-29 corridor." This area features generally higher rates of population and economic growth than areas in eastern South Dakota that are further from the interstate.^[58] Interstate 90, being a major route between western national parks and large cities to the east, brings many out-of-state travelers through South Dakota, thus helping to boost the tourism and hospitality industries. Also located in the state are the shorter interstates 190, a spur into central Rapid City, and 229, a loop around eastern and southern Sioux Falls. Several major U.S. highways pass through the state. U.S. routes 12, 14, 16, 18, and 212 travel east and west, while U.S. routes 81, 83, 85 and 281 run north and south.

South Dakota contains two National Scenic Byways. The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway is located in the Black Hills, while the Native American Scenic Byway runs along the Missouri River in the north-central part of the state. Other scenic byways include the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, and the Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway.^[77]

Railroads have played an important role in South Dakota transportation since the mid nineteenth century. Historically, the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago & North Western were the state's largest railroads, and the Milwaukee's east-west transcontinental line traversed the northern tier of the state. Some 4,420 miles of railroad track were built in South Dakota during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but only 1,839 miles of railroad are currently operational.^[78] BNSF Railway is currently the largest railroad in South Dakota, primarily operating former Milwaukee Road trackage; the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad is the state's other major carrier, mostly operating former Chicago & North Western trackage.^[79][80] Rail transportation in the state is confined only to freight, however, as South Dakota is one of the few states without any Amtrak service.^[81]

South Dakota's largest commercial airports are located at Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Several other cities in the state also have commercial air service, some of which is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.^[82]

South Dakota license plates are numbered by county, with the first digit referring to the county of origin. Such a numbering system allows one to easily determine where the vehicle was registered. Counties 1–9 are ranked by 1950 population, and counties 10–64 are numbered alphabetically.^[83]

[edit] Government and politics

Main article: Government of South Dakota

[edit] Government

See also: Governor of South Dakota, South Dakota State Senate, South Dakota House of Representatives, and South Dakota Supreme Court

Like that of other US states, the structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota, the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, or by voter initiative.^[84]

The Governor of South Dakota occupies the executive branch of the state government.^[85] The current governor is M. Michael Rounds, a Republican from Pierre. The state constitution gives the governor the power to either sign into law or veto bills passed by the state legislature,^[86] to serve as commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces, to appoint a cabinet, and to commute criminal sentences or to pardon those convicted of crimes.^[87] The governor serves for a four-year term, and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.^[88]

Currently, there are 35 members of the state Senate and 70 members of the House of Representatives. The state is composed of 35 legislative districts.^[89] Voters elect one senator and two representatives from each district.^[89] The legislature meets for a thirty day session starting on the second Tuesday in January; the legislature also meets if the governor calls a special session.^[89]

The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in South Dakota and the court of last resort for state appellate actions.^[90] The chief justice and four justices comprise the court.^[90] South Dakota is divided into seven judicial circuits; these circuits are served by 38 circuit judges.^[90] Circuit courts are the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction. There are 12 full-time and three part-time magistrate judges in the seven circuits. Magistrate courts assist the circuit courts in disposing of misdemeanor criminal cases and minor civil actions.^[90] These courts of limited jurisdiction make the judicial system more accessible to the public by providing a means of direct court contact for the average citizen.

[edit] Federal representation

See also: List of United States Senators from South Dakota

South Dakota is represented at the federal level by Senator Tim Johnson, Senator John Thune, and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.^[91] Johnson and Herseth Sandlin are Democrats, while Thune is a Republican.

In US presidential elections, South Dakota receives three votes in the electoral college, out of a total of 538.^[92] Like most states, South Dakota's electoral votes are granted in a winner-take-all system.^[93]

[edit] Politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2008	54.30% 203,019	45.70% 170,886
2004	59.91% 232,584	38.44% 149,244
2000	60.3% 190,700	37.56% 118,804
1996	46.49% 150,543	43.03% 139,333
1992	40.66% 136,718	37.14% 124,888
1988	52.85% 165,415	46.51% 145,560
1984	63.0% 200,267	36.53% 116,113

See also: Political party strength in South Dakota

South Dakota politics are generally dominated by the Republican Party, and the state has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 — especially notable when one considers that George McGovern, the Democratic nominee in 1972, was from South Dakota.^[94][95] In 2008, John McCain won the state's three electoral votes with 53.1% of the vote.^[96] Additionally, a Democrat has not won the governorship since 1978. As of 2006, Republicans hold a 10% voter registration advantage over Democrats^[97] and hold majorities in both the state House of Representatives^[98] and Senate.^[99]

Despite the state's general Republican and conservative leanings, Democrats have found success in various state-wide elections, most notably in those involving South Dakota's congressional representatives in Washington. Two of the three current members of the state's congressional delegation are Democrats, and until his electoral defeat in 2004 Senator Tom Daschle served as both senator for South Dakota as well as the senate minority (briefly majority) leader.^[100]

Contemporary political issues in South Dakota include the costs and benefits of the state lottery,^[101] South Dakota's relatively low rankings in education spending (particularly teacher pay),^[102] and recent legislative attempts to ban abortion in the state.^[103]

[edit] Culture

Much of South Dakota's culture reflects the state's American Indian, rural, Western, and European roots. A number of annual events celebrating the state's ethnic and historical heritage take place around the state, such as Days of '76 in Deadwood, Czech Days in Tabor,^[104] and the annual St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Oktoberfest festivities in Sioux Falls. A number of pow wows are held yearly throughout the state,^[105] and Custer State Park's Buffalo Roundup, in which volunteers on horseback gather the park's herd of around 1,500 bison, is a popular annual event.^[106]

Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose semi-autobiographical books center around her experiences as a child and young adult on the frontier, is likely the most famous writer from the state. Wilder used her experiences growing up on a homestead near De Smet as the basis for four of her novels: By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, and The First Four Years.^[107] Another famous literary figure from the state is Black Elk, whose narration, edited by John Neihardt, forms the basis of the book Black Elk Speaks.^[108] The book largely revolves around Black Elk's memories of the Indian Wars and Ghost Dance movement, as well as his thoughts on Native American religion.

South Dakota has also produced several notable painters. Harvey Dunn grew up on a homestead near Manchester in the late 19th century. While most of his career was spent as an illustrator, Dunn's most famous works, showing various scenes of frontier life, were completed near the end of his career.^[109] Oscar Howe was born on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation and won fame for his watercolor paintings.^[110] Howe was one of the first Native American painters to produce works heavily influenced by abstraction, as opposed to ones relying on more tradition styles. Terry Redlin, originally from Watertown, is well known for his paintings of rural and wildlife scenes. Many of Redlin's works are on display at the Redlin Art Center in Watertown.^[111]

[edit] Cities and towns

See also: List of cities in South Dakota and List of South Dakota counties

Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota, with an estimated 2007 population of 151,505,^[112] and a metropolitan area population of 227,171.^[113] The city is located in the southeast corner of the state, and was founded in 1856.^[114] The economy of Sioux Falls, originally focused on agri-business and quarrying, has recently become largely centered on retail and financial services.