South Dakota A to Z

By Garrett

A South Dakota’s biggest industry is agriculture. We produce wheat, corn, alfalfa, soybeans , cattle, pigs , and sheep to name a few.

BThe bison once numbered 60,000,000. The white pioneers, hunters, and soldiers hunted and killed until the population declined to under 1,000. Today they are back to 250,000 and protected by federal law.

CThese Sioux Indian Chiefs fought for the land west of the Missouri River to Montana to remain Indian land. The Laramie Treaty was broken by the government and the Native were forced off.

Crazy horse Red cloudSitting bull

DGold was discovered near Deadwood and Lead in 1876. Deadwood soon became know as one of the “ Wildest Towns in the West “ – home to Wild Bill Hickock and “Calamity Jane”- known as a sharpshooter.

Harney Peak

EBig Stone Lake is the point of lowest elevation [below sea level ] at 962ft. The highest point is Harney Peak in the Black Hills [above sea level] at 7,242 ft.

F South Dakota became the fortieth state in the United States in 1889. Dakota Territory became North Dakota and South Dakota. No one knows for sure which state was really first because President Harrison shuffled the papers. North Dakota came first alphabetically so it was named the thirty –ninth state.

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GThe Great Dakota Boom was the discovery of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mining towns sprang up and were populated by gold seekers. [1874]

H The homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres of free land to settlers [homesteaders ] if they built a home and lived on the land for at least five years.

I Most South Dakotans have European roots . Immigrants from Germany, Norway, Sweden , and Denmark make up the ancestry or many South Dakotans.

J

James [Wild Bill] Butler Hickok was the fastest shot in the West. He was shot and killed by Jack McCall. Seven months later Jack McCall was hanged for the crime.

K Korczak Ziol Kowski began work on the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills. When completed, it will be the largest sculpture in the world.

LLewis and Clark’s expedition, know s the Corps of Discovery, entered what is now South Dakota on August 21, 1804. They spent fifty –four days here.

M

Mount Rushmore was carved by Gutzom Borglum and his son. The four presidents chosen for the monument were: Abraham Lincoln, who held the country together during the Civil War, George Washington, who represents the beginning of our nation, Teddy Roosevelt, who allowed the building of the Panama Canal, and Thomas Jefferson, who purchased the Louisiana territory.

NThe number of counties in South Dakota equal 66. Each county has a county seat where country government offices are located – the courthouse. We live in Yankton country. Yankton is the county seat.

O

Oscar Howe was one of South Dakota’s famous artists. He was born on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation in 1915. He taught at USD.

PIn 1889 Pierre became the state capital. It had a small population and not much commerce, but it was located in the center of the state.

QA quick factoid: Belle Fourche, SD is the geographic center of the United States.

RNine reservations in South Dakota opened up new land for non-native people.

Oahe Big Bend

Fort Randall

Gavins Point

Montana

NorthDakota

Wyoming

Nebraska

Kansas

Missouri

Iowa

SouthDakota

Colorado

S

Big Bend Dam and Lake Sharpe Oahe Dam and Lake Oahe

Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake

Lake Francis Case

South Dakota’s dams and reservoirs.

Fort Randall Dam and Lake

TTerry Peak and Deer Mountain are enjoyed for snow skiing near the town of Lead in the Black Hills.

UThe underground world in South Dakota takes us to Jewel Cave and Wind Cave in the Black Hills. They are the third and seventh longest in the world. Jewel Cave is 122 miles long and wind cave is 93 miles long.

VThe Verendrye brothers were two French explorers who buried a lead plate in what is now called Pierre, South Dakota and claimed it for France. [1743]

WOne of the saddest events in the West was the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1870. Nearly three hundred Natives, including women and children, were killed. This led to the Natives moving onto Reservations. (1890)

X Explorers in South Dakota [that were the earliest known] plorers in South Dakota [that were the earliest known] came from Europe. In 1743, the Verendrye Brothers left came from Europe. In 1743, the Verendrye Brothers left a lead plate near Fort Pierre. a lead plate near Fort Pierre.

YYankton was the capital of Dakota Territory from 1861-1883.

ZZitkala-Sa, a Yankton Dakota Sioux, was born in 1876 and died in 1938. She became active in working for women’s rights in Washington D.C. when women had no power or influence. She was also known as Gertrude Simmons Bonnin.

Factoid

Some South Dakota historical figures are: Crazy Horse [Sioux Chief]; Hubert Humphrey [U.S. Vice President]; Paul Goble and Laura Ingalls [authors]; and Billy Mills [Olympic Gold winning track star].

“Famous South Dakotans”