South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is located in the Midwestern region of the United States.it is bordered by North Dakota to the north, Minnesota and Iowa to the east, Nebraska to the south, and Montana and Wyoming to the west. The Missouri River runs through the center of the state. The state's western region is part of the Great Plains. The state's eastern region is more like the Midwest. It has low hills, lakes formed by very old glaciers, and large areas of fertile farmland. There are Badlands in South Dakota's southwestern region. Badlands are areas of small, steep hills and deep gullies formed primarily by water erosion. The state also has grasslands and prairies. Because of its extremely varied landscape, South Dakota is sometimes called the "Land of Infinite Variety."

North Dakota and South Dakota are known as "twin states" because they were admitted to the Union on the same day, November 2, 1889. No one knows which state was admitted first because President Benjamin Harrison purposely shuffled and then blindly signed the papers. However, the states aren't identical twins. They have similar shapes, sizes, and climates, but differ in many other ways. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Dakota is a Sioux Indian word for "friend" or "ally." Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city.

South Dakota is an agricultural state. Farms and ranches cover about 90 percent of the state's land. Farming is more important to South Dakota's economy than that of any other state. The state's agricultural products include oats, hay, flaxseed, and corn.

Rapid City is home to several colleges and universities. National American University "welcomes students of diverse interests, cultures and abilities. The School of Mines and Technology is also located in Rapid City. In the South of the state is South Dakota State University. South Dakota State University is the state's largest university.

List of colleges and universities in South Dakota

Official Website of the State of South Dakota

                                             Print PDF