Description of South Dakota 

Located in the North Central region of America, South Dakota is a state in the United States of America. With nine reservations, the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes make up the majority of the state's population and have long dominated the area. South Dakota is the seventeenth-largest state in terms of area, but the fifth-least populous and the fifth-least densely populated of the United States' 50 states overall. When South Dakota and North Dakota both became states on November 2, 1889, the southern portion of the Dakota Territory was also established as a separate state. After shuffled papers were signed by President Benjamin Harrison, they became the 39th and the 40th states to join the United States. The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, while the state's largest city, Sioux Falls, has a population of around 187,200.

To the north of South Dakota are North Dakota; to the east are Minnesota; to the southeast are Iowa; to the south are Nebraska; to the west are Wyoming; and to the northwest is Montana (to the northwest). The Missouri River divides South Dakota into two distinct regions known as "East River" and "West River" to its residents.

The fertile soil of eastern South Dakota is used to grow a variety of crops, as the region is home to the majority of the state's residents. Ranching is the primary agricultural activity west of the Missouri River, and the economy relies heavily on tourism and defense spending. West River is home to the majority of Native American reservations. The Sioux revere the Black Hills, a group of low pine-covered mountains in the state's southwest. Mount Rushmore, a popular tourist attraction, is located in the vicinity. There are four distinct seasons in South Dakota, and rainfall varies from moderate in the east to semi-arid west. The ecology of the state is characterized by species typical of the grassland biome of North America.

Humans have occupied the area for millennia, with the Sioux taking the lead in the early 19th century. After a gold rush in the Black Hills and the construction of railroads from the east, European-American settlement increased in the late 19th century. The Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 was the culmination of several Indian wars sparked by miners and settlers moving into the area. The Dust Bowl and Great Depression, increased federal spending on agriculture and defense in the 1940s and 1950s, and an industrialization of agriculture that has reduced family farming were among the most significant events of the 20th century.

Despite the fact that several Democrats have served in both chambers of Congress for multiple terms, the state government is largely controlled by the Republican Party, whose nominees have won South Dakota in each of the last 13 presidential elections. South Dakota has recently sought to diversify its economy in order to attract and retain residents, which has resulted in an increase in the state's population. State culture is heavily influenced by South Dakota's history and rural character.

Geographical description of South Dakota

Located in the north-central United States, South Dakota is part of the Great Plains region and the Midwest as a whole. Western South Dakota's culture, economy, and geography have more in common with the West than with the Midwest. A land mass of 77,116 square miles (199,730 hectares) makes South Dakota the 17th largest state in the United States.

A height of 7,242 feet (2,207 meters) makes Black Elk Peak the state's highest point; Big Stone Lake's shoreline sits at 966 feet above sea level (294 m). South Dakota is bordered by North Dakota to the north; Nebraska to the south; Iowa and Minnesota to the east; and Wyoming and Montana to the west. 17 miles west of Castle Rock in Butte County is the geographic center of the United States. Located between Allen and Kyle, the North American continental pole of inaccessibility is 1,024 miles (1,648 kilometers) from the nearest coastline.

Despite its size, the Missouri River is the state's longest river. The Cheyenne, James, Big Sioux, and White Rivers are some of the other major rivers in South Dakota. Many of the lakes in the eastern part of the state were formed during glacial periods. Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake are some of the largest reservoirs on the Missouri River, which is why dams were built on the river.

Economy of South Dakota

As of 2010, South Dakota's gross state product was $39.8 billion, making it the fifth-smallest state in the United States in terms of total output. There were 12.5% of residents living below the federal poverty line in 2008 and the 2010 per capita income was $38,865, making it the 25th-highest in the United States. South Dakota has been ranked seventh on CNBC's list of the "Top States for Business in 2010." The state's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in July of that year.

South Dakota's largest employer is the service sector. The retail, financial, and healthcare industries all fall under this umbrella. To take advantage of the favorable banking regulations in South Dakota, Citibank established national banking operations in the state in 1981. Over ten percent of the state's gross domestic product comes from government spending, which is another important part of the economy. Rapid City's Ellsworth Air Force Base is South Dakota's second-largest employer.