South Dakota

1. South Dakota By: LilianAntillon

2. Outlines of South Dakota.

3. State Flag • This is the state flag of South Dakota.

4. Motto & Nickname • The motto of South Dakota was adopted in 1885. • Motto: Under God, the People Rule. • Nickname: Mount Rushmore State.

5. State Song • Hail! South Dakota • Hail! South Dakota, A great state of the land, • Health, wealth and beauty, That’s what makes her grand; • She has her Black Hills, And mines with gold so rare, • And with her scenery, No other state can compare. • Come where the sun shines, And where life’s worth your while, • You won’t be here long, Till you’ll wear a smile; • No state’s so healthy, And no folk quite so true, • To South Dakota. We welcome you. • Hail! South Dakota, The state we love the best, • Land of our fathers, Builders of the west; • Home of the Badlands, and Rushmore’s ageless shrine, • Black Hills and prairies, Farmland and Sunshine. • Hills, farms and prairies, Blessed with bright Sunshine.

6. Top vacation spots • Mount Rushmore • You can visit Mount Rushmore the National Monument. Mount Rushmore has attracted more than 2.5 million people to its beauty.

7. Top vacation spots • Badlands National Park • Interior, SD • The Badlands National Park area, "makosica" to the Lakota people, is a place of mystery, spirituality and natural beauty. Jagged buttes and gently-sloped valleys hold their majesty with brilliant colors and a firm resistance to the wind, rain and lightning storms common to the area. Once home to ancient marine life, early mammals and now bison, bighorn sheep and ferrets, Badlands National Park is a must-see stop filled with painted canyons and photo opportunities. One million visitors are attracted to the park's 240,000 acres each year, which are divided between three units for hiking and exploring. The Stronghold and Palmer Creek Units to the south are also part of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. An entrance fee is required to enter Badlands National Park, and is valid for 7 days. Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States.

8. Corn PalaceMitchell, SDCorn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota.During the summer months the Corn Palace offers free guided tours led by friendly guides full of a-maize-ing facts. (Like how many nails and staples are used in the decoration process.) The tour also features an outstanding video explaining the Corn Palace Story. After the tour you can view displays about the Corn Palace, how the murals are created, souvenirs and entertainment from the past and how the corn is grown. The theme for 2010 is travel through the ages!

9. Custer State ParkCuster, SDCuster State Park is located in southern Black Hills of South Dakota. This sprawling 71,000 acre park is home to roaming buffalo, four mountain lakes and a variety of hiking, biking and walking trails. Best known for its herd of roaming buffalo, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife which can easily be seen along the popular Wildlife Loop drive. Visitors will find a wide range of lodging options—from cozy, creekside campsites to upscale, full-service lodges. Custer State Park also offers a variety of history and naturalist programs, as well as adventures like horseback riding, rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking and fly-fishing.

10. Attractions • Crazy Horse Memorial • Crazy Horse, SD • Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest sculpture-in-progress, and frequent drilling and mountain blasts make each visit unique. When completed, Crazy Horse Memorial will stand 563 feet tall by 641 feet long. The project was started in 1948 at the request of Chief Henry Standing Bear who invited sculptor KorczakZiolkowski to carve a mountain to honor the heritage, tradition and culture of North American Indians. Its namesake, Crazy Horse, was a war leader of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and a prominent leader in the Sioux resistance to white encroachment on the Black Hills. His bravery and skill are greatly admired, and he is revered by the Sioux as one of their greatest leaders. The visitors' complex surrounding the mountain carving includes the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Cultural Center, the Sculptor's studio home and workshop, a 40,000 square foot Orientation Center and two theaters. Nightly performances of a multimedia laser-light show spotlight Native American culture using dramatic animations and a stirring musical score. The Crazy Horse Stampede rodeo is held mid-June on the grounds, and is sanctioned by both the PRCA and Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association. At this same time, the Gift from Mother Earth Art Show highlights the artwork of Native American and Western artists. Also, on the first full weekend in June, the Crazy Horse Volksmarch opens a 10K route to hikers that winds around the base of the mountain and up onto Crazy Horse's outstretched arm.

11. Attractions • South Dakota Scenic Byways • Native American Scenic Byway • This Scenic Byway cuts through the heart of South Dakota's mixed-grass prairie as it follows the river's path extending through the heart of the Great Sioux Nation. The route takes travelers through the lands of the Yankton, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes. The Corps of Discovery reported seeing an abundance of wildlife when they passed through this area. • Today, your chances of spotting prairie dogs, pronghorn and deer as you drive the byway are still good. Several tribes also maintain bison and elk herds. Besides the animals, you'll be captivated by the wild, rugged country, much of which remains undeveloped. The route begins near Running Water.

12. South Dakota Current license plates

13. Governor Mike Rounds • M. Michael “Mike” Rounds was sworn in as South Dakota’s 31st governor on January 7, 2003. He is committed to kids and to working with South Dakotans to make this state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.  • Mike Rounds was born on Oct. 24, 1954, in Huron, S.D., but he has lived in Pierre most of his life. He went to college at South Dakota State University in Brookings where he met his wife, Jean. They were married in 1978 and have four children: Christopher and his wife, Lindsay, Brian, Carrie, and John.   • In his free time, the governor likes to be in the air, because he is a licensed pilot. He also enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, racquetball, camping and boating on the Missouri River.  • Before being your governor, Mike Rounds was elected to the South Dakota State Senate in 1990 and was reelected during the next four elections. He represented Pierre and the surrounding areas. In 1994, Rounds was chosen by his peers to serve as Senate Majority Leader, a post he held for six years. • The governor’s parents are Don and Rosemary Rounds. His mother, Joyce, died in 1987 from cancer. He has nine brothers and one sister. Their names are Michelle, Dennis, Doug, Tim, Dan, Tom, Pat, Steve, Scott, and Jamie. Try memorizing that!

14. State Capital • Pierre, South Dakota

15. South Dakota’s Industries • The current-dollar gross state product of South Dakota was US$37 billion as of 2008,[84] the fifth smallest total state output in the US. The per capita personal income was $37,375 in 2008, ranked 26th in the U.S.,[85] and 13.2% of the population is below the poverty line. In January 2010, the state's unemployment rate was 4.8%.[86] • The service industry is the largest economic contributor in South Dakota. This sector includes the retail, finance, and health care industries. Citibank, which was the largest bank holding company in the United States at one time, established national banking operations in South Dakota in 1981 to take advantage of favorable banking regulations.[65] Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing over ten percent of the gross state product. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-largest single employer in the state.[87] • Ethanol plant in Turner County • 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, wheat, and hogs.[88] 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.[89] • Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism. Many travel to view the attractions of the state, particularly those in 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.[90] In 2006, tourism provided an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and contributed over two billion dollars to the economy of South Dakota.[91]

16. State University Jack • SDSU—South Dakota’s Advantage • South Dakota State University is the state’s largest university—and if you ask us, its best. With South Dakota’s most comprehensive range of academic offerings, there’s no better place to explore everything from aerospace to zoology. No matter which of our 200 majors, minors, and other programs our students pursue, they get a personal, practical education on our vibrant campus. Undergrads and graduate students alike learn to succeed in classes led by dedicated professors. And nearly all of our alumni carry lifelong memories of their Jackrabbit years. Hands-on research projects with nationally respected professors, internships that bring coursework to life, and choices from among 217 student organizations ensure that there is something for everyone.As a land-grant university, we’ve always served South Dakota; today we build on that tradition by developing responsible global leaders. So it’s no surprise that our students’ job prospects after commencement are the envy of their friends from other universities—our grads have a 95 percent job placement rate.

17. State Population And Rank • The population of South Dakota is 782,000 and the rank is the 46th

18. Work cited page • Fact Monster.com • www.mytravelguideposts.com • htttp://sd.gov/governor/ • Google images • www.worldlicenseplates.com