South Dakota Resources

South Dakota is situated in the north-central United States, and has a total land area of 77,116 sq. miles making it the 17^th largest state in the Union. The geographical center of the U.S. is 17 miles west of Castle Rock in Butte County, near Belle Fourche. Centrally-located Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls is the state's largest city.

The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state, which also divides the state into “East River” and “West River.” Other major South Dakota rivers include the Cheyenne, James, Big Sioux and White Rivers. Eastern South Dakota has many natural lakes, mostly created by glaciation. Additionally, dams on the Missouri River create four larger reservoirs: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case and Lewis and Clark Lake.

South Dakota agriculture has historically been a key component of the South Dakota economy, especially in the rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn, soybeans, hogs, and wheat.

Another important sector in South Dakota's economy is tourism. Many travel to view South Dakota attractions, particularly those in the Black Hills region, such as historic Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, and the nearby state and national parks. The Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial are just a few of the many tourist attractions found in the Black Hills. One of the largest tourist events in the state is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Fishing and hunting are both popular outdoor activities in South Dakota. In 2007, over 275,000 hunting licenses and 175,000 fishing licenses were sold in the state; around half of the hunting licenses and over two-thirds of the fishing licenses were purchased by South Dakotans. Popular species of game include pheasants, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and turkeys, as well as waterfowl such as Canada geese, snow geese, and mallards. Find out more about South Dakota hunting. Targets of anglers include walleye in the eastern glacial lakes and Missouri River reservoirs, chinook salmon in Lake Oahe and trout in the Black Hills.

Other sports, such as cycling and running, are also popular in the state. In 1991, the state opened the George S. Mickelson Trail, a 114 mile rail trail in the Black Hills. Besides being popular with cyclists, the trail is also the site of a portion of the annual Mount Rushmore marathon. Other events in the state include the Tour de Kota, a 449 mile, eight-day cycling event that covers much of the eastern part of the South Dakota, and the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which draws thousands of participants from around the United States.

Additional South Dakota Resources:

South Dakota Relocation Guide - Moving anywhere, even to a great place like South Dakota, means there will be a number of chores that need to get done. We’ve put together this quick guide to help newcomers feel at home faster and make the transition into your new life in South Dakota as smooth as possible.
State of South Dakota - South Dakota's Government Website
SD Department of Agriculture - The Department of Agriculture is responsible for the promotion and enhancement of South Dakota Agriculture, and for the implementation of a variety of state laws relating to agriculture.
SD Game, Fish, and Parks - Official homepage of Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
SD Economic Development - Provides information on agency programs, incentives, state and county profiles, labor, buildings and parks.
Travel South Dakota - The official website of the South Dakota Office of Tourism.