South Dakota. "Under God the people rule" The United States of America. James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman. Pierre. I Save A Tree Electronic Books

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1 "Under God the people rule" South Dakota The United States of America James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman Pierre I Save A Tree Electronic Books C 2003 I Save A Tree Inc. ISBN# X

2 Table of Contents Location 5 History before statehood 7 History since statehood 9 State government 11 State flag 13 Current facts 15 Industry today 17 State landmarks 19 Weather and land 21 Animals in South Dakota 23 State bird 25 State tree 27 State flower 29 Famous people from South Dakota 31 Things to do in South Dakota 33 Popular sports in South Dakota 35 Fast facts 37 Glossary 39 Web sites / books for information 41 Index 43 Credits 45

3 Location South Dakota is a Midwestern state. To the north of South Dakota is North Dakota. To the east are the states of Minnesota and Iowa. Nebraska is to the south, forming the southern border. Wyoming and Montana are to the west. The capital is Pierre. It is located in the middle of the state. Pierre 6

4 History Before Statehood Train France claimed the region in In 1803, the land was sold to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark explored the area in In 1831, steamboats on the Missouri River helped develop the fur trade. The discovery of gold in 1874 in the Black Hills and the arrival of the railroad, brought many settlers. Deadwood was established in the middle of the mining camps. It became the most lawless town in the nation. Steamship 8

5 History Hydroelectric power Since Statehood On November 2, 1889, South Dakota became the 40th state. Droughts have played an important role in the state's history. When the rains came, so did settlers and farmers. When the drought struck, people left the state. During World War I, the economy improved and more people arrived. A ten-year drought began in the 1930s, which brought terrible dust storms called "black blizzards." World War II brought prosperity to the state. In 1944, the Missouri River Basin Project built four hydroelectric dams. This brought thousands of workers to the state. Dust storm 10

6 Government State capitol building The state government of South Dakota is divided into three branches. Governor Mike Rounds is head of the executive branch. This branch is in charge of carrying out the laws. The legislature has two parts, the Senate and House of Representatives. The third branch is the judicial branch. This branch interprets the laws. S outh Dakota has 67 countie s. Each has a local government. Governor Mike Rounds 12

7 State Flag The state flag of South Dakota was adopted in It has a blue field with a copy of the state seal. On the seal, the chimney represents mining, the plowman stands for farming and the riverboat shows transportation. Since 1963 there's a gold circle around the seal representing the blazing rays of the sun. Letters reading "South Dakota, The Mount Rushmore State," the state nickname, are arranged in a circle around the sun. 14

8 Current Facts Belle Fourche Belle Fourche, South Dakota, is the geographical center of the United States. It was designated so in 1959 with a monument the sheepherders called "Stone Johnnie." There are over 754,844 people in South Dakota. The state is ranked the 46th largest state for the number of people living in it. South Dakota covers 75,898 square miles. It is ranked the 16th largest state in total area in the United States. Plains 16

9 Industry Today Dairy cows South Dakota's fertile soil is the basis of its great agricultural economy. Beef, dairy cows, hogs and sheep are raised on the farms. Wheat, corn, oats and soybeans are some of the important crops grown in South Dakota. Food processing is a major industry. Mining is important. The most important metal mined is gold. Other industries include machinery, lumber and jewelry products. Tourism is another important industry. Lumber 18

10 Landmarks Mount Rushmore One of America's most famous sights is Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. The faces of Presidents George Washington,Thomas Jefferson,Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were carved in the side of the mountain with dynamite. The Badlands of South Dakota is an area of strange stone shapes carved by erosion. Mata Paha or "Sacred Mountain" is in many Native American legends. It rises 1,400 feet above the prairie. This mountain is also known as Bear Butte. Badlands 20

11 Weather & Land Thunderstorm The average winter temperatures in South Dakota range from 10 to 22 Fahrenheit. Summer average temperatures range from 78 to 68 in the Black Hills. The average yearly precipitation is 13 inches in the northwest and 25 inches in the southeast. The land in South Dakota is mostly prairie, grassland and farmland.there are low rolling hills and lakes in the east and plains in the southeast. The western two-thirds of the state is covered by the hills of the Great Plains. The Black Hills are in the southwest corner. Badlands 22

12 Animals Rattlesnake In South Dakota The coyote was named the state animal in 1949 because of its large numbers. South Dakota's wildlife includes white-tailed deer, antelopes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk and mountain goats. A herd of 1,500 bison roam Custer State Park. The prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake native to South Dakota. A number of different birds, including partridges, grouse, prairie chickens and wild turkeys can be found in South Dakota. Coyote pup 24

13 State Bird Pheasant The ringnecked pheasant (Phasianus culchicus) was named the state bird in Chinese ringnecked pheasants were introduced into the state in the late 1880s. The ringnecked pheasant is an important game bird in South Dakota and many other states. The male ring-necked pheasant is colorful. Its feathers are brown, red, gold, buff, blue and black. Its name comes from the white ring around its neck. The bird has a long tail. Pheasants eat berries, seeds and insects. Pheasant 26

14 State Tree New growth Black hills spruce The Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca densata) was named the state tree in The spruce is an evergreen tree of the pine family. They have cones that hang downward. Most spruce tree needles are four sided and short, growing less than an inch long. The trees are usually shaped like pyramids, and can grow to be 150 feet tall. Spruce wood makes good masts for sailing ships. Spruce is also used for wood pulp in the paper-making industry. 28

15 State Flower Pasqueflower The pasqueflower (Pulsatilla hirsutissima) was named the state flower in It is also called the May Day flower. It grows wild in South Dakota and the midwestern plains of North America. The flowers are one of the first signs of spring in South Dakota. The small flowers are purple with yellow centers. The plant's fuzzy leaves have many leaflets that spread out like the fingers of a hand. Pasqueflower 30

16 Famous People Wild Bill's grave Chief Crazy Horse was a great Sioux Indian chief who was an important leader in the Sioux War of Chief Sitting Bull was a Sioux Indian medicine man. He advised the Indians in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane were famous army scouts. More recent South Dakotans include newscaster Tom Brokaw, Senator and Vice-President Hubert Humphrey and actress Cheryl Ladd. Monument to Crazy Horse 32

17 Things to Do In South Dakota Boot Hill The Black Hills with Mount Rushmore and the Badlands area are popular spots to visit. Deadwood was a wild and lawless mining town. Many famous frontier characters are buried in the town's Boot Hill Cemetery. Wind Cave and Jewel Cave are in the Black Hills. Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world with more than 120 miles of passageways. Other activities in South Dakota include rodeos, pioneer celebrations, fairs and stagecoach races. Wind Cave 34

18 Sports In South Dakota Horse racing Favorite sports include hunting, fishing, hiking and camping in the scenic countryside. Unusual sports like horse racing and is also enjoyed. South Dakota has sports teams at both the high-school and the college level. Hiking 36

19 Sun flowers Fast Facts Governor:Mike Rounds Capital, Pierre Size: 75,898 square miles, 16th in the U.S. Population: 754,844 people, 46th in the U.S. Major cities: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen,Watertown, Pierre, Huron Nickname: "Mount Rushmore State" State animal: coyote State bird: ring-necked pheasant State flower: pasqueflower State tree: Black Hills spruce State song: "Hail, South Dakota" State motto: "Under God the people rule" Big-horn sheep 38

20 Glossary character, a person marked by conspicuous or peculiar traits. drought, a long spell of dry weather. game bird, any bird hunted chiefly for sport. hydroelectric, the production of electricity by waterpower. newscaster, a broadcaster of radio or television news. passageway, a way that allows passage or permits one to travel. plowman, a man who guides a plow, a farmworker. pyramid, a structure having a polygonal base with triangular sides that meet at the apex. sight, something seen or worth seeing. venomous, full of venom, poisonous, able to kill. 40

21 Links & Books For more information Link1 Link2 Link3 Title: The World Book Encyclopedia Publisher: World Book, Inc. Copyright: 2002 Title: The Kid's World Almanac of the United States Author: Dr.Thomas G. Aylesworth Publisher: World Almanac Copyright: 1990 Title: Exploring the 50 States Author: Marcie Anderson Publisher: Willowisp Press, Inc. Copyright: 1983 Visit our 42

22 Index Badlands, 20, 33 Mount Rushmore, 19, 33 Black Hills, 8, 19, 21,22, 33, 34 pasqueflower, 29 coyote, 23 Pheasant, ring-necked, 25, 26 Deadwood, 8, 33 Pierre, 5 gold, 8, 14, 18, 26 Rounds, Mike, 11 Missouri River, 7, 10 Sioux, 31 spruce, Black Hills, 27 44

23 Credits Written by James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman Edited by Linda Coyner Produced by Robert Rance Technologies Doug Meyers Design Dan Mader Photos credits South Dakota Department of Natural Resources I Save A Tree Inc. reserves the right to remove or exchange any photo/illustration at any time without notice. 46