50 Years of 50 States: South Dakota

Nickname: The Mount Rushmore State
Ratification Date: November 2nd, 1889 (40th)
Capital: Pierre

Map of South Dakota

• In order to attract the financial services industry to the state, South Dakota was the first state to eliminate caps on interest rates.
• Belle Fourche, South Dakota is the geographic center of all 50 states.
• South Dakota is home to Mt. Rushmore, the presidential monument located in the Black Hills.
• North Dakota and South Dakota were originally one territory prior to statehood. Because of regional rivalries, the Dakota Territory was split in two. In order to not show favoritism when admitting the two states into the Union, President Benjamin Harrison had the paper shuffled, and which state was admitted first was never recorded.
• Despite President Harrison’s attempts, South Dakota was admitted 2nd because the states were registered in alphabetical order.
• The current South Dakota state flag was adopted in 1992. Before then, where it says “The Mount Rushmore State,” it said “The Sunshine State.”

Flag of South Dakota

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