Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Sioux Falls are just some of the places that come to mind when thinking of South Dakota. The US state, part of the Great Plains and named after Native American tribes who comprise a large proportion of its population, is the 17th largest in the country by area while also the 5th least populous.
Low population density and great geographical attractions make South Dakota synonymous with great natural open spaces. What is South Dakota known for, and what are some things you shouldn’t miss if you visit the state?
Here are 12 fun facts about the Mount Rushmore state:
- South Dakota’s largest city is Sioux Falls.
- South Dakota is home to the fastest temperature swing in the world.
- The Black Hills are the center of the US.
- It’s the place to study mammoths.
- South Dakota has more shorelines than Florida.
- Agriculture is the largest industry.
- Mount Rushmore took 14 years to complete.
- The Crazy Horse mountain carving could become the second-largest sculpture in the world.
- Olympic glory
- There is a corn palace here.
- Gold production
- Which came first?
Let’s dive into the details.
What Is South Dakota Known For?
1. South Dakota’s largest city is Sioux Falls.
If you’ve been watching the TV series Fargo, the name “Sioux Falls” might send a few chills down your spine. The location for lots of fictional gruesome murders is more than that, though!
With just under 170,000 inhabitants, Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state – offering lots of amenities and attractions while still keeping a familiar small-town feel. Compare that to the state capital, Pierre, where only 13,961 people live!
Sioux Falls is on the banks of the Big Sioux River and the Great Plains prairie, so it’s an excellent place to begin exploring the South Dakota great outdoors. And, of course, from here you can visit the famous waterfall which is just a few blocks from downtown.
2. South Dakota is home to the fastest temperature swing in the world.
Talk about a difference from day to night! In Spearfish, South Dakota, thermometers recorded -4 degrees at 7.30 am on January 22, 1943. Only two minutes later, a front of hot air made them show +45! This happened again later in the day, swinging from 54 to -4 within 27 minutes.
It’s not a paranormal activity, but air currents of different temperatures can explain it. As per the explanation from the National Weather Service, cold and warm air moving back and forth at the base of the Black Hills would be the culprits.
3. The Black Hills are the center of the US.
From a geographical point of view, this small mountain range is the center of the United States. Moreover, the Sioux and the Cheyenne populations present here claimed rights to this land before Europeans arrived, seeing it as the center of the world.
When the United Nations was founded, the Black Hills were suggested as the headquarters for the organization. Eventually, New York was chosen thanks to its proximity to Europe, making travel easier from overseas.
Today, the Black Hills are home to Mount Rushmore and numerous other tourist attractions, including Wind Cave National Park, Black Elk Peak (the highest point in the United States east of the Rockies), Spearfish Canyon Deadwood, and more.
4. It’s the place to study mammoths.
If you’re fascinated by these creatures, South Dakota is an ideal place to be. The Mammoth Site museum and paleontological site near Hot Springs, SD, is an active excavation site with ongoing research into mammoths. This is the largest such location in the world. You can visit the museum, housing an extensive collection of mammoth remains, and find out all about the 61 mammoths unearthed during excavations.
5. South Dakota has more shorelines than Florida.
Thanks to all its rivers and glacial lakes, you’ll find more shorelines in South Dakota than on the oceanfront. This is why it’s a popular destination for those looking to camp in the great outdoors while taking advantage of numerous water features.
Most South Dakota campgrounds offer pools, water splash parks, and water slides, alongside access to the rivers, waterfalls, and lakes occurring naturally in the state.
6. Agriculture is the largest industry.
Up to 30% of the economy of the state relies on agriculture. So, what is South Dakota known for producing? It’s among the top 10 producers of hay, sunflowers, rye, honey, soybeans, corn, wheat, and cattle.
Beyond agriculture, tourism is a huge industry, bringing in around $2 billion a year from those visiting Mount Rushmore and the national parks.
7. Mount Rushmore took 14 years to complete.
The sculptor Gutzon Borglum began sculpting the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in 1927, but it wasn’t until 1941 that construction was declared complete. The plan was to carve each president down to their waist, but he passed away in 1941. The timing couldn’t have been more difficult: it was close to the United States becoming involved in World War II, so the monument work was stopped early.
8. The Crazy Horse mountain carving could become the second-largest sculpture in the world.
This memorial carving is a gigantic project being worked upon on the side of a mountain in South Dakota. It’s been under construction since 1948! Although most people think it will never finish, it should become an impressive depiction of the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing at his tribal land. There is now a nonprofit organization managing the work, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
If it gets completed as planned, it will be 641 ft long and 563 ft tall, making it larger than almost any other statue and second only to the Statue of Unity in India.
9. Olympic glory
South Dakota is home to the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 m race. Born in Pine Ridge, SD, in 1938, William Mervin was victorious at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
10. There is a corn palace here.
Indeed, South Dakota is famous for producing various agricultural products. But, when it comes to corn, they take it really seriously. The city of Mitchell has a corn palace which was built in 1892. The locals redecorate it with corn and multi-colored grain murals every fall. The palace was built in 1892 and is the world’s only such building, which helps it attract over half a million people every year.
11. Gold production
South Dakota is also known for producing gold. Its Homestake Mine was the longest-producing gold mine in the history of the US, and it was only closed in 2002. It also was the largest and the deepest gold mine in North America.
12. Which came first?
Controversy surrounds the declaration of South and North Dakota as states. They both became a state on November 2, 1889, but it was never disclosed which one was named first. There is also no evidence around this because President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the bills and signed one at random, with the order unrecorded. Traditionally, however, North Dakota is always listed first.
Conclusion – What Is South Dakota Known For?
In summary, here are 12 things South Dakota is known for:
- South Dakota’s largest city is Sioux Falls.
- South Dakota is home to the fastest temperature swing in the world.
- The Black Hills are the center of the US.
- It’s the place to study mammoths.
- South Dakota has more shorelines than Florida.
- Agriculture is the largest industry.
- Mount Rushmore took 14 years to complete.
- The Crazy Horse mountain carving could become the second-largest sculpture in the world.
- Olympic glory
- There is a corn palace here.
- Gold production
- Which came first?