How Far Across Is South Dakota?

237 miles.
South Dakota is about 383 miles long (east to west) and 237 miles wide (north to south). The geographic center of South Dakota is located in Hughes County, 8 miles NE of Pierre.

How wide is South Dakota?

South Dakota

Why is South Dakota so flat?

Numerous glacial lakes cover the Coteau, and it is largely drained by the Big Sioux River, a tributary of the Missouri. Further to the west, the James River Basin is mostly low, flat, highly eroded land, following the flow of the James River through South Dakota from north to south.

Is South Dakota flat or hilly?

South Dakota’s topography varies widely, from gently rolling plains, to deep river valleys, barren hills and forested mountains, allowing visitors the chance to explore quite diverse landscapes.

What are 3 things South Dakota is famous for?

Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and Wind Cave are among the state’s national parks. 10. Famous South Dakotans include actors January Jones and Cheryl Ladd, activist and actor Russell Means, journalist Tom Brokaw and Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

Why does it get so cold in South Dakota?

Part of that is because of where we’re located. “We’re kind of in the middle of the continent, so we can get warm, moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, but we can also get very cold dry air come down from Canada.” said Laura Edwards, a climatologist at South Dakota State University.

Is South Dakota always cold?

The western half of the state falls into the semiarid steppe category; plentiful sunshine and low average annual precipitation characterize this kind of climate. Both major climate types in South Dakota are very windy, with hot summers and very cold winters.

Why do they call it Badlands?

The Lakota people dubbed this region “mako sica,” or “bad lands,” long ago because its rocky terrain, lack of water and extreme temperatures made it difficult to traverse. Today, the Badlands are a great place for hiking, fossil hunting, taking a scenic drive and spotting wildlife.

Is South Dakota a good place to live?

It has one of the very best qualities of life in the country as well as one of the strongest economies and job markets in the nation. South Dakota also consistently ranks as one of the happiest states in the union. It’s truly a great place to call home.

What are 5 interesting facts about South Dakota?

Fast Facts

• Nickname: The Mount Rushmore State.
• Statehood: 1889; 40th state.
• Population (as of July 2015): 858,469.
• Capital: Pierre.
• Biggest City: Sioux Falls.
• Abbreviation: SD.
• State bird: Ring-necked pheasant.
• State flower: Pasque flower.

What type of Indians live in South Dakota?

They include the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Yankton Sioux Tribe. The Sioux Nation plays a pivotal role in the state’s history and heritage.

Was South Dakota an ocean?

During the early Paleozoic era South Dakota was submerged by a shallow sea that would come to be home to creatures like brachiopods, cephalopods, corals, and ostracoderms. Local sea levels rose and fall during the Carboniferous and the sea left completely during the Permian.

Is Mt Rushmore in the Badlands?

The Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota
From the four faces carved high on Mount Rushmore and the Cathedral Spires of Custer State Park to the wondrous caverns of Wind Cave, from the otherworldly Badlands in the east to Devils Tower in the west – the Black Hills are home to many truly monumental places.

How cold is South Dakota in the winter?

The cold alternates between mild and extreme, producing average January highs below 32°F (0°C) and average lows below 10°F (-12°C). Whether you’re celebrating winter on the western or eastern side of South Dakota, be sure to pack warm clothing when visiting between December and February.

What is South Dakota minimum wage?

$9.95 per hour
What is South Dakota’s minimum wage? The minimum wage is $9.95 per hour (effective Jan. 1, 2022).

Is South Dakota a poor state?

South Dakota is not ranked as the richest state in the country – nor the poorest. We’re in the midway point, as we are geographically. Our neighbors to the north, oil-rich North Dakota, soared to 17th richest state in the study while South Dakota came in 30th.

What predators live in South Dakota?

Endangered predators are the black-footed ferret, gray wolf, and swift fox. Other endangered wildlife are: Birds: Whooping Crane and Eskimo Curlew, Fish: Pallid Sturgeon, Paddlefish, Blue Sucker, and Topeka Shiner.

What is the racial makeup of South Dakota?

South Dakota Demographics
White: 83.61% Native American: 8.53% Two or more races: 3.41% Black or African American: 2.14%

What is the hottest month in South Dakota?

July
The hot season lasts for 3.2 months, from June 8 to September 15, with an average daily high temperature above 79°F. The hottest month of the year in Winner is July, with an average high of 89°F and low of 65°F.

What state has the worst winters?

Alaska. Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S. Alaska’s average temperature is 28.1°F (-2.7°C) and can go as low as -30°F (-34°C) during the winter months.

Which state has the worst weather?

1. California

• Extreme weather score: 73.1.
• All-time maximum temperature: 134°F.
• All-time minimum temperature: -45°F.
• All-time greatest 24-hour precipitation: 25.8 inches.
• All-time maximum 24-hour snowfall: 67.0 inches.
• Annual tornadoes per 10k square miles: 0.7 per 10k square miles.