| South Dakota is a large state with | | | | Dakota. In Aberdeen, closer to the |
| 77,000 square miles and 750,000 people. | | | | Canadian border, there is the state |
| It is known for farming and some of its | | | | school, Northern University. Nearby is |
| tourist atrractions, particularly the | | | | the Richmond Lake Recreational area, |
| Mt. Rushmore sculptures, in the Black | | | | with cabins and other camping |
| Hills, and its national parks. There is | | | | facilities. It has over 10 miles of |
| also a large banking sector in the | | | | trails for hikers and bikers, and there |
| state, something to keep in mind when | | | | is extensive fishing and wildlife in the |
| choosing your South Dakota | | | | area. |
| Incorporation. Its largest city is | | | | South Dakota is also known for its |
| Sioux Falls, with 145,000 people, and | | | | National Parks and Monuments. In 1978 |
| the capital is Pierre. Other larger | | | | the Badlands National Park was formed, |
| cities are Rapid City and Aberdeen. | | | | and before that in 1903, the Wind Cave |
| South Dakota also has casinos at | | | | National Park. Wind Cave has nearly 120 |
| Deadwood and various Indian | | | | miles of explored underground |
| reservations. | | | | passageways. |
| The Missouri River runs through the | | | | Mt. Rushmore is truly a unique American |
| center of the state. Four dams on the | | | | monument. It shows the faces of four |
| Missouri River have created flood | | | | American Presidents, George Washington. |
| control and hydropower and recreational | | | | Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and |
| opportunities. Overall, South Dakota is | | | | Abraham Lincoln. It was begun in 1927 |
| a fairly dry state, with most of the | | | | by the sculptor Gutson Borglum, and took |
| state averaging 25-inches or less. This | | | | 14-years to complete. The faces are 60 |
| does create periodic problems with | | | | feet high, 500 feet up the mountain |
| drought. Agricultural production | | | | side. Mt. Rushmore goes up 5.725 feet. |
| includes beef, wheat, corn, soybeans, | | | | There is also the Lincoln Borglum museum |
| sheep and poultry. | | | | at the site, with exhibits and a film |
| There are no personal or corporate taxes | | | | shown. |
| in the state, which has made the state | | | | Badlands National Park has its famous |
| known as very business friendly. Due to | | | | moonscape, which is created by eons of |
| the state?s corporate policies, such | | | | erosion. There are also rich deposits |
| financial giants such as Citigroup have | | | | of fossils here. Badlands National Park |
| moved into the state, and are large | | | | is located in Southwestern South Dakota. |
| employers, mainly in Sioux City. Other | | | | More than 62,000 American Indians live |
| banks active in the state are Great | | | | in South Dakota, mostly of the Sioux |
| Western Bank, Bank First, HSBC and Wells | | | | peoples. Most of these tribes operate |
| Fargo. Many of these banks moved into | | | | casinos. There is the Dakota Sioux |
| South Dakota in 1981 when the usury | | | | Casino, near Watertown, north of Sioux |
| ceiling on interest rates was raised, | | | | Falls. It has blackjack, slot |
| and moved their credit card divisions | | | | machines, poker, as well as fine dining |
| here. Other industries in Sioux City | | | | and entertainment. Another casino is in |
| are John Morrell meat packing plant, and | | | | Lower Brule, called the Golden Buffalo |
| Hutchinson Tech- a manufacturer of | | | | Casino and Motel. There are slot |
| close-tolerance products and precise | | | | machines here. It is by the Crow Creek |
| metal-springs that hold disk drive?s | | | | Indian Reservation, southeast of Pierre, |
| recording heads. Tyco has an electronic | | | | the state capital. |
| power component in Watertown, South | | | | |