South Dakota ACLS Certification and Recertification

SOUTH DAKOTA ACLS CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

About South Dakota

South Dakota became the 40th state in 1889. The state capitol of South Dakota is Pierre with a population of 14,052 people (2005 Census). Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state, with 139,517 people (2005 Census). The total population of South Dakota is 814,180 people (2010 Census). South Dakota is comprised of 75,885 square miles of plains and prairie in the east, rolling hills in the west, and Black Hills to the southwest. The state flower is the American pasqueflower. The state bird is the ring-necked pheasant. The state insect of South Dakota is the honeybee. South Dakota was first explored in 1743 by Francois Verendrye and Louis-Joseph of France.

The area was acquired by the United States in 1803 under the Louisiana Purchase. It was then explored in 1804-06 by Lewis and Clark. The first settlement was established in Fort Pierre in 1817. The arrival of the railroad in 1873 was what led to the initial settlement of the state. This increase in settlement continued to grow with the discovery of the Black Hills and the gold there in 1874. Agriculture was the primary industry in South Dakota for years, but as times have changed, the industry has shifted from agriculture toward manufacturing and private service industries.

In recent years, agriculture has abounded in the production of flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and hay. South Dakota is a leader in the United States for the production of these important crops. Tourism is also a more recent prominent source of income for the state, generating more than $1 billion per year. The Black Hills are popular with tourists for their history and height.

The most iconic tourist site in South Dakota is without a doubt Mt. Rushmore. Created by Gutzon Borglum, the likenesses of Jefferson, Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Washington are all carved into the granite mountain face. The city of Deadwood is also a popular tourist site, which is the place where Wild Bill Hickok was killed in 1876. Other prominent historical figures and famous people from South Dakota include Tom Brokaw, Sitting Bull, Hubert Humphrey, Mary Hart, Crazy Horse, and others.