SD · Mount Rushmore State · Midwest · admitted 1889 (#40)
South Dakota map
South Dakota highlighted on the US map, with its capital Pierre on the Missouri River and largest city Sioux Falls in the far southeast. The Missouri divides the state into Central and Mountain time.
- Capital
- Pierre
- Largest city
- Sioux Falls
- Population (2020)
- 886,667
- Area
- 77,116 sq mi
- Counties
- 66
- Region
- Midwest · West North Central
- Statehood
- November 2, 1889
Where South Dakota is
South Dakota lies in the north-central Great Plains, between the 43rd parallel and about 45°56'N. It measures about 380 miles east to west and about 245 miles north to south. Clockwise from the north: North Dakota along a surveyed parallel, Minnesota along a meridian and the Big Sioux and Bois de Sioux lakes to the east, Iowa across the Big Sioux River in the southeast corner, Nebraska across the Missouri River and then along the 43rd parallel to the south, and Wyoming and Montana along a meridian to the west. It is the 17th-largest state by area and 46th by population.
Major cities
| City | Region of state | Population (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | Southeast, on the Big Sioux | 192,517 |
| Rapid City | West, at the Black Hills | 74,703 |
| Aberdeen | Northeast, James River valley | 28,495 |
| Brookings | East, near the Minnesota line | 23,377 |
| Pierre (capital) | Central, on the Missouri | 14,091 |
Pierre is the second-smallest state capital by population after Montpelier. Sioux Falls and Rapid City are 350 miles apart on Interstate 90 and sit in different time zones.
Geography
- Highest point — Black Elk Peak, 7,242 ft, in the Black Hills, the highest summit east of the Rockies. The Black Hills also hold Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave.
- Missouri River — crosses the state north to south through four reservoirs: Oahe (the largest, 231 miles long), Sharpe, Francis Case and Lewis and Clark. See the Missouri River map.
- Badlands — eroded buttes and spires between the Black Hills and the Missouri, protected in Badlands National Park. See the national parks map.
- East River — glaciated prairie with the James and Big Sioux rivers and the Prairie Coteau's glacial lakes around Watertown; the low point is about 966 ft on Big Stone Lake at the Minnesota line.
- West River — unglaciated shortgrass plains, the Cheyenne and White rivers, and the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Cheyenne River reservations.
- Time zones — roughly the eastern half is Central and the western half Mountain, with the line following county boundaries near the Missouri.
Borders
The Missouri and Big Sioux rivers form the natural southeastern border with Nebraska and Iowa; the rest of the Nebraska line is the 43rd parallel. Minnesota's border is a meridian (about 96°27'W) interrupted by Big Stone Lake and Lake Traverse. The western border with Wyoming and Montana is the 27th meridian west of Washington, about 104°03'W, and the North Dakota line is the 7th standard parallel. The Dakota Territory was split along that parallel in 1889 and both halves became states on the same day.
Regions of South Dakota
South Dakotans divide the state into East River and West River at the Missouri. East River holds Sioux Falls, the James River valley (Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell) and the Glacial Lakes region; West River holds the Black Hills (Rapid City, Deadwood, Custer), the Badlands and the reservations. Pierre and the river bluffs around the reservoirs are usually treated as Central South Dakota.
Related maps
- South Dakota county map — all 66 counties with seats.
- Blank South Dakota map — outline for printing.
- Printable South Dakota map.
- Pierre — the capital, chosen for its position at the state's center.
- Neighbors: North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana.
- Midwest, West North Central division, Great Plains, Central Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone.
- Geography: Missouri River, Great Plains, national parks.