South Dakota
“The Mount Rushmore State”
What Makes South Dakota Beautiful
South Dakota is home to some of America's most iconic landmarks, from the carved presidential faces of Mount Rushmore to the surreal spires of Badlands National Park. Wind Cave's vast underground passages, the Black Hills' ponderosa forests, and Custer State Park's roaming bison herds create a landscape of Western grandeur.
Key Metrics
0.9M
Population
$67.2B
GDP
+5.2%
GDP Growth (5yr)
$65.3K
Median Income
7.1%
Tax Burden
History
Custer expedition discovers gold in the Black Hills
Admitted as the 40th state
Wounded Knee Massacre, a tragic turning point in Native American history
Mount Rushmore carving begins under sculptor Gutzon Borglum
Mount Rushmore completed after 14 years of work
Top Cities
Sioux Falls
200K
Largest city; economic hub; Big Sioux River falls
Rapid City
77K
Gateway to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
Aberdeen
29K
Hub City; Northern State University
Brookings
24K
South Dakota State University; ag research
Pierre
14K
State capital; Missouri River; smallest state capital
Economy & Industry
Core Industries
Natural Resources
Energy Portfolio
Budget & Fiscal Health
$7.2B
State Budget
$6.8B
State Revenue
$-0.4B
Fiscal Balance
Social Indicators
12.5%
Poverty Rate
30.2%
College Degree
8.5%
Uninsured
428/100K
Crime Rate
Where is South Dakota Headed?
GDP Projections ($B)
| Scenario | 1yr | 5yr | 10yr | 25yr | 50yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic | $68B | $72B | $77B | $94B | $132B |
| Baseline | $68B | $71B | $75B | $87B | $113B |
| Pessimistic | $68B | $69B | $72B | $79B | $92B |
Political Landscape
R+16