Despite our crazy winters and unpredictable weather, South Dakota is the shining star of the Midwest. In fact, “Great faces, great places” is so much more than a state slogan, as it rings true of the people and pride of those who are lucky enough to call this state home. All of this being said, these 20 fun facts about South Dakota will make you fall in love with this state all over again.

1. Mount Rushmore
Photo Credit
Four of America’s greatest presidents carved into stone. Need I say more?
2. Four Seasons
Don Graham / Flickr
This isn't a Frankie Valli reference, folks, as South Dakota truly has four beautiful seasons. Weather ranges from wintertime snow to spring thunderstorms to the sunny days of summer and then the jaw-dropping changing of the leaves in fall. Do you really need any more reasons to love South Dakota?!
3. Lightning Bugs
Mike Lewinsky / Flickr
In the summer, just after dark, lightning bugs can be spotted by the thousands. They light up the prairie and they’ll win over your heart.
4. Potato Oles
Taco Johns
The crispiest, most flavorful, seasoned Tex-Mex potato bite you will ever eat. Head over to Taco Johns to experience the deliciousness.
5. Small Town Vibe
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Everyone knows everyone. Literally. It's one of the many joys of living South Dakota, a state with less than 1,000,000 people.
6. East River Prairie and West River Hills
Black Hills National Forest, West Pennington, SD 57745, USA
jimmers54 / Flickr
South Dakota is split in half by the Missouri River. On the east side of the river you will find rolling prairies, and on the west side you will find the Black Hills National Forest.
7. Hot Air Balloons
In the summer, hot air balloons can be seen for miles.
Jason Mrachina / Flickr
In the summer, hot air balloons can be seen for miles, making it one of our favorite things to do in South Dakota.
8. Baby Bears
13820 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
farmboyted / Flickr
Fall in love with South Dakota and these baby bears! Once a year, Bear Country, located in Rapid City, lets you pet their baby bear cubs. The rest of the summer, you are able to drive through the park to view the adult bears in their natural habitat.
Address: 13820 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702
9. Free Music Festivals
LifeLight Music Festival
Another thing to love about South Dakota is that it is truly a state that values music. You can find free music all summer long at Jazzfest and LifeLight Music Festival. Not only do all of these offer free admission, but also days worth of live music!
10. Winter Sports
Asbjørn Floden / Flickr
From snow shoeing to cross country skiing to snowboarding, you can do it all in South Dakota. (Eat your heart out, Colorado!)

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11. Low Cost of Living
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
Residents of South Dakota boast about the benefits of the low cost of living. Why? Well, if you really need a reason, spending less on rent and taxes means more time and money to explore the rest of the beautiful state!
12. Booming Small Business Economy
Jeffrey Beall / Flickr
If you are looking to start your own business, South Dakota is a great place to do it, thanks to the aforementioned low costs and overhead.
13. State Pride
Cuksis / Flickr
People who live in South Dakota, love South Dakota. (If you need more reasons to love South Dakota, we got 'em!)
14. Great Coffee
2318 S Louise Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Coffea/ Facebook
Coffee lovers, look no further, as South Dakota has one of the world’s greatest coffee shops! Coffea, located in Sioux Falls, roasts their own award winning coffee, making it a MUST when visiting South Dakota.
Address: 2318 South Louise Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
15. Thrifting
Geoff Wilson / Flickr
For all of you antique lovers, this is your state, thanks to thrift stores galore; many of them with low, low prices on all the unique junk you’ve been hunting for! Check out our full list of the best thrift stores in South Dakota.
16. Badlands
25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD 57750, USA
John B. Kalla / Flickr
Perhaps the shining star of South Dakota is Badlands National Park. Encompassing 244,000 acres, the park serves as a refuge for bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black footed ferrets. The perfect destination for hiking, camping, and photo ops.
Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750
17. Bagel Boy
2505 S Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
bionicgrrrl / Flickr
Located only in Sioux Falls, SD, Bagel Boy may well serve the best bagel you'll ever eat. Best of all, these homemade bagels are piled high with cream cheese.
Address: 2505 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
18. Unbeatably Fresh Farmer's Markets
Rob Bertholf / Flickr
Farmer's Markets run from spring through fall in South Dakota. Even better? Being an agricultural state means the produce is fresh off the farm!
19. See for Miles
Justin Meissen / Flickr
Whether East River on the prairie or West River on Harney’s Peak, you can truly enjoy the landscape for miles upon miles. Just another thing to love with South Dakota.
20. Rich History
Matthew Paulson / Flickr
South Dakota has so much to offer in the present day. Its rich history only adds to the awe and wonder of such a beautiful state. The state holds stories of Lewis & Clark, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Crazy Horse, finding gold and more.

How did we do, South Dakota? Did we miss any of your favorite things about life in South Dakota? Let us know in the comments!

For more fun facts about South Dakota, check out our article about South Dakota history.

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More to Explore

Why South Dakota Is The Best State

Annie Sandmeier | May 27, 2019

Is South Dakota a good place to live? 

South Dakota is a great place to live! Here are a few reasons South Dakota is the best place to live:

  • South Dakota is not only small but safe
  • We don't have to pay income taxes
  • There are plenty of jobs
  • We have great schools
  • It's a great place to retire

 

What are the best cities to live in South Dakota? 

These are the best cities to live in South Dakota:

  • Sioux Falls
  • Rapid City
  • Aberdeen
  • Hot Springs
  • Yankton

 

If you crave the hustle and bustle of the city, you are going to go crazy for beautiful Sioux Falls and all of its restaurants, attractions, shopping, outdoor recreation, and shows. Do you want to live somewhere that is the epitome of SoDak? You cannot go wrong with the Rapid City area, which is close to not only Mount Rushmore, but Crazy Horse, Reptile Gardens, Deadwood, and more. Are you either nearing retirement or just want a safe and quiet place to raise your family? There are plenty of smaller South Dakota towns that you may like, including Aberdeen, Hot Springs, or Yankton.

Is South Dakota or North Dakota better? 

South Dakota is a better place to live! While our neighbors to the north may think they are superior, we in fact are, as there is a lot more to see and do here, the cost of living is still lower, and - believe it or not - it is actually a bit warmer here in the south than it is in North Dakota. While North Dakota likes to argue that they have oil and therefore plenty of jobs, South Dakota is still not hurting on the employment front, with a current unemployment rate of only 2.8%.

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