8 Undeniable Differences Between The Eastern And Western Parts Of South Dakota
Anyone who’s been in South Dakota very long knows about the good-natured rivalry between East River and West River. It often seems as though we’re two states, divided by the Missouri River. Whether you think one side is better than the other or not, you can’t deny that there are distinct differences between the two.


You can't have a bbq without burgers and corn on the cob, though, so we definitely need both.
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We can't help but love our state bird, which is both gorgeous and draws a huge crowd during hunting season. But the bison are pretty cool, too, and they aren't found in very many places in the U.S. anymore.


Both are scenic...you just have to remind yourself to enjoy East River's beauty when you're chugging along at 10 mph.


Though Mount Rushmore was obviously a much bigger project, we can't help but be almost as proud of the Corn Palace, and you won't find either anywhere else in the world.
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East River is proud of its European heritage; West River is proud of its Wild West heritage.


There's nothing like a slice of pie at Purple Pie Place in Custer, but East River folks love a slice of kuchen, which reminds us of our grandmothers.

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South Dakota has a very small population overall, but our larger towns tend to be on the east side of the Missouri.


The scenery is definitely different from one side of the river to the other, but it's all beautiful.
What other differences would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
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