South Dakotans are a breed apart. We live in one of the most beautifully diverse places in the country, and our residents are no different. Some of the insane things South Dakotans do might seem downright strange to people in the rest of the country, but we know that we’re totally normal. Kind of.

1. Only in South Dakota do we decorate the exterior of a building with corn cobs and husks...and then tear it off and redo it every year with new designs.
Marilyn Taylor/flickr
The Corn Palace is man-made wonder that just can't be adequately explained to out-of-staters. It might be a little weird to spend $130,000 and countless hours nailing corn cobs on the outside of this palace every year, only to tear it all down the following year and start over, but our beloved Corn Palace is worth every bit of time and money we spend on it.
2. We stay home from work and school to go hunting.
nicholasputz/flickr
I'm sorry - algebra class and punching the clock just can't even begin to compete with the bonding we do with family and friends while hunting. Plus...fresh jerky!
3. We don't lock our doors.
sylvaf/flickr
This isn't New York City or Detroit, people. We know all our neighbors, and they're South Dakotans just like us...why would we need to lock our door?
4. We can spend hours playing cornhole.
Ryan Snyder/flickr
What better way to hang with our friends and have some good, clean fun? The beer helps, too.
5. We invite roughly 750,000 people to hang out in a town that typically has less than 7,000 residents.
haley 7/flickr
You'd think that if we were going to hold the country's largest motorcycle rally, we'd at least host it in one of our bigger cities. In fact, the population of Sturgis during the rally is almost as the same as the entire population of our state! We have to admit that we love it, though.

Related Stories

You May Be Surprised To Learn These 9 Famous People Are From South Dakota

You May Be Surprised To Learn These 9 Famous People Are From South Dakota

 Dating options were limited. - Small High School In South Dakota

9 Things You Know Are True If You Went To A Small High School In South Dakota

 10 Reasons Why Everyone Should Marry A South Dakotan

10 Reasons Why Everyone Should Marry A South Dakotan
6. We pronounce the name of our capital city the way it's supposed to be pronounced.
Roderick Eime/flickr
No, it's not pee-air. And don't give us that look. We live here. We know how to pronounce it. (It's 'peer' for those newbies who are still trying to figure it out.)
7. The state of South Dakota allows kids to get an instruction permit at age 14.
State Farm/flickr
It seems like just yesterday when your kid was still watching Disney movies and playing with Barbies - now she's behind the wheel! Of course, our fourteen-year-olds can only drive with a parent or guardian, but it still seems crazy to people who don't turn over the keys until their kids are sixteen.
8. We eat our chili with a warm, gooey cinnamon roll on the side.
Alan/flickr
People in the rest of America pair their bowl of chili with some warm cornbread or a soft, fluffy dinner roll. Not us! We throw down dessert right next to our chili and eat it all at the same time!
9. We spend hours canning and pickling our fresh fruits and vegetables.
Dave Wilson/flickr
Sure, folks in other states preserve the bounties from their gardens, but ask a New Yorker if she canned green beans this fall and she'll give you a blank look. Why would you spend hours sweating over the stove if you can buy a can of green beans from the store? Because they're better when you grow 'em and can 'em yourself, that's why!
10. We suck it up when it snows and just start shoveling.
oddharmonic/flickr
Our friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota might do this too, but those wimps in Florida and Arizona can't believe that we don't just huddle inside by a roaring fire when it snows. living in South Dakota you grow up tough - and we teach our kids early, too. Throw on a parka and a hat and get out there!
11. We clean our guns when our daughter brings her boyfriend home to meet us.
teresaphillips1965/flickr
Oh wait...did you think it was just a coincidence that her dad had his gun out to clean it when you got there? Probably not. We're easygoing folk, but don't mess with our daughters.

What are some other South Dakota stereotypes that are kind of crazy? Tell us in the comments!

Even if we are a little quirky at times, here are 15 reasons my heart will always be in South Dakota.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

insane things South Dakotans do

Luke | March 04, 2021

What are the best things about living in South Dakota? 

Some states have more livable areas than others, but all states have some truly great reasons to consider a move. Let's look at some of the best reasons to move to/live in South Dakota: 1) career opportunities. According to reports, South Dakota is in the top ten states for job opportunities; 2) salary and taxes. No personal income tax, personal property tax or inheritance tax; 3) high quality of life with low cost of living. According to US News, SD is the 2nd best state for quality of living! That's a pretty good mark. 

What are the worst things about living in South Dakota? 

As we saw above, there are plenty of reasons to think that South Dakota is a great place to reside and call home, but it might not be for everyone. Although stereotypes are inflated and over exaggerated, there are still kernels of truth in them, such as for some South Dakota will not offer them the same opportunities or big city feeling as you might get in other states. Some also think that the local cuisine lacks imagination, or that there's not much to do there. What do you think are the worst reasons to move to South Dakota?

What are some common stereotypes in South Dakota? 

As with every state, there are some things that only residents from that state do, and South Dakota is no different. So here are some common stereotypes that you'll only find in South Dakota: 1) all South Dakotans have accents; 2) everyone drives tractors everywhere; 3) electricity and technology haven't yet reached South Dakota; 4) there’s literally nothing to do in South Dakota; 5) nothing but corn fields and farms. What do you think? Are these fair assessments of SD?

Related Articles

Explore South Dakota

Featured Addresses
South Dakota, USA