9 Unique Trivia Facts About South Dakota You Might Not Have Heard Before
Tori Jane
Author
When it comes to states people actively try to visit on a bucket list, it’s entirely reasonable to say that South Dakota is probably not the place most folks will think of first (unless, of course, it’s time for Sturgis). But our little corner of the nation is a bit more nuanced than that; as it turns out, South Dakota has a long list of fun facts and intriguing trivia to sort through. Should anyone ever ask, you can always come back to this list of nine fun facts about South Dakota that even the locals might not know about.
1. South Dakota has more shoreline than Florida does. Yes – that's true. You can check.
2. The Crazy Horse Monument is located in South Dakota and is the single largest mountain carving in the world, measuring in at an impressive 563 feet high and 641 feet long.
3. South Dakota is home to numerous incredible geological and archaeological sites, one of which is the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, which are thought to be 23 to 35 million years old.
4. Rapid City is home to the world’s largest reptile museum, as well as one of the largest pow-wows in the nation. It’s a culture thing, and it’s pure SoDak.
Related Stories
9 Surefire Signs You Have Strong Roots in South Dakota
Some People Don’t Know That South Dakota Was The First To Do These 5 Things
20 Undeniable Reasons To Fall In Love With South Dakota
5. South Dakota is the 16th-largest state in the United States, encompassing 77,123 square miles of absolutely jaw-dropping landscapes.
6. South Dakota has a state flower, and that flower is the unassuming (but beautiful) Pasque flower.
7. Speaking of official state things, South Dakota’s official state animal is the coyote. It is estimated that there are about 70,000 to 75,000 coyotes in the whole state.
8. The population of South Dakota is – for the entire state – under one million people. As of the 2020 census, it was home to 909,824 people.
9. The South Dakota state mineral is rose quartz, and the state gemstone is Fairburn Agate. The state fossil is the triceratops.
Planning a trip to SoDak and don’t know where to stay? Our friends at Booking.com ought to be able to help with that. How many of these facts about South Dakota did you know already? Let me know!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.