South Dakota - Welcome to U.S. County Courthouses!

Entered Union November 2, 1889 (40^th state)

South Dakota (886,668), Pierre (14,088), Sioux Falls (192,700)

The granite capitol was originally completed in 1910 using the designs of Bell & Ditweiler. It is located on Capitol Avenue at Nicollet Avenue. United States Highway 14 is 2 blocks southwest of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, and Renaissance style. The Supreme Court is housed in the Capitol in Pierre. The state was officially created as the 40^th state on November 2, 1889 from Native American lands and the Dakota Territory. Pierre has been the capital since 1889 with Yankton and Bismarck as territorial capital. The state is named for the Native American tribe. Pierre is named for the fort which is named for trader Pierre Chouteau, Jr. Sioux Falls is named for the falls of the Big Sioux River whose name comes from the Native American tribe. Black Elk Peak in Pennington County is the highest point and the lowest point is on the border of Roberts and Grant counties and Minnesota at Big Stone Lake.

South Dakota government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of School and Public Lands, and Three Public Works Commissioners. There are 35 Senators and 70 Representatives in the Legislature. Five Supreme Court Justices serve South Dakota in the Judicial. South Dakota is located in the north central part of the United States. The geographic center is in Hughes County 8 miles northeast of Pierre. The state is surrounded clockwise by North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.

The area is 77116 square miles. It is 17^th largest state in the country. It is the 46^th most populated state in the country. It has a density of 11.5 persons per square mile making it 46^th in the country. Its major rivers are the Missouri, the Red, the Cheyenne, and the Big Sioux. Pierre is located in the center of the state. Sioux Falls is in the southeast quarter of the state near the border with Minnesota.