Geography of South Dakota
Geographic and political features of South
Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the north-
central United States. It is usually considered
to be in the Midwestern region of the coun-
try. The state can generally be divided into
three geographic regions: eastern South
Dakota, western South Dakota, and the Black
Hills. Eastern South Dakota is lower in eleva-
tion and higher in precipitation than the
western part of the state, and the Black Hills
are a low, isolated mountain group in the
southwestern corner of the state. Smaller
sub-regions in the state include the Coteau
des Prairies, Coteau du Missouri, James River
Valley, the Dissected Till Plains, and the Bad-
lands. Geologic formations in South Dakota
range in age from two billion-year-old Pre-
cambrian granite in the Black Hills to glacial
till deposited over the last few million years.
South Dakota is the 17th-largest state in the
country.
South Dakota has a humid continental cli-
mate featuring four very distinct seasons,
and the ecology of the state features plant
and animal species typical of a North Americ-
an temperate grassland biome. A number of
areas under the protection of the federal or
state government, such as Badlands National
Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Custer
State Park, are located in the state.
In 2005, the population of South Dakota
was estimated to be 775,933, and the state
ranks fifth-lowest in both total population as
well as population density in the United
States. Sioux Falls, with a population of just
over 150,000, is the largest city in the state.
Rapid City ranks as South Dakota’s second-
largest city, and Pierre is the state capital.
Historically a very agricultural state, the ser-
vice and tourism sectors have grown in eco-
nomic importance in recent years.
Location and size
Location of South Dakota in the United
States
South Dakota is situated in the north-central
United States, and is usually considered to be
a part of the Midwest, although the Great
Plains region also covers the state. Addit