South Dakota Trivia & Tidbits

Looking for South Dakota trivia? Try our list South Dakota little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

North Eagle Butte (pop. 2,163) is the largest community on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.

first appeared: 10/18/2009

The world's deepest underground science lab-at a depth of more than six Empire State buildings-is being built at the former Homestake Gold Mine in Lead (pop. 3,027). Scientists, politicians and other officials had a ceremonial groundbreaking of sorts in June for the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. The site is ideal for scientists' quest for mysterious particles known as dark matter.

first appeared: 10/4/2009

A 1919 barn, built with 14 sides and an automated hay and manure handling system, is among 30 furnished buildings from 1880 to 1920 that can be explored at the Original 1880 Town near Murdo (pop. 612). The attraction includes props from the movie Dances with Wolves and memorabilia from rodeo champ Casey Tibbs.

first appeared: 9/20/2009

According to legend, the 66 Italian artists who laid the terrazzo floor in the Capitol in Pierre (pop. 13,876) were each given a blue stone to place as their signature. Only 55 of the blue tiles have been found.

first appeared: 9/6/2009

With 148,281 residents, Minnehaha County is the state's most populated county. Jones County is the least populated with 1,193 people.

first appeared: 8/23/2009

More than 35 historic sandstone buildings are located in downtown Hot Springs (pop. 4,129), which is among the reasons the town was named one of a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" this year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The town is famous for its healing waters, American Indian ceremonial sites and mammoth site.

first appeared: 8/9/2009

Since 1957, a steam locomotive nicknamed the "1880 Train" has chugged between Hill City (pop. 780) and Keystone (pop. 311) on the Black Hills Central Railroad.

first appeared: 7/26/2009

—In 1875, Valentine McGillycuddy, a topographer and surgeon, was the first white man to climb to the top of 7,242-foot Harney Peak, the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, near Custer (pop. 1,860).

first appeared: 7/12/2009

—Meade County (pop. 24,253) is the state's largest county in land mass. It covers more than 2 million acres, which is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

first appeared: 6/28/2009

—Instead of celebrating Columbus Day on the second Monday in October, South Dakota residents celebrate Native Americans' Day, a legal state holiday since 1990.

first appeared: 6/14/2009

—Men's college basketball coach Ward Lambert, born in 1888 in Deadwood (pop. 1,380), wrote the textbook Practical Basketball in 1932, one of the first bibles of the game. Lambert led Purdue University to 11 Big Ten championships.

first appeared: 5/31/2009

—Established as a general store in 1919, Al's Oasis in Oacoma (pop. 390) has expanded many times and now serves locals and hungry and weary travelers with a restaurant, motel, grocery store, clothing store, gift shop, campground, convenience store, resort and gas station.

first appeared: 5/17/2009

—In 1927, Nellie Zabel Willhite (1892-1991) became the state's first female pilot, after instruction at an aviation school in Sioux Falls. Willhite is believed to have been the nation's first deaf pilot. She was born in Box Elder (pop. 2,841).

first appeared: 5/3/2009

–Established in 1879 by men of the Lakota Sioux tribe, the Sioux YMCA, headquartered in Dupree (pop. 434), serves youth and families in villages on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation.

first appeared: 4/19/2009

—"A bed in the shed" is how owners Bill and Barb White promote their unusual bed-and-breakfast in a renovated metal shed attached to the 1907 Herrick Elevator in Herrick (pop. 105).

first appeared: 4/5/2009

—Mentor Graham, who taught grammar and surveying to Abraham Lincoln in New Salem, Ill., moved with his son's family to Blunt (pop. 370) in 1883. The house where he lived can be toured.

first appeared: 3/22/2009

—To mark the 100th anniversary of the last wagon train to travel the Fort Pierre (pop. 1,991) to Deadwood (pop. 1,380) trail to the Black Hills in search of gold, a modern-day wagon train pulled by horses and mules retraced the journey over 17 days last summer.

first appeared: 3/8/2009

—The state celebrated its “Pheasantennial” last year, which marked the 100th anniversary of the successful introduction of the Chinese ring-necked pheasant to the state’s prairies.

first appeared: 2/22/2009

—The best year for pheasant hunting in the state was 1945, when 175,000 hunters bagged 7.5 million roosters, an average of 43 birds per hunter.

first appeared: 2/8/2009

—Snow White, Dorothy and Cinderella are among characters from children’s books, nursery rhymes and fables at the free theme park Storybook Island, open since 1959 in Rapid City (pop. 59,607).

first appeared: 1/11/2009

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