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 Lift Truck Chain South Dakota - The US state of South Dakota is located in the Midwestern region of the country. The name "Dakota" comes from the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Prior to becoming a state on November 2, the year 1889, South Dakota were part of Dakota Territory. The state has an area of 77,116 square miles or 199,730 km2 and a projected population of just over 800,000. The state capital is Pierre and Sioux Falls, with a population of nearly 160,000, is South Dakota's largest city.
South Dakota is bounded by the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. The state is bisected by the Missouri River, separating South Dakota into two geographically and socially distinct halves, known to people as "West River" and "East River". Eastern South Dakota is home to most of South Dakota's people, and fertile soil in this particular region is utilized to be able to grow various crops. West of the Missouri, the predominant agricultural activity is ranching, and the economy is more dependent on defense spending and tourism. The Black Hills, a group of low pine-covered mountains, is situated in the southwest part of South Dakota. The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux. A major tourist destination, Mount Rushmore, is located there. Other attractions within the southwest consist of Badlands and Wind Cave national parks, Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and historic Deadwood. The state of South Dakota experiences a temperate continental weather, with four distinct seasons and precipitation ranging from semi-arid in the west and moderate in the east. The ecology of South Dakota features species typical of a North American grassland biome.
As of the year 2010, the current gross state product of the state of South Dakota was $39.8 billion. This ranks the state as the fifth smallest it total production. During that same year, the per capita personal income ranked 25th within the country at $38,865. In 2008, 12.5% of the residents was below the poverty line.
The largest economic driver within the state of South Dakota is the service trade, including the areas of finance, health care and retail trades. Citibank, which was the biggest bank holding company in the United States at one time, established national banking operations within the state of South Dakota in 1981 to take advantage of favorable banking regulations. Government spending is one more vital segment of the state's economy, providing over 10 percent of the gross state product. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-biggest single employer in the state.
Agriculture has historically been a key element of the South Dakota economy. Though other industries have grown quickly in recent decades, agricultural production is still really important to the state's economy, specially in rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs. Agriculture-related businesses such as meat packing and ethanol production likewise have a significant economic impact on the state of South Dakota. South Dakota is the sixth leading state which produces ethanol within the nation.
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