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Most Amazing Fun Facts About South Dakota
- The total number of visitors to South Dakota as of October 2021 was 13.3 million, which is 21.6% higher than the number by 2020, according to South Dakota Tourism.
- The Jewel Cave in Custer County, South Dakota is the second-largest cave system in the United States and the third-largest in the world. There are 181.89 miles of trails drawn in this cave system. This is one of a series of fun facts about Dakota.
- Dakota has the second largest highway in the world. South Dakota has 83,609 miles (134,556 km) of highways, roads, and streets, and 679 miles (1,093 km) of interstate highways.
- South Dakota’s first newspaper, the Dakota Democrat, began publishing in Yankton in 1858. South Dakota’s second-largest newspaper. This is one of a series of fun facts about Dakota.
- South Dakota has the lowest teacher pay in the world. South Dakota’s average public school teacher salary in 2008 was $ 36,674, the lowest in the country (national average $ 52,308).
- Dakota is the Sioux word for “friend” or “allies” Dakota Territory November 2, 1889
- Divided into South Dakota and North Dakota. The most famous site in South Dakota is Mount Rushmore National Monument located in Pennington County. It opened on October 31, 1941.
- The world’s largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was discovered in 1990 by Sue Hendrickson near Faith in South Dakota. The fossil was named Sue in memory of Sue Hendrickson.
- The U.S. Geological Survey is located about 20 miles north of Belle Fort in South Dakota. This is one of a series of fun facts about Dakota.
- The largest buffalo herd in the U.S. lives at the Standing Butte Ranch near Pierre. This is one of a series of fun facts about Dakota.