Q 01/05

What is the capital of South Dakota?

A) Sioux Falls

B) Rapid City

C) Pierre

D) Aberdeen

Answer · why

C) Pierre

Locals say it 'peer', not the French way. It has been the capital since statehood in 1889 and is one of only four state capitals with no Interstate hi...

Q 02/05

What is South Dakota's official nickname?

A) The Coyote State

B) The Mount Rushmore State

C) The Sunshine State

D) The Prairie State

Answer · why

B) The Mount Rushmore State

Coyote State is an older unofficial nickname, and the coyote is still the state animal. The tourism slogan since 1990 is 'Great Faces. Great Places.'

Q 03/05

Which neighbouring state joined the Union on the very same day, 2 November 1889?

A) Montana

B) Wyoming

C) Nebraska

D) North Dakota

Answer · why

D) North Dakota

President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the two admission papers before signing on 2 November 1889 so nobody would ever know which Dakota came first.

Q 04/05

Which river cuts South Dakota into the halves locals call East River and West River?

A) The Big Sioux

B) The Missouri

C) The Cheyenne

D) The James

Answer · why

B) The Missouri

The split is cultural as much as geographic: East River is farm country, West River is ranch land and the Black Hills. The river also roughly marks th...

Q 05/05

What is South Dakota's most populous city?

A) Rapid City

B) Sioux Falls

C) Aberdeen

D) Brookings

Answer · why

B) Sioux Falls

It is named for the waterfalls of the Big Sioux River, which you can still walk to in Falls Park downtown.