Q 01/05

What is the capital of South Dakota?

A) Sioux Falls

B) Rapid City

C) Pierre

D) Yankton

Answer · why

C) Pierre

Pierre, which locals pronounce 'peer', won the capital in 1889 because it sits near the geographic centre of the state, beating rivals such as Huron.

Q 02/05

Which classic children's book was written by a former Aberdeen, South Dakota, shopkeeper and newspaper editor?

A) The Call of the Wild

B) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

C) Little Women

D) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Answer · why

B) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz came from L. Frank Baum, whose Aberdeen store, Baum's Bazaar, failed within two years, as did the newspaper he ran next; he...

Q 03/05

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

A) Montana

B) Minnesota

C) Nebraska

D) North Dakota

Answer · why

D) North Dakota

North Dakota arrived with its twin: President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the two admission papers before signing so nobody would know which 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 Missouri splits the state in culture as much as geography: East River is farm country with most of the people, while West River is ranch land and ...

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

Sioux Falls is named for the Big Sioux River's falls, which investors trusted to power the seven-storey Queen Bee Mill in 1881; the flow proved too we...