1. Abigail Rusk SOUTH DAKOTA

2. 2010 Census total population: 814,180 2014 estimated population: 853,175 Over the past five years the population has increased. POPULATION FACTS

3. Here are three nicknames for South Dakota: Sunshine State In the state publications promoting tourism because of the great percentage of sunshine that is present during the year. Coyote State This nickname simply refers to the large coyote population in the state. The Mount Rushmore State This is the official nickname of South Dakota. STATE NICKNAME FACTS Cont.

4. THE NEEDLE’S EYE FACTS Cont. This unique rock formation is nestled in South Dakota's Black Hills along Needles Highway. Tight roads, one lane tunnels and spiraling pigtail bridges also make this one thrilling driving experience.

5. Limestone is a sedimentary rock were deposited over 65 million years ago in a vast inland sea that covered most of this state. Limestone Manganese is in certain areas in the state, significant reserves of uranium and low grade manganese ore may also be found. Manganese NATURAL RESOURCES https://www.easycalculation.com/chemistry/elements/mangan ese.html

6. Granite in the Black Hills is too fractured to be useful for building. Granite http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-granite-spires-and-trees- custer-state-park-south-dakota-20851204.html- NATURAL RESOURCES CONT.

7. THE STATE TREE IS: Black hills spruce THE STATE FLOWER IS: Pasque flower THE STATE BIRD IS: Chinese ring necked pheasant SYMBOLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA Chinese ring necked pheasant is native to China and East Asia, but has been introduced to other parts of the world Pasque flower is available in blue, pink, red, yellow, white and purple. The plant is native to the meadows, foothills and prairies of North America, Europe and Asia. Black hills spruce is found naturally only in southwest South Dakota and a small portion of northeast Wyoming. http://www.imgneed.com/pheasant -ring-necked-wallpapers.html http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pa sque-flower-sally-hanrahan.html http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguid e/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=922

8. Here are three major attractions to visit: 1. Badlands National Park 2. Mount Rushmore 3. Custer State Park PLACES TO VISIT Badlands National ParkMount Rushmore Custer State Park

9. Badlands National Park has a wide range of geological variety: Jagged cliffs, deep canyons and sharp buttes, formed by relentless forces of nature. The rocks and fossils found in the Badlands preserve evidence of ancient ecosystems and give scientists clues about how early mammal species lived. PLACES TO VISIT CONT.

10. Custer State Park, in 1965, held its first Buffalo Roundup and Auction which today is one of the Black Hills signature events. Today, the park's buffalo heard totals over 1,300. PLACES TO VISIT CONT.

11. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a large-scale mountain sculpture by artist Gutzon Borglum. The figures of America's most prominent U.S. presidents— George Washington Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt PLACES TO VISIT CONT.

12. There are 3 major areas of South Dakota: 1. Eastern South Dakota 1. Lower elevation and higher in precipitation 2. Western South Dakota 1. Higher elevation and lower in precipitation 3. Black Hills Area 1. Low, isolated mountain group in the southwestern corner. BRIEF GEOGRAPHY

13. GOVERNOR Dennis Daugaard is the 32nd Governor of South Dakota. http://sd.gov/governor/aboutdennis.aspx

14. Great Faces. Great Places. The State of South Dakota license plate depicts the Mount Rushmore National Monument. It represents some of the greatest Presidents and some great places in South Dakota. SOUTH DAKOTA LICENSE PLATE

15. The South Dakota state quarter has the state bird, Chinese ring necked pheasant, and the image of Mount Rushmore. The new quarter was minted in 2006. SOUTH DAKOTA QUARTER

16. GLADYS PYLE – (1890 - 1989) SITTING BULL – (1831–1890) HUBERT H. HUMPHREY– (1911–1978) FAMOUS PEOPLE http://www.biography.com/people/huber t-h-humphrey-9347008 http://www.biography.com/people/sitting -bull-9485326 http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biod isplay.pl?index=p000581

17. Hubert H. Humphrey – (1911–1978) Hubert H. Humphrey was born on May 27, 1911, in Wallace, South Dakota. He went on to serve as vice president under Lyndon B. Johnson, later running unsuccessfully for the presidency against Richard Nixon in 1968. http://www.biography.com/people/hubert-h-humphrey-9347008 FAMOUS PEOPLE CONT.

18. Sitting Bull – (1831–1890) His skills as a warrior and the respect he'd earned as a leader of his people led him to become chief of the Lakota nation in 1868. "[I] would rather die an Indian than live a white man," he famously said. http://www.biography.com/people/sitting-bull-9485326 FAMOUS PEOPLE CONT.

19. Gladys Pyle– (1890 - 1989) She was the first female member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. She was also the first women elected to U.S. Senate from South Dakota. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=p000581 FAMOUS PEOPLE CONT.