South Dakota

South Dakota Forklift Parts - South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Dakota and Lakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an estimated population of a little over 800,000 and an area of 77,116 square miles or 199,730 km2. The state capital is Pierre and Sioux Falls, with a population of just about 160,000, is South Dakota's biggest city.

The state of South Dakota is bounded by the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming. The state is divided by the Missouri River, dividing South Dakota into two socially and geographically distinct halves, known to people as "West River" and "East River". Eastern South Dakota is home to most of South Dakota's residents, and fertile soil within this particular region is utilized to grow various crops. West of the Missouri, ranching is the predominant agricultural activity, and the economy is more dependent on defense spending and tourism. A group of low pine-covered mountains, the Black Hills, is located within the southwest area of South Dakota. The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux. A major tourist spot, Mount Rushmore, is situated there. Other attractions in the southwest consist of Wind Cave and Badlands national parks, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and historic Deadwood. The state of South Dakota experiences a temperate continental weather condition, with four distinct seasons and precipitation ranging from moderate in the east to semi-arid in the west. 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 South Dakota as the fifth smallest it total production. In that very same year, the per capita personal income ranked 25th in the US at $38,865. During the year 2008, 12.5% of the people was below the poverty line.

The service trade is the largest economic contributor within South Dakota. This sector consists of the retail, finance, and health care businesses. Citibank, that was the largest bank holding company within the United States at one time, established national banking operations within the state of South Dakota in the year 1981 to take advantage of favorable banking regulations. Government spending is another important segment of the state's economy, providing more than 10% of the gross state product. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-biggest single employer in South Dakota.

In the past, agriculture has been vital to the economy of South Dakota. In recent decades, various major businesses have expanded fast; whilst in rural regions, agricultural production is still extremely vital to the state's economy. The five most important agricultural products within the state of South Dakota are corn, soybeans, cattle, hogs and wheat. Businesses related to agriculture such as meat packing and ethanol production also have a significant economic effect on the state. The state of South Dakota is the sixth leading ethanol-producing state in the nation.