History of South Dakota

South Dakota was admitted as the 40 ^th state of the United States of America on November 2, 1889.

The history of South Dakota dates back to 7000 years. The region was first inhabited by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers and was later inhabited by semi-nomadic people who were known as Mound Builders. The Crow Creek massacre of the fourteenth century killed many inhabitants. It occurred between Indian groups of the region and resulted in the killing of many natives. By the sixteenth century, Arikara tribe had settled in the region. By the nineteenth century, they were replaced as the dominant group by Sioux.

The first European contact began in the middle of eighteenth century. LaVerendrye brothers were the first to explore the region. It later became a French territory, as part of greater Louisiana. France granted Spain all the territory west of Mississippi River in 1762 by signing the Treaty of Fontainebleau. It was later returned by Spain in 1800 in the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Three years later, United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte. The first American fur trading post was set up in 1817 at present-day Fort Pierre. The largest present-day cities of Sioux Falls and Yankton were founded in 1856 and 1859 respectively. Dakota territory was established in 1861, by the government of United States.

Because of the increase in population of the region, the region was divided into two, North and South Dakota. Benjamin Harrison, the then-President admitted both the states to the Union on November 2, 1889. A year later on December 29, the Wounded Knee Massacre killed hundreds of people, including children. It occurred near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. The 7th Cavalry Regiment massacred people in Lakota, killing at least 150 men, women, and children.

South Dakota's economy was disastrously hit by economic and climatic conditions during the 1930s. A drought-like situation, commonly known as the Dust Bowl, occurred in the state. Dust Bowl, coupled with the Great Depression and the local bank foreclosures forced many South Dakotans to leave the state. South Dakota's economy stabilized during the second World War. During 1944, huge dams were constructed on the Missouri River and agriculture gained importance. Today, the economy of the state has diversified, with tourism emerging as a significant sector. Financial service industry also contributes to the economy of the state.