South Dakota

Capital: Pierre

Population: 754,844

Entered the Union: Nov. 2, 1889

As the 40th state

Motto: Under God the people rule

Nickname: Mount Rushmore State; Coyote State

Origin of Name: From the Sioux tribe, meaning allies.

Major Industries: Agriculture (grains and cattle, dairy and hogs), tourism, and the manufacturing of food and related products.

Historical Sites: Mt. Rushmore is famous for the likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Points of Interest: The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell; The city of Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickok was killed in 1876 and where gambling was recently legalized to truly recapture the city's Old West flavor.