The People
Many South Dakotans are descended from families that came to the United States from northern and central Europe during the second half of the 19th century. Scandinavians were the first and largest immigrant group to settle in the state. They were followed by Germans, Czechs, and Dutch. Settlers also came from other parts of the United States and Canada. In 1890 about one-third of the population of South Dakota was foreign-born. There was no significant immigration to the state during the heavy influx to the United States from eastern and southeastern Europe after 1890.
The American Indian population (almost all Sioux) numbers more than 50,000. Most live on reservations.
Lutherans make up the largest religious group, followed by Roman Catholics, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.
| Annual events in South Dakota | |||
| January-July | |||
| Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City (January-February); Black Hills Horse Expo in Rapid City (April); Schmeckfest in Freeman (April); New Frontier Bull Ride in Presho (May); Sioux Empire Ribfest in Sioux Falls (June); Fort Sisseton Historical Festival at Fort Sisseton State Park (July); Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration in Keystone (July); Days of ‘76 in Deadwood (July). | |||
| August-December | |||
| Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis (August); Riverboat Days in Yankton (August); Oak Lake Bluegrass Jamboree in Astoria (August); Great Dakota Wine Fest in Vermillion (September); Spirit of the West Festival in Sioux Falls (September); Black Hills Pow Wow in Rapid City (October); Capitol Christmas in Pierre (November-December). | |||
According to the 2000 census, South Dakota ranked 46th in population among the states. The population density was 9.9 persons per square mile (3.8 per km 2 ). Whites made up 88.7 per cent of the population and Indians, mainly Sioux, most of the rest.
Almost three-fourths of all South Dakotans lived in the eastern half of the state, where the best farmland and most of the larger cities are located. In the west the only notable concentration was in the northern part of the Black Hills, especially the Rapid City area. South Dakota has one of the nation's highest percentages of rural population.
