South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who compose a large portion of the population and historically dominated the territory. South Dakota is the seventeenth largest by area, but the fifth smallest by population and the 5th least densely populated of the 50 United States. As the southern part of the former Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889, simultaneously with North Dakota. Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls, with a population
South Dakota Highway 244 it passes Summit Peak. Near Old Baldy Mountain, the route enters the Mount Rushmore National Monument area. It curves around the park and heads back to the north. The route ends at US 16A south of Keystone. Highway 244 was originally part of South Dakota Highway 87. The switch to Highway 244 occurred in 1977. South Dakota Highway 244 South Dakota Highway 244 (SD 244) is a short state highway located entirely within Pennington County, South Dakota which provides access to Mount Rushmore. Highway 244 runs generally east–west between its eastern terminus at US 16A near Keystone and its western