Flag of South Dakota facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:5 |
| Adopted | November 9, 1992 |
The flag of South Dakota is the official flag for the U.S. state of South Dakota. It has a bright blue background. In the middle, you'll see a special version of the state seal. This seal is surrounded by golden triangles. These triangles look like rays from the sun. Around these rays, there are golden letters. They spell "SOUTH DAKOTA" at the top. At the bottom, they say "THE MOUNT RUSHMORE STATE". This is the state's nickname.
The sun on the flag shows the sunny weather common in South Dakota. Before 1992, the bottom inscription was "THE SUNSHINE STATE".
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South Dakota Flag Pledge
The state of South Dakota has an official pledge for its flag. A pledge is a serious promise. The words are: "I pledge loyalty and support to the flag and state of South Dakota, land of sunshine, land of infinite variety."
It's important to know that this pledge does not replace the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States. You should always say the U.S. flag pledge first.
History of the South Dakota Flag
South Dakota has had a few different flags over the years. The current flag was adopted in 1992.
Original Flag Design (1909-1963)
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The very first flag of South Dakota was created in 1909. It also had a blue background. In the center, there was a large golden sun. Above the sun, it said "South Dakota" in gold letters. Below the sun, it said "The Sunshine State" in gold letters.
On the back of this flag, the Great Seal of the State of South Dakota was printed in dark blue. The edges of the flag were trimmed with a gold fringe. The flagpole usually had a spearhead on top.
Second Flag Design (1963-1992)
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In 1963, the flag was updated. It kept the blue background and the sun design. However, the words "The Sunshine State" were changed to "The Mount Rushmore State". This change highlighted one of South Dakota's most famous landmarks, Mount Rushmore. This version of the flag was used until 1992, when the current flag was adopted.
