History of South Dakota facts for kids
The history of South Dakota tells the story of this U.S. state from its very first people to the challenges it faces today. It's a journey through thousands of years, filled with different cultures and big changes.
Contents
Early Inhabitants of South Dakota
People have lived in the area we now call South Dakota for thousands of years. The first hunters likely came to North America over a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the last ice age. These early settlers were nomadic, meaning they moved around a lot. They hunted large animals like mammoths and sloths using simple tools. This ancient way of life changed around 5000 BC when many of these large animals disappeared.
Between AD 500 and 800, a group known as the 'Mound Builders' lived in eastern South Dakota. They were hunters who built low earthen mounds for burials. Many of these mounds can still be seen today. Their settlements were mostly near the Big Sioux River and Big Stone Lake. By the year 800, these people either joined other groups or faced conflicts that led to their decline. Later, between 1250 and 1400, farming communities arrived from the east. These people, possibly ancestors of the modern Mandan tribe, settled in the central part of the state. Around 1325, a large conflict occurred near Chamberlain, leaving behind evidence of a significant event.
Arikara People and Their Villages
The Arikara people, also called the Ree, began moving into the region in the 1500s. They spoke a language similar to the Pawnee and likely came from areas now known as Kansas and Nebraska. Unlike some other tribes, the Arikara mostly lived in permanent villages. These villages often had strong fences around circular earthen lodges built on hills overlooking rivers.
Each Arikara village had its own leaders, and the different Arikara groups formed a loose alliance. Besides hunting, they grew crops like corn, beans, and pumpkins. They were also skilled traders, connecting tribes from the north and south. It's thought that Spanish horses first reached the area around 1760 through their trading networks. The Arikara were powerful in the 1600s, with many villages. However, due to illnesses and pressure from other tribes, their numbers decreased. They eventually joined with the Mandan tribe to the north. The Pawnee, a related tribe, also lived in parts of the state.
Cheyenne and Their Journey
The Lakota people's stories tell of them moving the ancestors of the Cheyenne from the Black Hills in the 1700s. Before this, the Cheyenne were two tribes called the Tsitsistas and Sutaio. After conflicts, much of their land was in southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska. They had resisted the Sioux for a long time but were greatly affected by a smallpox outbreak. The Cheyenne are also known for introducing horses to the Lakota.
Ioway and Otoe Tribes
The Ioway tribe lived where South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa meet, north of the Missouri River. Their sister tribe, the Otoe, lived south of them. They spoke the Chiwere language, an old form of the Siouan language. Their culture was similar to the Dhegihan Sioux tribes in Nebraska and Kansas.
The Powerful Sioux Nation
By the 1600s, the Sioux people, who would later become very important in the state, lived in central and northern Minnesota. They spoke a Siouan language and were divided into two main groups: the Dakota and Nakota. In the early 1700s, the Sioux began moving west into the plains. This move happened because there was more food to the west. Also, rival tribes like the Ojibwe had obtained rifles from the French, while the Sioux still used bows and arrows.
Moving to the prairies changed the Sioux way of life greatly. They became more nomadic, like other northern plains tribes. They relied more on bison for food and used horses for travel. They also started living in tipis, which were perfect for people who moved frequently.
Once on the plains, the Sioux groups divided into three separate nations: the Lakota, the Assiniboine, and the remaining Sioux. The Lakota crossed the Missouri River around 1760 and reached the Black Hills by 1776. They settled mostly in western South Dakota and nearby states. Other Sioux groups, like the Yankton and Santee, settled in different parts of South Dakota and Minnesota. These migrations by the Sioux caused other tribes, like the Cheyenne and Arikara, to move to new areas.
Later, the Lakota and Assiniboine reunited, forming a large group called the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires. This group had different cultural sections and seven distinct tribes, each with its own chief. They worked to secure a homeland from the U.S. government. However, conflicts over land increased between the Sioux and American settlers. This led to changes in agreements, and the U.S. government later recognized some of its past mistakes in a Supreme Court case in the 1980s.
European Explorers Arrive
French Claims and Explorations
France was the first European country to claim the land that would become South Dakota. French explorers likely entered eastern South Dakota in the late 1600s. For example, Daniel G. Duluth sent explorers west from Lake Mille Lacs in 1679. They might have reached Big Stone Lake and the Coteau des Prairies. Traders like Pierre Le Sueur also visited the Big Sioux River Valley.
In 1743, the Verendrye brothers were the first Europeans to enter South Dakota from the north. They were looking for a water route to the Pacific Ocean. They buried a lead plate near what is now Fort Pierre. Schoolchildren rediscovered this plate in 1913.
Spanish Control and Trade
In 1762, France secretly gave all its territory west of the Mississippi River to Spain. This was part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Spain wanted to protect its claims in the region. They encouraged trade with local tribes and more exploration, still hoping to find a water route to the Pacific.
Traders like Jacques D'Eglise and Juan Munier were active in the area. In 1793, the Missouri Company was formed in St. Louis to promote trade and exploration. They sponsored several trips up the Missouri River. In 1794, Jean Truteau built a cabin near where Fort Randall is today. The Mackay-Evans Expedition traveled up the Missouri in 1795, removing British traders from the area. In 1800, Spain returned the Louisiana territory to France.
American Explorers Map the Land
In 1803, the United States bought the vast Louisiana Territory from France. This purchase included almost all of present-day South Dakota. President Thomas Jefferson organized the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore this new land. Their mission was to follow the Missouri River to its source, reach the Pacific Ocean, and meet with local tribes. They also mapped the area and studied its plants and geology.
The expedition started from St. Louis on May 14, 1804. They slowly traveled against the Missouri River's current, reaching South Dakota on August 22. Near Vermillion, they visited Spirit Mound, a place with local legends about "little spirits." They had a peaceful meeting with the Yankton Sioux. However, an encounter with the Lakota Sioux further north was more tense, with weapons shown on both sides before the Lakota allowed them to pass. In north-central South Dakota, the expedition helped the Arikara and Mandan tribes make peace. After leaving the state on October 14, they continued their journey, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean and returning safely in 1806.
Fur Trading in the Region
In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at what is now Fort Pierre. This marked the beginning of continuous American settlement in the area. During the 1830s, fur trading was the main business for the few white settlers. Over one hundred fur-trading posts existed in South Dakota during the first half of the 1800s. Fort Pierre became a central hub for this activity.
Important fur traders like General William Henry Ashley and Jedediah Smith worked in the region. Pierre Chouteau Jr. brought the first steamship, the Yellowstone, to the Missouri River in 1831. The fort at Pierre was later renamed Fort Pierre Chouteau Jr. after him. Most trappers and traders left the area after the demand for furs in Europe decreased around 1840.
American Settlers Arrive
In 1855, the U.S. Army bought Fort Pierre but moved to Fort Randall the next year. More Americans and Europeans began settling in the area. In 1858, the Yankton Sioux signed a treaty, giving most of eastern South Dakota to the United States.
Land developers founded two of eastern South Dakota's largest cities: Sioux Falls in 1856 and Yankton in 1859. Other new communities like Flandreau and Vermillion also appeared. By 1860, about 5,000 settlers lived in the area. In 1861, the Dakota Territory was created by the U.S. government. This territory included what is now North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.
Settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, along with people from the eastern U.S., arrived in large numbers. This "Dakota Boom" happened in the 1870s and 1880s. It was especially strong after a railway link reached Yankton in 1872. The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 by a military expedition led by George A. Custer also attracted many people.
The Dakota Territory had disagreements between its northern and southern parts. The southern part was more populated and saw the northern part as less settled. New railroads connected the northern and southern parts to different cities. The capital was moved from Yankton to Bismarck, which was in the northern part. Because the southern part had enough people for statehood, they held a meeting in 1883 and wrote a constitution. After several attempts, a bill was passed in 1889 to divide the Dakota Territory. On November 2, 1889, both North and South Dakota officially became states.
Key Decisions for the New State
After becoming a state, South Dakota had to make important decisions. These included rules about alcohol, whether women could vote, where the state capital would be, and how to open more Sioux lands for settlement. The state also faced challenges like droughts and low crop prices.
Native American Affairs
The national government continued to manage Native American affairs. The Custer expedition of 1874 happened even though the western half of South Dakota had been promised to the Sioux by the Treaty of Fort Laramie. The Sioux did not want to sell mining rights or land in the Black Hills. This led to the Great Sioux War of 1876 after white miners and settlers entered the region. The Sioux were eventually defeated and settled on reservations in South Dakota and North Dakota.
In 1889, General George Crook was sent to persuade the Sioux to sell half of their reservation land. It was believed that the new state needed more land for settlers. Efforts were made to secure this agreement and obtain the land.
On December 29, 1890, a tragic conflict occurred at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This event resulted in many deaths, including women and children. It marked the end of major armed conflicts between the United States and the Sioux Nation.
Railroads and Growth in the West
Railroads were very important for transportation in South Dakota from the late 1800s until the 1930s. The Milwaukee Road and the Chicago & North Western were the biggest railroads in the state. They built thousands of miles of track, connecting communities and helping the economy grow.
The railroads sold land to farmers at low prices. They hoped to earn money by shipping farm products out and bringing goods in. They also created small towns that became shipping points and business centers. For example, the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway added new lines and helped establish 35 small communities by 1910. However, not all these new towns survived. Some, like LeBeau, became ghost towns due to challenges like drought and economic problems.
Most of the railroad traffic was for freight, but some lines also offered passenger service. However, cars and buses became more popular for travel within the state. All passenger train service in South Dakota ended by 1969.
Shopping and Stores
In rural areas, farmers and ranchers relied on local general stores. These stores had a limited selection of goods and often sold items at higher prices. Customers usually shopped on credit, paying their bills after selling their crops or cattle.
In cities, people had more choices. They bought goods from local department stores that offered a wider variety of items and clear prices. These stores provided limited credit and used attractive displays to draw customers. Experienced salespeople, often men before the 1940s, helped customers. The key to success for these stores was offering many high-quality, brand-name products, fair prices, and frequent sales. By the 1920s and 1930s, large mail-order companies like Sears, Roebuck & Co. became strong competitors.
Many businesses built stores and offices along Main Street. Some used decorative sheet iron fronts, especially those made by the Mesker Brothers of St. Louis. These fancy fronts added a touch of elegance to buildings across the state.
The Dust Bowl Years
The 1930s brought tough times to South Dakota. A combination of little rain, very hot temperatures, and too much farming led to the Dust Bowl. This disaster affected South Dakota and other plains states. Rich topsoil was blown away in huge dust storms, and many harvests were ruined. These Dust Bowl experiences, along with local bank failures and the Great Depression, caused many South Dakotans to leave the state. The population of South Dakota dropped by more than seven percent between 1930 and 1940.
World War II and Modern Times
Good times returned with the U.S. entry into World War II in 1941. Demand for South Dakota's farm and factory products grew as the country prepared for war. Over 68,000 South Dakotans served in the armed forces during the war.
Building Dams for the Future
In 1944, the Pick-Sloan Plan was approved by the U.S. Congress. This plan led to the building of six large dams on the Missouri River. Four of these dams are partly in South Dakota. These dams help control floods, produce hydroelectricity, and create places for fun activities like boating and fishing.
On the night of June 9–10, 1972, heavy rain in the eastern Black Hills caused a dam on Rapid Creek to break. This, combined with the heavy rainfall, turned the small creek into a powerful flood that swept through Rapid City. The flood caused significant damage and loss of life, destroying many homes and cars.
On April 19, 1993, Governor George S. Mickelson died in a plane crash in Iowa while returning from a business meeting. Several other state officials also died in the crash. Governor Mickelson was in his second term and was succeeded by Walter Dale Miller.
South Dakota's Changing Economy
In recent decades, South Dakota's economy has changed. It's no longer just about farming. The tourism industry has grown a lot since the interstate highway system was completed in the 1960s. The Black Hills, in particular, became a popular tourist spot. The financial services industry also grew, with companies like Citibank moving their credit card operations to Sioux Falls in 1981. Other financial companies followed this trend.
In 2007, the former Homestake gold mine near Lead was chosen for a new underground research facility. Even with a growing population and new businesses, many rural areas have faced challenges. They have seen their populations decline as young adults move to larger cities in South Dakota, like Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or to other states. A severe winter storm in October 2013, known as the Cattleman's Blizzard, caused the loss of tens of thousands of livestock in western South Dakota.
See also
- History of the Midwestern United States
- Railroad land grants in the United States
- Territorial evolution of South Dakota
- Timeline of South Dakota
- Timeline of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Women's suffrage in South Dakota
