South Dakota 2019
According to Countryaah.com, the largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls, which has a population of 178,500. It is located in the southeastern part of the state and is home to a number of universities and colleges, including University of Sioux Falls, Augustana University, and Southeast Technical Institute. The city also features several museums, parks, and historical sites such as the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History.
The second largest city in South Dakota is Rapid City with a population of 75,000. Located in the western part of the state near the Black Hills National Forest, Rapid City was established in 1876. It is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking trails and mountain biking paths as well as its numerous art galleries and theaters. Rapid City also features several monuments and attractions such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial.
Politics of South Dakota in 2019
In 2019, South Dakota was a Republican-leaning state with a Republican-dominated legislature. Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate, while Governor Kristi Noem was a member of the GOP. The Republican Party had been in power since 1995, when Bill Janklow became governor.
At the state level, Republicans held an overwhelming majority in both houses of the legislature. In 2019, there were only 11 Democrats in the House and nine in the Senate compared to 67 Republicans and 32 Republicans respectively. This meant that any bills proposed by Democrats had little chance of passing due to the GOP’s control of both chambers.
The Republican Party also controlled all statewide offices in South Dakota during 2019. Governor Noem was elected in 2018 and reelected for a second term in 2020 after running unopposed. Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was also elected as part of the GOP ticket during 2018. Other offices such as Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of School & Public Lands were all held by Republicans as well.
The GOP’s dominance at the state level did not prevent Democrats from having success at some levels during 2019 though. In November 2019’s local elections Democrats made gains across several counties with victories for county commissioners and sheriff positions among others. This showed that while South Dakota leaned heavily towards one party at a statewide level, voters were still willing to back Democratic candidates on more localized issues if given the opportunity to do so.
Overall, then it can be said that while South Dakota was dominated by one political party throughout 2019 it still allowed for some degree of political diversity on certain issues which allowed citizens to have their voices heard regardless of party affiliation or political persuasion.
Population of South Dakota in 2019
According to allunitconverters, in 2019, the population of South Dakota was estimated to be around 882,235 people. This made it the fifth least populous state in the United States. The population of South Dakota had been steadily increasing since 2010 when it was estimated to be 814,180 people.
The majority of the population resided in the eastern half of South Dakota with cities such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City being home to a large portion of residents. Sioux Falls was the largest city in the state with a population of 181,270 people in 2019 while Rapid City was second with 77,918 people. Other large cities included Aberdeen (27,094), Brookings (23,792), Watertown (21,482), Mitchell (15,254) and Yankton (14,454).
The racial makeup of South Dakota was predominantly white with 84% identifying as such according to 2019 estimates. Native Americans made up 9% of the population followed by Hispanics or Latinos at 3%, African Americans at 2%, Asians at 1%, and other races at 1%.
The median age for residents in South Dakota was 37.5 years old as per 2019 estimates while 25% were under 18 years old and 11% were over 65 years old. The gender ratio between men and women was nearly even with 50.2% being female and 49.8% male.
In terms of religious affiliation, 62% identified as Christian while 21% reported no religious affiliation according to 2019 estimates from Pew Research Center. Other religions practiced included Islam at 1%, Buddhism at 0.5%, Hinduism at 0.3%, Judaism at 0.1%, and other faiths making up the remaining 2%. See liuxers for school codes in South Dakota.
Overall, then it can be said that South Dakota had a relatively small but diverse population throughout 2019 which had grown steadily since 2010 due largely to an influx of migrants from other states seeking employment opportunities and a lower cost of living than other areas in the country such as California or New York City.
Economy of South Dakota in 2019
In 2019, South Dakota had a strong economy with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $45.3 billion. This made it the 37th largest economy in the United States and put it on par with countries such as Finland, Portugal, and New Zealand. The state’s GDP per capita was $51,743 which was slightly higher than the national average of $50,944.
The largest industry in South Dakota is agriculture which contributes around 7% to the state’s GDP. The second largest industry is manufacturing at 6%, followed by mining and quarrying at 4%, and finance and insurance services at 3%. Other industries that contribute to the state’s economy include wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information technology services, construction, healthcare services, real estate services, accommodation and food services as well as professional scientific and technical services.
The unemployment rate in South Dakota for 2019 was 3% which was lower than the national average of 3.7%. This low unemployment rate can be attributed to a combination of factors such as an abundance of job opportunities in tourism-related industries due to its many natural attractions like Mount Rushmore National Memorial or Badlands National Park; its strong agricultural sector; private sector growth; a business-friendly climate; and low taxes for both individuals and businesses.
Tourism is also an important source of revenue for South Dakota with visitors spending around $3 billion annually according to estimates from 2019. This is due largely to attractions such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial or Badlands National Park which attract millions of visitors each year from all over the world.
Overall, then it can be said that South Dakota has a strong economy that is driven largely by its agricultural sector along with other industries such as manufacturing, finance and insurance services as well as tourism-related activities which generate significant amounts of revenue for the state each year.
Events Held in South Dakota in 2019
2019 was a busy year for South Dakota, with numerous events taking place throughout the year.
In January, the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally roared into town. Thousands of motorcyclists descended on the Black Hills for a week of riding, music, and festivities. The rally is one of the largest motorcycle events in the world and has been held annually since 1938.
The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival was also held in June. This popular event featured performances from local artists as well as national acts such as Keb’ Mo’ and The Robert Cray Band. Over 15,000 people attended this free event which included food vendors and activities for children.
August saw the annual South Dakota State Fair come to Huron. This event has been running since 1885 and is one of the oldest state fairs in America. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, music performances, and other entertainment such as rodeo competitions and monster truck shows.
The South Dakota Arts Festival was held in Sioux Falls in September. This two-day event showcased more than 100 local artists who displayed their works ranging from photography to jewelry to woodworking to pottery and more. There were also live music performances by local bands as well as food trucks serving up a variety of cuisines that visitors could enjoy while strolling through the festival grounds.
October saw Deadwood host its annual Oktoberfest celebration which featured German food, live music performances from polka bands, beer gardens, arts & craft vendors selling goods from all over Europe, carnival games for kids & adults alike plus much more.
Finally, December saw Rapid City host its annual Christmas Festival which included caroling around downtown’s historic buildings followed by an evening tree lighting ceremony at Main Street Square accompanied by fireworks displays that lit up the night sky. Other festivities included horse-drawn carriage rides around downtown Rapid City plus Santa Claus appearances at various locations throughout the city allowing children to have their photos taken with him.
Overall, 2019 was an exciting year for South Dakota with its many events providing plenty of fun and entertainment for locals and visitors alike.
