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137-722: James George Abourezk ( / ˈ æ b ər ɛ s k / AB -ur-esk ; February 24, 1931 – February 24, 2023) was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota . A member of the Democratic Party , he served in both chambers of the United States Congress for one term each; a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and a member of the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979; he
274-503: A National initiative process, similar to the state initiative process adopted by South Dakota in 1898. In July 1977, he co-sponsored a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would allow federal laws to be enacted through popular vote, together with fellow Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR). Under the Abourezk resolution, voters could put legislation on the national election ballot if they secured signatures from three percent of voters in
411-429: A continental climate with four distinct seasons, ranging from cold, dry winters to warm and semi-humid summers. During the summers, the state's average high temperature is often close to 90 °F (32 °C), although it cools to near 60 °F (16 °C) at night. It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 °F (38 °C) several times
548-465: A grassroots civil rights organization. In 1989, he published his Advise and Dissent: Memoirs of South Dakota and the U.S. Senate ( ISBN 1-55652-066-2 ). He was the co-author, along with American Jewish Committee , of Through Different Eyes: Two Leading Americans — a Jew and an Arab — Debate U. S. Policy in the Middle East (1987), ( ISBN 0917561392 ). In 2003, Abourezk sued
685-700: A hot-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen : Dwa), and is part of USDA Hardiness zone 5b. Its location makes its climate unlike both the higher elevations of the Black Hills to the west and the Great Plains to the east. It is characterized by long arid summers and long dry winters, with short but distinct spring and autumn seasons. Precipitation averages 17.44 inches or 443.0 millimeters annually, but has historically ranged from 9.12 inches or 231.6 millimeters in 1974 to 27.70 inches or 703.6 millimeters in 1946. Winters are cold and dry, with January being
822-423: A Mexican-based conglomerate); Black Hills Ammunition , an ammunition and reloading supplies manufacturing company; several custom sawmills, a lime plant, a computer peripheral component manufacturing plant, and several farm and ranch equipment manufacturers. Of particular note, this city is the center for the manufacture of Black Hills gold jewelry , a popular product with tourists and Westerners in general. The city
959-614: A Native reservation. James George Abourezk was born in Wood, South Dakota , to a family of Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christians . He was one of five children and both of his parents were immigrants from Lebanon : his mother Lena Abourezk; née Mickel) was a homemaker, and his father Charles Abourezk was an owner of two general stores . Growing up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation , he spoke only Arabic at home and did not learn English until he went to elementary school. At
1096-589: A boom and bust and was developing as an important regional trade center for the Upper Midwest. The Black Hills had become popular in the late 1890s, but Rapid City became a more important destination in the 20th century. Local entrepreneurs promoted the sights, the availability of the automobile for individual transportation, and construction of improved roadways after World War I led to many more tourists to this area, including President Calvin Coolidge and
1233-411: A disproportionately high rate, and usually placed with non-Native American families. This both deprived the children of their culture and threatened the very survival of the tribes. This legislation was intended to provide a federal standard that emphasized the needs of Native American children to be raised in their own cultures, and gave precedence to tribal courts for decisions about children domiciled on
1370-803: A group of basketball players from the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State who played against the Cuban national men's basketball team. In 1978, Abourezk chose not to run for re-election. He was succeeded in office by Republican Larry Pressler , with whom he had a long-running political feud. After leaving the Senate, Abourezk served as legal counsel for the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C., leading The New York Times to call him "Iran's Man in Washington". He defended
1507-415: A large portion of the population — with nine reservations currently in the state — and has historically dominated the territory. South Dakota is the 17th-largest by area , but the fifth-least populous , and the fifth-least densely populated of the 50 United States . Pierre is the state capital , and Sioux Falls , with a population of about 213,900, is South Dakota's most populous city . The state
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#17327729353071644-546: A letter inviting Al Capone to live in the Black Hills. South Dakota's governor did not support the idea, and Capone declined. In the 1940s Rapid City benefited greatly from the opening of Rapid City Army Air Base, later Ellsworth Air Force Base , an Army Air Corps training base. The local population nearly doubled between 1940 and 1948, from almost 14,000 to nearly 27,000. Military families and civilian personnel soon took every available living space in town, and mobile home parks proliferated. Rapid City businesses profited from
1781-756: A local retail center. In 1980, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians that the federal government had not justly compensated the Sioux people for the Black Hills when it unilaterally broke a treaty guaranteeing the Black Hills to them. As a result, the federal government offered a financial settlement, but the Lakota Sioux declined on
1918-531: A move that has been followed by several other financial companies. South Dakota was the first state to eliminate caps on interest rates . In 2007, the site of the recently closed Homestake gold mine near Lead was chosen as the location of a new underground research facility, the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory . Despite a growing state population and recent economic development, many rural areas have been struggling over
2055-520: A national rate of 12.8%. The effect of rural flight has not been spread evenly through South Dakota, however. Although most rural counties and small towns have lost population, the Sioux Falls area, the larger counties along Interstate 29 , the Black Hills, and many Indian reservations have all gained population. As the reservations have exercised more sovereignty, some Sioux have returned to them from urban areas. Lincoln County near Sioux Falls
2192-730: A ranch, in a casino, and as a judo instructor. For a time, he ran the Gay Lady Bar in Rockerville, South Dakota , where he employed future Governor of South Dakota Bill Janklow as a bartender. He earned a degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1961, and worked as a civil engineer in California , before returning to South Dakota to work on
2329-566: A standoff with federal law enforcement after demanding that the federal government honor its historical treaties with the Oglala Sioux nation . The summer after the occupation, Abourezk introduced the American Indian Policy Review Commission Act, which created the eleven-member commission, and served as its chairman until its landmark report was published in 1977. He took the gavel as chairman of
2466-627: A state on November 2, 1889, simultaneously with North Dakota . They are the 39th and 40th states admitted to the union; President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the statehood papers before signing them so that no one could tell which became a state first. Key events in the 20th century included the Dust Bowl and Great Depression , increased federal spending during the 1940s and 1950s for agriculture and defense, and an industrialization of agriculture that has reduced family farming. Eastern South Dakota
2603-544: A suit filed against the ICWA by the Goldwater Institute ; it was one of three suits seeking to overturn the act. Some states and adoption groups, who make money off adoptions, have opposed any prohibitions on their placements of Native American children. Abourezk considered this his signature legislation and the new rules instrumental in protecting Native American children and preserving tribal families. He noted that
2740-504: A year. Winters are cold with January high temperatures averaging below freezing and low temperatures averaging below 10 °F (−12 °C) in most of the state. The highest recorded temperature is 120 °F (49 °C) at Usta on July 15, 2006 and the lowest recorded temperature is −58 °F (−50 °C) at McIntosh on February 17, 1936. Average annual precipitation in South Dakota ranges from semi-arid conditions in
2877-622: Is a transition season: the average first freeze occurs in Rapid City on October 4 and in the Black Hills in late August through September. The Rapid City area's first snowfall is usually in October, although higher elevations sometimes receive significant snow in September. Occasional cold fronts moving through the area bring blustery northwest winds. Sunshine is abundant in the region in all months except December, averaging 2850 hours, 64% of
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#17327729353073014-452: Is another privately owned attraction in the Black Hills. It is a working paleontological dig and has one of the world's largest concentrations of mammoth remains. At the 2022 estimate South Dakota's population was 909,824 on July 1, 2022, a 2.61% increase since the 2020 United States census . In 2020, 6.5% of South Dakota's population was reported as under 5, 24.5% under 18, and 17.7% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 49.7% of
3151-483: Is bisected by the Missouri River , dividing South Dakota into two geographically and socially distinct halves, known to residents as " East River " and " West River ". South Dakota is bordered by North Dakota to the north, Minnesota to the east, Iowa to the southeast, Nebraska to the south, Wyoming to the west, and Montana to the northwest. Humans have inhabited the area for several millennia, with
3288-483: Is frequent but usually not heavy; March and April are typically the snowiest months. The seasonal total averages 48.5 inches or 1.23 meters, although historically ranging from 16.9 inches or 0.43 meters during 1980–81 to 80.9 inches or 2.05 meters during 1985–86. Extensive snow cover does not remain for long, with only nine days seasonally with 5 inches or 0.13 meters or more on the ground. Measurable snow has occurred in every month except July. Compared to locations in
3425-536: Is home to a large herd of bison . Badlands National Park was established in 1978, and features an eroded, brightly colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands. Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The sculpture of four U.S. Presidents was carved into the mountainside by sculptor Gutzon Borglum . Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer ,
3562-639: Is home to most of the state's population, and the area's fertile soil is used to grow a variety of crops. West of the Missouri River, ranching is the predominant agricultural activity, and the economy is more dependent on tourism and defense spending. Most of the Native American reservations are in West River . The Black Hills , a group of low pine-covered mountains sacred to the Sioux, is in
3699-548: Is located in the Red Valley between the foothills of the Black Hills proper and the Dakota Hogback, so named for the red Spearfish formation soils and the way the valley completely encircles the Black Hills. Rapid City has expanded into the foothills, with developments having been built on both ridges and in valleys developed, especially in the last 20 years. This arid edge area has a higher risk of wildfire, as shown by
3836-467: Is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota and was named after Rapid Creek , where the settlement developed. The population was 74,703 as of the 2020 census . Known as the "Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "City of Presidents" because of the life-size bronze president statues downtown, Rapid City is split by a low mountain ridge that divides the city's western and eastern parts, called ‘The Gap.’ Ellsworth Air Force Base
3973-519: Is often considered part of Tornado Alley , and South Dakota experiences an average of 30 tornadoes each year. Severe blizzards and ice storms often occur during winter. South Dakota has several sites administered by the National Park Service . Two national parks have been established in the state, both in its southwestern region. Wind Cave National Park , established in 1903 in the Black Hills , has an extensive cave network and
4110-681: Is on the city's outskirts. Camp Rapid, part of the South Dakota Army National Guard , is in the city's western part. Rapid City is home to such attractions as Art Alley, Dinosaur Park , the City of Presidents walking tour, Chapel in the Hills , Storybook Island, and Main Street Square. The historic " Old West " town of Deadwood is nearby. In the neighboring Black Hills are the tourist attractions of Mount Rushmore ,
4247-656: Is relatively dry (following a wet spring), and relatively sunny. July is the warmest month of the year, having a daily mean temperature of 72.4 °F (22.4 °C). An average of 32 days reach 90 °F (32.2 °C)+ highs and 5 with 100 °F (37.8 °C)+ highs. Due to the elevation and aridity, lows rarely remain at or above 70 °F (21.1 °C) and during July and August fall to or below 50 °F or 10 °C on an average 7.6 days. Rapid City records an average of nine thunderstorm days in August, but only 1.56 inches or 39.6 millimeters of rain in that month. Fall
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4384-434: Is the site of the only American manufacturer of stamping machines used for the labeling of plywood and chipboard products. Most gold mining has ceased in the Black Hills and was never conducted in or near Rapid City. Regional mining operations include for sand and gravel, as well as the raw materials for lime and Portland cement (including chemical-grade limestone , taconite iron ore, and gypsum) remains an important part of
4521-613: The Black Hills during a military expedition led by George A. Custer and miners and explorers began illegally entering land promised to the Lakota. Custer's expedition took place despite the fact that the Sioux had been granted the entire western half of present-day South Dakota ( West River ) in 1868 by the Treaty of Laramie as part of the Great Sioux Reservation . The Sioux declined to grant mining rights or land in
4658-771: The Crazy Horse Memorial , Custer State Park , Wind Cave National Park , Jewel Cave National Monument , The Mammoth Site and the museum at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research . To the city's east is Badlands National Park . The public discovery of gold in 1874 by the Black Hills Expedition , led by George Armstrong Custer , brought a mass influx of European-American miners and settlers into Rapid City. A group of unsuccessful miners founded Rapid City in 1876, trying to create other chances; they promoted their new city as
4795-479: The Dakota Territory was established by the United States government (this initially included North Dakota , South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming ). Settlement of the area, mostly by people from the eastern United States as well as western and northern Europe , increased rapidly, especially after the completion of an eastern railway link to Yankton in 1873. In 1874, gold was discovered in
4932-550: The Homestake Mine site in nearby Lead , Rapid City is primed for advancements in technology , medicine , and scientific research . On June 9–10, 1972, extremely heavy rains over the eastern Black Hills of South Dakota produced record floods on Rapid Creek and other streams in the area. Nearly 15 inches (380 mm) of rain fell in about six hours near Nemo , and more than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fell over an area of 60 square miles (160 km ). According to
5069-647: The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail , the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site , which features a decommissioned nuclear missile silo and a separate missile control area several miles away, and the Missouri National Recreational River . The Crazy Horse Memorial is a large mountainside sculpture near Mount Rushmore being built using private funds. The Mammoth Site near Hot Springs
5206-607: The Missouri River . By 1500, the Arikara (or Ree) had settled in much of the Missouri River valley. European contact with the area began in 1743, when the LaVérendrye brothers explored the region. The LaVérendrye group buried a plate near the site of modern-day Pierre , claiming the region for France as part of greater Louisiana . In 1762 the entire region became part of the Spanish Louisiana until 1802. By
5343-519: The National Park Service , US Forest Service , and Indian Health Service . Monument Health covers one of the largest geographic service areas in the United States. The health care sector employs more than 8,000 persons in the Rapid City area. Tourism constitutes a major portion of the Rapid City economy, due to the proximity of Mount Rushmore , Sturgis, home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ; Deadwood , and other attractions in
5480-554: The Philippines , Mexico , Sudan and Ethiopia . The center of population of South Dakota is in Buffalo County , in the unincorporated county seat of Gann Valley . According to HUD 's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report , there were an estimated 1,389 homeless people in South Dakota. In 2022, South Dakota had the lowest drug overdose death rate of any US state, at 11.3 per 100,000 people. According to
5617-812: The Public Religion Research Institute in 2020, 73% of the adult population were Christian. Per the Pew Research Center 's separate 2014 study, the largest religious denominations in Christianity by number of adherents as a percentage of South Dakota's population in 2014 were the Catholic Church with 22 percent, evangelical Protestants with 25 percent, and mainline Protestants with 32 percent. Together, all kinds of Protestants accounted for 57 percent. Those unaffiliated with any religion represented 18 percent of
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5754-643: The Red Cross , the resulting peak floods (which occurred after dark) left 238 people dead and 3,057 people injured. Total property destruction was estimated in excess of $ 160 million (about $ 964 million in 2018 dollars), which included 1,335 homes and 5,000 automobiles that were destroyed. The flood also nearly destroyed a popular children's park: Story Book Island . Runoff from this storm produced record floods (highest peak flows recorded) along Battle, Spring, Rapid, and Box Elder creeks. Smaller floods also occurred along Elk and Bear Butte creeks. Canyon Lake Dam, on
5891-630: The Rocky Mountains , after Guadeloupe Peak in Texas at 8,571 feet. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 55.129 square miles (142.78 km ), of which, 55.067 square miles (142.62 km ) is land and 0.062 square miles (0.16 km ) is water. Rapid City is located on the eastern edge of the Black Hills, and has developed on each side of the Dakota Hogback. Rapid City's "Westside"
6028-437: The ring-necked pheasant , has adapted well to the area after being introduced from China . Growing populations of bald eagles are spread throughout the state, especially near the Missouri River . Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support populations of walleye , carp , pike , bass , and other species. The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic paddlefish . Due to a higher elevation and level of precipitation,
6165-717: The "200 Faces for the Future". His legislative successes in the Senate included the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act , as well as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act . His signature legislation was the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA, 1978), designed to protect Native American children and families from being torn apart. Native American children have been removed by state social agencies from their families and placed in foster care or adoption at
6302-401: The "Gateway to the Black Hills"; it was originally known as Hay Camp. The "Gateway" nickname is shared by neighboring Box Elder . In February 1876, John Richard Brennan and Samuel Scott, with a small group of men, laid out Rapid City. It was eventually named for the spring-fed Rapid Creek that flows through it. The land speculators measured off a square mile and designated the six blocks in
6439-573: The 1950s. Growth slowed in the 1960s. After the Black Hills Flood of 1972 , the worst natural disaster in South Dakota history, a building boom took place over the next decade to replace damaged structures. On June 9, 1972, heavy rains caused massive flash flooding along Rapid Creek through the city, killing 238 people and destroying more than $ 100 million in property. In response to this devastation, Rapid City received an outpouring of private donations and millions of dollars in federal aid. It
6576-406: The 1990 and the 2000 census. During that time, nine counties had a population loss of greater than 10%, with Harding County , in the northwest corner of the state, losing nearly 19% of its population. Low birth rates and a lack of younger immigration has caused the median age of many of these counties to increase. In 24 counties, at least 20% of the population is over the age of 65, compared with
6713-467: The 2022 census estimate, the racial composition of the population was: Source: Ethnically, 4.9% of South Dakota's population was of Hispanic , Latino, or Spanish origin (they may be of any race). Ethnicity for the remainder of the population is not similarly accounted by the federal government. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25.4% of South Dakota's population younger than age 1 were 'minorities' as of 2011, meaning they had at least one parent who
6850-642: The ADC became especially active following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War , during which he became concerned about the rising rate of targeted hate crimes against Arabs and also against people misidentified as Arabs. Abourezk represented South Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and in the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979. He
6987-414: The Black Hills ecology differs significantly from that of the plains. The mountains are thickly blanketed by various types of pines , including ponderosa and lodgepole pines , as well as spruces . Black Hills mammals include deer , elk (wapiti) , bighorn sheep , mountain goats , pine marten , and mountain lions , while the streams and lakes contain several species of trout . South Dakota has
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#17327729353077124-547: The Black Hills, and war broke out after the U.S. failed to stop white miners and settlers from entering the region. Eventually the U.S. won and broke up the Great Sioux Reservation into five reservations, settling the Lakota there. In 1980 the Supreme Court and Congress ordered compensation to be offered but the Lakota still refuse to accept it, insisting on return of their land. A growing population in
7261-461: The Black Hills, long considered sacred by Native Americans, differs from its surroundings to such an extent it can be considered separate from the rest of western South Dakota. At times the Black Hills are combined with the rest of western South Dakota, and people often refer to the resulting two regions divided by the Missouri River as West River and East River . Eastern South Dakota generally features higher precipitation and lower topography than
7398-716: The Black Hills. This city provides most services for the Motorcycle Rally. Prepared to satisfy the Rally's demand for motel rooms, camp sites, and other services for tourists during the first week of August, Rapid City has the capacity to host other large events, such as conventions, and numerous associated tourists year-round. Various minor tourist attractions, including wildlife parks, specialty shops, caves, water parks, private museums, and other businesses are found in and near Rapid City. Other economic sectors include financial service, insurance and investing companies. As noted,
7535-481: The Dakota Territory caused political dissatisfaction between northern and southern territory residents, with the southern half being always more populated. Following the territorial capital being moved from Yankton to Bismarck in the northern part, calls for dividing the territory increased. South Dakota held constitutional conventions in 1883, 1885, and 1889. Other account(s) state that the real reason for
7672-508: The First Lady in summer 1927. Coolidge announced that he would not seek reelection in 1928 from his summer office in Rapid City. Gutzon Borglum , already a noted sculptor, began work on Mount Rushmore in 1927, and his son, Lincoln Borglum, continued the work after Gutzon's death in 1941. The work was halted due to the US need to invest in buildup for its entry into World War II ; the sculpture
7809-460: The Islamic Republic in lawsuits seeking payment for contracts entered into by the former Shah's government, and sought to recoup Iranian assets that were allegedly taken by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his wife. Senator Abourezk was outraged by the 1967 USS Liberty incident and openly inquired about the circumstances of the attack: "The shame of the U.S.S. Liberty incident is that our sailors were treated as though they were enemies, rather than
7946-546: The Minuteman silos being built as part of the new 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base. At the age of 32, he decided to pursue law, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion, South Dakota in 1966. Abourezk began a legal practice in Rapid City, South Dakota , and joined the Democratic Party . He ran in 1968 for Attorney General of South Dakota but
8083-411: The Missouri River create four large reservoirs: Lake Oahe , Lake Sharpe , Lake Francis Case , and Lewis and Clark Lake . South Dakota can generally be divided into three regions: eastern South Dakota, western South Dakota, and the Black Hills . The Missouri River serves as a boundary in terms of geographic, social, and political differences between eastern and western South Dakota. The geography of
8220-562: The Select Committee on Indian Affairs from its creation in 1977 to 1979, when he left the Senate. In 1976, Abourezk ordered the General Accounting Office carry out an investigation after doctor and lawyer Connie Redbird Pinkerman-Uri published a report suggesting that up to a quarter of Native American women had been involuntarily sterilised. Abourezk was an early champion of more direct democracy through
8357-474: The Sioux becoming dominant by the early 19th century. In the late 19th century, European-American settlement intensified after a gold rush in the Black Hills and the construction of railroads from the east. Encroaching miners and settlers triggered a number of Indian wars , ending with the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. As the southern part of the former Dakota Territory , South Dakota became
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#17327729353078494-614: The U.S. entry into World War II in 1941, when demand for the state's agricultural and industrial products grew as the nation mobilized for war. In 1944, the Pick–Sloan Plan was passed as part of the Flood Control Act of 1944 by the U.S. Congress, resulting in the construction of six large dams on the Missouri River, four of which are at least partially in South Dakota. Flood control, hydroelectricity , and recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing are provided by
8631-424: The United States Congress, and that Hezbollah and Hamas are resistance fighters. He continued to criticize Israel in 2014, writing that "ending the occupation ... would end the rockets fired by Hamas.” After his retirement from the Senate, Abourezk worked as a lawyer and writer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . He continued to be active in supporting tribal sovereignty and culture. In July 2015 he spoke out against
8768-408: The United States and the Lakota Sioux Nation , the massacre resulted in the deaths of at least 146 Sioux, many of them women and children. 31 U.S. soldiers were also killed in the conflict. During the 1930s, several economic and climatic conditions combined with disastrous results for South Dakota. A lack of rainfall, extremely high temperatures and inappropriate cultivation techniques produced what
8905-457: The West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, which was rejected by Israel. In 1976, Abourezk voted against the rest of the Senate on a measure to stop foreign aid to countries harboring international terrorists, arguing that there was no provision for terrorist acts committed by the Israeli military. In 1973, Senators Abourezk and George McGovern attempted to end the Wounded Knee Occupation by negotiating with American Indian Movement leaders, who were in
9042-408: The Westberry Trails fire in 1988. Skyline Drive follows the summits of the Dakota Hogback south from near Rapid Gap (where Rapid Creek cuts through the Hogback) to a large high plateau that forms the current south edge of Rapid City. The Central and Eastern portions of Rapid City lie in the wide valley of Rapid Creek outside the Hogback. It includes a number of mesas rising a hundred feet or more above
9179-449: The age of 16, he was expelled from school for playing a prank on a teacher and left home to live with his brother Tom. He completed high school in 1948. Between 1948 and 1952, Abourezk served in the United States Navy before and during the Korean War . Following 12 weeks of boot camp, he enrolled in Electricians' Mates School, after which he was sent to support Navy ships stationed in Japan. Following military service, Abourezk worked on
9316-433: The area formed the shoreline of an ancient inland sea. Much of South Dakota (except for the Black Hills area) is dominated by a temperate grassland biome. Although grasses and crops cover most of this region, deciduous trees such as cottonwoods , elms, and willows are common near rivers and in shelter belts . Mammals in this area include bison , deer , pronghorn , coyotes , and prairie dogs . The state bird,
9453-465: The area. In 1855, the U.S. Army bought Fort Pierre but abandoned it in 1857 in favor of Fort Randall to the south. Settlement by Americans and Europeans was by this time increasing rapidly, and in 1858 the Yankton Sioux signed the 1858 Treaty , ceding most of present-day eastern South Dakota to the United States. Land speculators founded two of eastern South Dakota's largest present-day cities: Sioux Falls in 1856 and Yankton in 1859. In 1861,
9590-406: The average family size was 2.96. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in
9727-416: The best idea of how the people were affected and what changes the city made as a result of the major losses of life and property. Plans include the memorialization of all those who died from the flood by the preparation of individual biographies, so they may be remembered more fully. Rapid City is located in the shadow of Black Elk Peak , which at 7,242 feet (2,207 m), is the second highest point east of
9864-486: The center as a business section. Committees were appointed to recruit prospective merchants and their families to locate in the settlement. Such merchants soon began selling supplies to miners and pioneers. The city's location on the edge of the Plains and Hills and its large river valley made it a natural hub for the railroads that were constructed in the late 1880s from both the south and east. By 1900, Rapid City had survived
10001-588: The city has a strong medical services sector, and several institutions of higher education. Rapid City is also the major market town for much of five states, drawing commerce from more than half of South Dakota, and large portions of North Dakota , Montana , Wyoming , and the Nebraska Panhandle . The real compound annual growth rate of the gross domestic product of the Rapid City Metropolitan Statistical Area
10138-510: The city to the creek for residents. To the north, a series of ridges separate Rapid Creek from Box Elder Creek. Both older and new residential areas and commercial areas have developed here, along I-90 . To the south, the terrain rises more steeply to the southern widening of the Dakota Hogback into a plateau dividing the Rapid Creek drainage from Spring Creek. Rapid City features a temperate semi-arid climate ( Köppen : BSk) bordering on
10275-439: The city was $ 35,978, and the median income for a family was $ 44,818. Males had a median income of $ 30,985 versus $ 21,913 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,445. About 9.4% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. The population of the Rapid City metropolitan statistical area ( Pennington and Meade Counties)
10412-453: The city was 74.6% White , 1.5% African American , 13.2% Native American , 1.6% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 1.2% from some other races and 7.8% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.2% were under 5 years of age, and 20.0% were 65 and older. As of the 2010 census , there were 67,956 people, 28,586 households, and 16,957 families residing in
10549-406: The city was dotted with construction of 150 Minuteman missile silos and 15 launch command centers. They were all deactivated in the early 1990s. In 1949, city officials envisioned the city as a retail and wholesale trade center for the region. They developed a plan for growth that focused on a civic center, more downtown parking, new schools, and paved streets. A construction boom continued into
10686-423: The city. The population density was 1,226.5 inhabitants per square mile (473.6/km ). There were 30,254 housing units at an average density of 546.0 per square mile (210.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 80.4% White , 1.1% African American , 12.4% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.7% from other races , and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of
10823-428: The city. The population density was 1,336.7 inhabitants per square mile (516.1/km ). There were 25,096 housing units at an average density of 562.8 per square mile (217.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 84.33% White , 0.97% African American , 10.14% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 0.73% from other races , and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of
10960-575: The closure of the OPS in 1975. After taking office, Abourezk was approached almost daily by representatives of various sides of the conflict in the Middle East . In 1973, Abourezk was invited by the Lebanese embassy to visit Beirut. Later that year, he met with Arab leaders to discuss a possible peace settlement, and attempted to negotiate a truce contingent on Israel's return of the Old City of Jerusalem,
11097-468: The coldest month with a daily mean temperature of 24.3 °F or −4.3 °C. Chinook winds can warm temperatures above 50 °F or 10 °C, doing so on average about 20 times from December to February. Temperature inversions, however, occasionally produce warmer temperatures in the Black Hills. On average, highs do not climb above freezing on 43 days, while the low temperature reaches 0 °F or −17.8 °C on an average of 18 nights. Snowfall
11234-465: The dams and their reservoirs. In recent decades, South Dakota has been transformed from a state dominated by agriculture to one with a more diversified economy. The tourism industry has grown considerably since the mid-twentieth century, with the Black Hills becoming more important as a destination. The financial service industry began to grow in the state as well, with Citibank moving its credit card operations from New York to Sioux Falls in 1981,
11371-604: The direct influence of the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the tribes. As a senator, Abourezk condemned the Office of Public Safety (OPS), a Cold War -era program within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provided training to foreign police forces and was prone to human rights abuses. Abourezk introduced legislation that resulted in the banning of overseas police assistance in 1974, and
11508-589: The early 19th century, the Sioux had largely replaced the Arikara as the dominant group in the area. In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory , an area that included most of South Dakota, from Napoleon Bonaparte , and President Thomas Jefferson organized the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the region. In 1817, an American fur trading post was set up at present-day Fort Pierre , beginning continuous American settlement of
11645-585: The east, the area warms rather gradually early in the year, with the last measurable snow typically occurring in late April and precipitation totals beginning to increase; May snow occurs several times per decade. Toward the middle of the year, storms typically develop over the Black Hills during the afternoon and move onto the plains in the evening. Only in April through June have calendar-day precipitation amounts exceeding 3 inches or 76.2 millimeters been observed. June 15, 1963, with 3.78 inches or 96.0 millimeters, holds
11782-536: The economy. The largest sector of the Rapid City economy is government services, including local, state, and federal. Major employers include Ellsworth Air Force Base , home of the 28th Bomb Wing flying the B-1B long-range bomber; the Army National Guard based at Camp Rapid and hosting annual exercises in the Black Hills, drawing troops from five to ten states; and various federal agencies, including
11919-513: The flood plain is used for civic functions such as golf courses, parks, sports arenas, and arboretums, based mostly on the landscape and temporary use by people. In 2007, the Rapid City Public Library created a 1972 Flood digital archive that collects survivors' stories, photos and news accounts of the flood. The Journey Museum has an interactive display on the 1972 flood; this is an ongoing project to give future generations
12056-428: The floodplain. Rapid Creek flows through Rapid City, emerging from Dark Canyon above Canyon Lake and flowing in a large arc north of downtown. It descends to the southeast where the valley widens. Since the flood damage of 1972, the city has prohibited most development in the floodplain of Rapid Creek. It has adapted this green space for public uses: a series of parks, arboretums, and bike trails, which have reconnected
12193-421: The geology of this area. The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming . This range of low mountains covers 6,000 sq mi (16,000 km ), with peaks that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases. The Black Hills are the location of Black Elk Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), the highest point in South Dakota and also
12330-638: The happiest, healthiest state in the United States. South Dakota is in the north-central United States, and is considered a part of the Midwest by the U.S. Census Bureau; it is also part of the Great Plains region. The culture, economy, and geography of western South Dakota have more in common with the West than the Midwest. South Dakota has a total area of 77,116 square miles (199,730 km ), making
12467-479: The highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains . Two-billion-year-old Precambrian formations, the oldest rocks in the state, form the central core of the Black Hills. Formations from the Paleozoic Era form the outer ring of the Black Hills; these were created between roughly 540 and 250 million years ago. This area features rocks such as limestone , which were deposited here when
12604-486: The late 1990s. Fears that Ellsworth AFB would be closed under the BRAC review and base closure process in the 1990s and 2000s led to attempts to expand other sectors of the economy. Growth continued and the city expanded significantly during this period. Today, Rapid City is South Dakota's primary city for tourism and recreation. With the federal government's approval of a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory at
12741-542: The late Senator Barry Goldwater , his friend and colleague, had voted for the legislation in 1977 and had often consulted with him in tribal matters. HuffPost writer James Zogby in 2014 praised Abourezk as a "bold and courageous former Senator" for protesting to the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the Abscam operation. He died at home in Sioux Falls on February 24, 2023, on his 92nd birthday. His funeral
12878-587: The legislature passed a law to make English the "common language" of the state. Since 2019, "the language of the Great Sioux Nation , comprised of three dialects, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota " is the official indigenous language. As of the 2000 census, 1.90% of the population age 5 or older speak German at home, while 1.51% speak Lakota or Dakota , and 1.43% Spanish. As of 2010, 93.46% (692,504) of South Dakota residents age 5 and older spoke English as their primary language . 6.54% of
13015-543: The military payroll. During the Cold War , the government constructed missile installations in the area: a series of Nike Air Defense sites were constructed around Ellsworth in the 1950s. In the early 1960s three Titan missile launch sites were constructed; these contained a total of nine Titan I missiles in Rapid City's general vicinity. Beginning in November 1963, the land for 100 miles east, northeast and northwest of
13152-482: The nation's largest population of Hutterites , a communal Anabaptist group which emigrated in 1874 from German-speaking villages in what today is Ukraine but at that time was part of the Russian Empire . American Indians , largely Lakota , Dakota , and Nakota (Sioux), are predominant in several counties and constitute 20 percent of the population in West River . The seven large Indian reservations in
13289-768: The national average; Ziebach County ranked as the poorest county in the nation in 2009. The unemployment rate in Fort Thompson , on the Crow Creek Reservation , is 70%, and 21% of households lack plumbing or basic kitchen appliances. A 1995 study by the U.S. Census Bureau found 58% of homes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation did not have a telephone. The reservations' isolation also inhibits their ability to generate revenue from gaming casinos, an avenue that has proved profitable for many tribes closer to urban centers. In 1995
13426-429: The northwestern part of the state (around 15 inches or 380 mm) to semi-humid around the southeast portion of the state (around 25 inches or 640 mm), although a small area centered on Lead in the Black Hills has the highest precipitation at nearly 30 inches (760 mm) per year. South Dakota summers bring frequent, sometimes severe, thunderstorms with high winds, thunder, and hail. The state's eastern part
13563-405: The original school (housed in what is now Rapid City High School and community theater) and the new one. The rebuilding generated construction and related jobs that partly insulated Rapid City from the drop in automotive tourism caused by the 1974 Oil Embargo , but tourism was depressed for most of a decade. In 1978, Rushmore Mall was built on the city's north edge, enhancing the city's status as
13700-495: The past 50 years with locally declining populations and the emigration of educated young adults to larger South Dakota cities, such as Rapid City or Sioux Falls, or to other states. Mechanization and consolidation of agriculture has contributed greatly to the declining number of smaller family farms and the resulting economic and demographic challenges facing rural towns. However, the state often ranks highly for its way of life, and Gallup's well-being index in 2018 named South Dakota
13837-646: The patriots and heroes that they were. There is no other incident--beyond Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty --that shows the power of the Israeli Lobby by being able to silence successive American governments. Allowing the lies told by the Israelis and their minions in the U.S. is disheartening to all of us who are proud of our servicemen." In 1980, Abourezk founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee ,
13974-645: The population spoke a language other than English. 2.06% (15,292) of the population spoke Spanish, 1.39% (10,282) spoke Dakota , and 1.37% (10,140) spoke German. Other languages spoken included Vietnamese (0.16%), Chinese (0.12%), and Russian (0.10%). Over the last several decades, the population in many rural areas has declined in South Dakota, in common with other Great Plains states. The change has been characterized as " rural flight " as family farming has declined. Young people have moved to cities for other employment. This trend has continued in recent years, with 30 of South Dakota's counties losing population between
14111-410: The population. There were 23,969 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and
14248-443: The population. There were 28,586 households, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
14385-601: The population. As of the 2020 census, South Dakota ranked fifth-lowest in the nation in population and population density, only North Dakota , Alaska , Vermont , and Wyoming have fewer residents. Of the people residing in South Dakota, 65.7% were born in South Dakota, 31.4% were born in another U.S. state, 0.6% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parent(s), and 2.3% were born in another country. The top countries of origin for South Dakota's immigrants and refugees in 2018 were Guatemala ,
14522-483: The population. The breakdown of other religions was <1% Muslim, <1% Hindu and 1% Buddhist. The number of Jewish people in South Dakota is under 400, the lowest total in any of the fifty states. Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City is a city in South Dakota , United States, and the county seat of Pennington County . It is the second most populous city in the state, after Sioux Falls . It
14659-451: The possible total, per year. Official extreme temperatures range from −31 °F or −35 °C on February 2, 1996, up to 111 °F or 44 °C on July 15, 2006; the record low daily maximum is −18 °F or −28 °C on February 2, 1989, while the record high daily minimum is 75 °F or 24 °C on July 8, 1985, and July 28, 1960. Rapid City had the record for an extreme temperature drop of 47 °F or 26.1 °C, which
14796-562: The previous presidential election. His efforts received national media coverage, and Abourezk chaired hearings and testified that the proposal was based on "belief in the wisdom of the American people". Although the national initiative movement gained additional cosponsors in both the House and Senate in 1978, no further action was taken during the 95th Congress, after which interest waned. In 1977, Senators Abourezk and McGovern went to Cuba with
14933-408: The principle that the theft of their land should not be validated. They still demand the return of the land. The settlement funds accrue interest. This land includes Rapid City, by far the largest modern settlement in the Black Hills. As of 2023, the dispute has not been settled. In the 1980s, tourism increased again as the city hosted the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ; another decline occurred in
15070-499: The reservation, as well as concurrent but presumptive jurisdiction with state courts for Native American children off the reservation. He also authored and passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 , which provided Indian tribes with greater autonomy. The BIA made grants to the tribes but they could manage contracts and funds to control their own destiny. That legislation also reduced
15207-532: The single-day rainfall record; the record-wettest month is May 1996 with 8.18 inches or 207.8 millimeters. Rapid City has an average of twenty clear to partly cloudy days and 67% of its possible sunshine in June. This is the traditional "flood" season for Rapid and other creeks in the Eastern Hills. Temperatures warm rapidly as summer approaches. Summer in Rapid City has relatively pleasant temperatures, and
15344-462: The southeastern corner of South Dakota. Layers deposited during the Pleistocene epoch, starting around two million years ago, cover most of eastern South Dakota. These are the youngest rock and sediment layers in the state, the product of several successive periods of glaciation which deposited a large amount of rocks and soil, known as till , over the area. The Great Plains cover most of
15481-446: The southwest part of the state. Mount Rushmore , a major tourist destination, is there. South Dakota has a temperate continental climate , with four distinct seasons and precipitation levels ranging from moderate in the east to semi-arid in the west. The state's ecology features species typical of a North American grassland biome. While several Democrats have represented South Dakota for multiple terms in both chambers of Congress ,
15618-468: The split was a political lure for four Republican senators instead of two from the Republican dominated Dakota Territory and in their push to split the territory, Republican congressmen also ignored the uncomfortable fact that much of the land in the anticipated state of South Dakota belonged to the Sioux. Eventually, in the 1887 general election, Dakota Territory residents voted for the division, so it
15755-477: The state government is largely controlled by the Republican Party , whose nominees have carried South Dakota in each of the last 14 presidential elections . Historically dominated by an agricultural economy and a rural lifestyle, South Dakota has recently sought to diversify its economy in other areas to both attract and retain residents. South Dakota's history and rural character still strongly influence
15892-568: The state occupy an area much diminished from their former Great Sioux Reservation of West River, which the federal government had once allocated to the Sioux tribes. South Dakota has the third-highest proportion of Native Americans of any state, behind Alaska and New Mexico . Five of the state's counties are wholly within the boundaries of sovereign Indian reservations . Because of the limitations of climate and land, and isolation from urban areas with more employment opportunities, living standards on many South Dakota reservations are often far below
16029-458: The state the 17th largest in the Union. Black Elk Peak , formerly named Harney Peak, with an elevation of 7,242 ft (2,207 m), is the state's highest point, while the shoreline of Big Stone Lake is the lowest, with an elevation of 966 ft (294 m). South Dakota is bordered to the north by North Dakota ; to the south by Nebraska ; to the east by Iowa and Minnesota ; and to
16166-592: The state's culture. Humans have lived in what is today South Dakota for several thousand years. The first inhabitants were Paleoindian hunter-gatherers, and disappeared from the area around 5000 BC. Between 500 AD and 800 AD, a semi-nomadic people known as the Mound Builders lived in central and eastern South Dakota. In the 14th century, the Crow Creek Massacre occurred, in which several hundred men, women, and children were killed near
16303-556: The website Probush.com for defamation. He was later joined by Jane Fonda and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz as plaintiffs, and settled the lawsuit with the Internet site in 2005. In 2007, Abourezk gave an interview to the Hezbollah funded news channel Al-Manar . In this interview Abourezk said that he believed that Zionists used the terrorists that perpetrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a way to sow Islamophobia , that Zionists control
16440-676: The west by Wyoming and Montana . The geographical center of the U.S. is 17 miles (27 km) west of Castle Rock in Butte County . The North American continental pole of inaccessibility is between Allen and Kyle , 1,024 mi (1,648 km) from the nearest coastline. The Missouri River is the largest and longest river in the state. Other major South Dakota rivers include the Cheyenne , James , Big Sioux , and White Rivers. Eastern South Dakota has many natural lakes, mostly created by periods of glaciation. Additionally, dams on
16577-451: The west side of Rapid City, broke the night of the flood, unleashing a wall of water down the creek. The 1972 flooding has an estimated recurrence interval of 500 years, which means that a flood of this magnitude will occur on average once every 500 years. Every year there is a 0.2% chance (1 in 500) that a similar event will occur. To prevent similar damage, the city has prohibited residential and business construction on its flood plain. Today
16714-970: The western part of the state. Smaller geographic regions of this area include the Coteau des Prairies , the Dissected Till Plains , and the James River Valley. The Coteau des Prairies is a plateau bordered on the east by the Minnesota River Valley and on the west by the James River Basin. Further west, the James River Basin is mostly low, flat, highly eroded land, following the flow of the James River through South Dakota from north to south. The Dissected Till Plains, an area of rolling hills and fertile soil that covers much of Iowa and Nebraska, extends into
16851-512: The western two-thirds of South Dakota. West of the Missouri River the landscape becomes more arid and rugged, consisting of rolling hills, plains, ravines, and steep flat-topped hills called buttes . In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota Badlands . Erosion from the Black Hills, marine skeletons which fell to the bottom of a large shallow sea that once covered the area, and volcanic material all contribute to
16988-591: Was 139,074 at the 2020 census. Rapid City is also included in the Rapid City-Spearfish combined statistical area , which, with the addition of Lawrence County , had a 2020 census population of 164,842. Rapid City's economy is diverse, but industry is a small portion. Heavy and medium industrial activities include a Portland cement plant (constructed and owned for 84 years by the State of South Dakota and sold in 2003 to Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, or GCC,
17125-436: Was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 59,607 people, 23,969 households, and 15,220 families residing in
17262-623: Was a Greek Orthodox Christian. He lived in South Dakota for most of his life. South Dakota South Dakota ( / d ə ˈ k oʊ t ə / ; Sioux : Dakȟóta itókaga , pronounced [daˈkˣota iˈtokaga] ) is a landlocked state in the North Central region of the United States . It is also part of the Great Plains . South Dakota is named after the Dakota Sioux tribe, which comprises
17399-435: Was able to complete a major part of its 1949 plan: clearing the area along the Rapid Creek and making the floodplain a public park. In other areas, new homes and businesses were constructed to replace those that had been destroyed. Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and a new Central High School were built in part of the area that was cleared. The high school opened in 1978, with the graduating class that year attending classes in both
17536-493: Was achieved on January 10, 1911, from 60 °F or 16 °C to 13 °F or −11 °C. This was due to the Chinook wind , but record was lost to Spearfish, South Dakota, in 1942. As of the 2020 census , there were 74,703 people, and 31,261 households, and 17,755 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,365.7 inhabitants per square mile (527.3/km ). There were 33,544 housing units. The racial makeup of
17673-543: Was declared complete in 1941. Although tourism had sustained the city throughout the Great Depression of the 1930s, gasoline rationing during World War II decimated such travel. But investments in the defense industry and other war-related growth stimulated the placement of new military installations in the area, bringing more businesses and residents. In 1930, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce sent
17810-542: Was defeated by Gordon Mydland . In 1970, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served from 1971 to 1973, in the South Dakota's 2nd Congressional district which was eliminated in 1983. In 1972, Abourezk was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1973 to 1979, after which he chose not to seek a second term. He was the first chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. In 1974, TIME magazine named Senator Abourezk as one of
17947-433: Was divided in half and Republican President Benjamin Harrison signed proclamations formally admitting South Dakota and North Dakota to the union on November 2, 1889. Harrison had the papers shuffled to obscure which one was signed first and the order went unrecorded. On December 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation . Commonly cited as the last major armed conflict between
18084-475: Was held on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in downtown Sioux Falls. Abourezk was married three times. His first marriage was to Mary Ann Houlton in 1952, which ended in divorce in 1981. They had three children. He subsequently married and divorced Margaret Bethea, before marrying Sanaa Dieb in 1991, with the couple remaining together until his death. Abourezk
18221-536: Was known as the Dust Bowl in South Dakota and several other plains states. Fertile topsoil was blown away in massive dust storms, and several harvests were completely ruined. The experiences of the Dust Bowl, coupled with local bank foreclosures and the general economic effects of the Great Depression , resulted in many South Dakotans leaving the state. The population of South Dakota declined by more than 7% between 1930 and 1940. Economic stability returned with
18358-557: Was not non-Hispanic white. As of 2000, the five largest ancestry groups in South Dakota are German (40.7%), Norwegian (15.3%), Irish (10.4%), Native American (8.3%), and English (7.1%). German Americans are the largest ancestry group in most parts of the state, especially in East River (east of the Missouri River), although there are also large Scandinavian-descended populations in some counties. South Dakota has
18495-452: Was the author of the Indian Child Welfare Act , which was passed by the United States Congress in 1978 to help preserve the families and culture of Native Americans . As a federal law, it gives Native tribal governments exclusive jurisdiction over children who reside on or are domiciled on an Indian reservation ; and it gives them concurrent, but presumptive jurisdiction over foster care placement proceedings for children who do not live on
18632-604: Was the first Arab to serve in the United States Senate. In 1980, Abourezk founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) with the goal of counteracting anti-Arab racism in the country. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War , but was also a critic of United States foreign policy in the Middle East , particularly with regard to the Arab–Israeli conflict . Under his leadership,
18769-402: Was the seventh fastest-growing county (by percentage) in the United States in 2010. The growth in these areas has compensated for losses in the rest of the state. South Dakota's total population continues to increase steadily, albeit at a slower rate than the national average. Religious self-identification, per Public Religion Research Institute 's 2022 American Values Survey According to
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