South Dakota is located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It 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. South Dakota occupies an area of 77,116 square miles making it the 17th largest state in terms of area. The landscape is made up of rolling hills and prairies along with many rivers and lakes. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in South Dakota’s Black Hills region. This mountain carving depicting four former US presidents has become a major tourist attraction for South Dakota. The Missouri River forms part of South Dakota’s eastern boundary and provides an important source of water for many of its cities and towns. The Badlands National Park is situated in southwestern South Dakota and features dramatic rock formations created by wind and water erosion over millions of years. This natural wonder has become a popular destination for camping, hiking and wildlife viewing. Other notable attractions include Custer State Park which boasts abundant wildlife including bison herds, Crazy Horse Memorial which honors Native American culture, Wind Cave National Park with its underground cave system and Jewel Cave National Monument with its intricate limestone formations.
Time Zone of South Dakota
South Dakota is located in the Central time zone, which is six hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is referred to as “Central Standard Time” or “CST” when observing standard time and “Central Daylight Time” or “CDT” when observing daylight saving time. During daylight saving time, the state observes a five-hour difference from UTC. South Dakota begins observing daylight saving time on the second Sunday in March and ends it on the first Sunday in November.
The entire state of South Dakota observes Central Standard Time year round with exception of the four counties located in the extreme southwestern corner of the state which observe Mountain Standard Time year round. This includes Harding, Butte, Perkins and Meade counties. These four counties observe Mountain Daylight Time during daylight saving time when the rest of South Dakota observes Central Daylight Time.
South Dakota is one of seven states that are partially divided by a different time zone. The majority of South Dakota lies within Central Standard Time while its western border is shared with Mountain Standard Time (MST). The line between CST and MST runs diagonally through South Dakota from northeast to southwest, crossing into Wyoming at its southwestern corner.
Top 5 Cities in South Dakota
According to countryaah, South Dakota is home to many cities and towns, each with its own unique characteristics and attractions. Here are the top 5 cities in South Dakota:
1) Sioux Falls: Located along the Big Sioux River in southeastern South Dakota, Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state with a population of around 180,000. The city has a vibrant downtown area with numerous attractions including the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science and Falls Park which features a series of cascading waterfalls. Other popular attractions include Stavekirk Church, Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History.
2) Rapid City: Located in western South Dakota near the Black Hills mountain range, Rapid City has a population of around 74,000. The city is known for its proximity to popular tourist destinations such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. The city itself boasts numerous attractions including Storybook Island, Reptile Gardens, Dinosaur Park and Museum of Geology.
3) Aberdeen: This small city located in northeastern South Dakota has a population of around 28,000 people. Aberdeen is home to Northern State University as well as several museums including Dacotah Prairie Museum and Schmeckenbecher Museum of German-Russian Heritage. Popular outdoor activities include fishing on Moccasin Creek or visiting Wylie Park which boasts an amusement park as well as camping facilities.
4) Watertown: Located along the Big Sioux River in southeastern South Dakota, Watertown has a population of around 21,000 people. This small town is known for its nearby lakes such as Lake Kampeska which provides plenty of opportunities for swimming, fishing or boating activities during summer months while winter months offer ice fishing or snowmobiling opportunities.
5) Mitchell: This small city located along Interstate 90 has a population of about 15,000 people. Mitchell is home to several historic sites such as Corn Palace which was built out entirely of corn cobs every year since 1892 and Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village which features artifacts from over 1,000 years ago when Native Americans inhabited this area. Other popular attractions include Carnegie Resource Center & Library and nearby Lake Mitchell which offers plenty of recreational activities during summer months such as swimming or boating trips on Lake Mitchell or camping at one of its nearby campgrounds.
Zip Codes in South Dakota
According to 800ZipCodes, there are more than 500 zip codes in the state of South Dakota. This includes zip codes for major cities such as Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre. There is also a wide range of zip codes for rural areas throughout the state. Zip codes are an important part of organizing mail and providing efficient delivery services, and South Dakota does a great job of ensuring that all of their citizens have access to reliable postal services. The zip code system helps to ensure that mail is delivered quickly and accurately to its intended destination. South Dakota has a diverse population and a wide variety of postal areas, making it necessary to have many different zip codes in order to keep up with demand.
