South Dakota is in the Midwest of the country. With fewer than a million residents, it's one of the least populous states. The capital is Pierre and Sioux Falls is the largest city with a population of around 187,000 people.

Eastern South Dakota tends to be flat agricultural land whereas Western South Dakota comprises rolling hills and badlands. Because of the variety and quality of the natural world in South Dakota, outdoor activities are popular pastimes for residents in the winter and summer.

What's life like in South Dakota?

South Dakota has a reputation for being a flyover state. While the majority of the state is rural and even the big cities are small in comparison to many other states, there is still plenty to do in South Dakota, from Mount Rushmore to hiking in one of the many national parks to snowmobiling in the winter.

South Dakota gets plenty of snow in the winters and it's hot in the summers. Residents of South Dakota are known for their hospitality and being friendly.

There is a large Scandinavian presence in South Dakota that has heavily influenced the state's culture and there are numerous heritage festivals in the small towns in the summer.

Work in South Dakota

South Dakota's economy is one of the smallest in the country. However, it is also ranked as one of the top ten states for business. The largest economic contributor to South Dakota's economy is the service industry which includes retail, finance, and healthcare.

Government and military installations and facilities are also large employers in the state, including the Ellsworth Air Force Base which is the second-largest employer in the state.

Agriculture still plays a prominent role in South Dakota's economy, including cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs. Tourism brings billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to South Dakota as well.

Major Attractions of South Dakota

Here are some of the top attractions that make South Dakota a great place to live and work:

• Mount Rushmore National Memorial: The iconic sculpture of 4 presidents carved into a granite cliff on the side of a mountain.
• Badlands National Park: A 240,000-acre public park of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles as well as the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the country.
• Custer State Park: A wildlife reserve in the Black Hills covering over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain.
• Wind Cave National Park: The first cave to be designated a national park in the world featuring impressive calcite formations.
• Crazy Horse Memorial: A mountain monument featuring a carving of Crazy Horse an Oglala Lakota warrior.

Pros and Cons of Living in South Dakota

Pros:

• No income tax – South Dakota is one of the few states that has no state income tax.
• Good schools – South Dakota often ranks highly for its public education system and even better for its higher education.
• Open spaces – If you don't like overcrowding then South Dakota is perfect for you. Even cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City feel like small towns.

Cons:

• Extreme weather – It gets surprisingly hot in the summers in South Dakota and freezing in the winters with plenty of snowstorms and icy conditions.
• Low salaries – Compared to many other states, jobs in South Dakota tend to be lower paid. It has the third-lowest average hourly wage in the country.
• Small urban centers – If you're looking for big-city life then South Dakota might not be the right place for you.