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 Seats for Forklifts South Dakota - The US state of South Dakota is located within the Midwestern region of the country. The name "Dakota" was derived from the Dakota and Lakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Before becoming a state on November 2, the year 1889, South Dakota were part of Dakota Territory. The state has an area of 77,116 square miles or 199,730 km2 and a projected population of a little over 800,000. The state capital is Pierre and Sioux Falls, with a population of just about 160,000, is the biggest city in the state of South Dakota.
South Dakota is surrounded by the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming. The state is divided by the Missouri River, dividing South Dakota into two socially and geographically distinct halves, known to people as "East River" and "West River". Eastern South Dakota is home to most of the state's people, and fertile soil in this particular area is used in order to grow different crops. West of the Missouri, the predominant agricultural activity is ranching, and the economy is more dependent on tourism and defense spending. The Black Hills, a group of low pine-covered mountains, is situated in the southwest area of the state. The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux. Mount Rushmore, a key tourist location, is located there. Other attractions within the southwest consist of Wind Cave and Badlands national parks, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and historic Deadwood. The state of South Dakota experiences a temperate continental climate, with four distinct seasons and precipitation ranging from moderate in the east to semi-arid in the west. The ecology of the state features species typical of a North American grassland biome.
South Dakota's current-dollar gross state product was $39.8 billion as of the year 2010, the fifth smallest total state output within the US. The per capita personal income was $38,865 in 2010, ranked 25th in the country, and 12.5% of the inhabitants was below the poverty line during the year 2008.
The service trade is the biggest economic contributor in the state of South Dakota. This sector comprises the retail, finance, and health care trades. Citibank, that was the largest bank holding company in the country at one time, established national banking operations within South Dakota in the year 1981 to take advantage of favorable banking regulations. Government spending is one more important segment of the economy of the state, providing more than 10% of the gross state product. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, is the second-biggest single employer within South Dakota.
Historically, agriculture has been vital to the economy of South Dakota. In recent decades, different major industries have grown fast; while in rural regions, agricultural production is still very vital to the economy of the state. The five most important agricultural products within South Dakota are cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs. Businesses related to agriculture such as ethanol production and meat packing also have a significant economic impact on South Dakota. South Dakota is the sixth leading ethanol-producing state in the United States.
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