South Dakota's cost of living is nearly 11% lower than the national average. The median home price is just $116,900. The state is known for Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and long stretches of desolate land.

Custer State Park is named after George A. Custer, a controversial historical figure who was killed in the battle of the Big Horn. The largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls, the state’s commercial powerhouse.

Second largest is Rapid City which is named after Rapid Creek. Rapid City is the gateway to the Black Hills and the Badlands. Deadwood was the home of Calamity Jane and the scene of Wild Bill Hickok’s gunfight death.

South Dakota has a continental climate with four distinct seasons, ranging from cold, dry winters to hot and semi-humid summers. During the summers, the average high temperature throughout the state is often close to 90 degrees F, although it cools to near 60 degrees F at night. It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer.