The Mount Rushmore State

 


All About South Dakota

State Population: 886, 667 (2020)

Major Cities Include:

  1. Sioux Falls (192,517)
  2. Rapid City (74,703)
  3. Aberdeen (28,495)
  4. Brookings (23,377)
  5. Watertown (22,655)













Rural vs. Urban: 43.4% of South Dakota is considered rural, while 56.5% of South Dakota is considered urban. 

Median State Income: $58,275 (2019)

Racial Diversity :

  • White: 85.7%

  • Black or African American: 3%

  • American Indian and Alaska Native: 11.1%

  • Asian: 2.1%

  • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0.25%

Age: 75.5% of the people in South Dakota are 18 or older.

Religious Composition:

  • Christian 79%

    • Evangelical Protestant 25%

    •  Mainline Protestant 32%

    • Historically Black Protestant <1%

    • Catholic 22%

    • Mormon <1%

    • Orthodox Christian <1%

    • Other Christian <1%

  • Non-Christian Faiths 3%

    • Jewish <1%

    • Muslim <1%

    • Buddhist 1%

    • Hindu <1%

    • Other World Religions <1%

  • Other Faiths 2%

  • No particular faith 12%

  • Agriculture is South Dakota’s Largest Industry.

  • Tourism contributes about  $2 billion annually to the state.

  • A majority of the South Dakotans work in the service sector, retail trade, and manufacturing industries.

  • Avera Health

  • Dakota Provisions

  • Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

  • Midcontinent Communications

  • Raven Industries, Inc.

  • Sanford Health

  • Smithfield Foods, Inc.

  • Republican/lean Republican: 53%

  • No Lean: 10%

  • Democrat/lean Democrat: 37%

In the 2020 Presidential Election, 61.8% of South Dakotans voted for Donald Trump and 35.6% of South Dakotans voted for Joe Biden. The only counties in which Joe Biden won the majority vote include Buffalo County, Clay County, Dewey County, Oglala Lakota County, Todd County, and Ziebach County.







How These Factors Affect Thune's Role in Washington, D.C.

One of the ways we can see the effects of these factors during Thune's tenure in office is by examining what committees and subcommittees he is serving on. Since Agriculture is South Dakota's largest industry it makes sense that John Thune is on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. He is also on the Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security Subcommittee. Bills brought forth in these committees could have implications on the Agriculture Industry in South Dakota, therefore, it makes sense that Senator Thune serves on these committees. Avera Health and Sanford Health are two major businesses throughout South Dakota. Therefore issues regarding healthcare could have implications on these businesses. One of the ways Senator Thune focuses his attention on the healthcare industry is by serving on the Subcommittee on Health Care.

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