South Dakota State Flag

By Albert Frank


Exploration of South Dakota area began in 1743 when Louis-Joseph and François Verendrye came from France in search of a route to the Pacific.

The basic design of the flag was adopted in March 1963. The flag was modified, on July 1, 1992, to include the state's official nickname. South Dakota is the 40th state of the union, gaining statehood on Nov. 2, 1889. The state seal was adopted in 1885.

The state seal on the South Dakota Flag truly depicts the rich diversity in the state's resources and various industries. The image of the farmer tilling his land represents agriculture, while the smelter stands for mining and manufacturing. The steamboat is a symbol for the state's commerce and the trees symbolize timber.

The seal represents the state's diversity of industry and resources. The farmer symbolizes agriculture, the smelter represents manufacturing and mining, the trees represent timber and the steamship represents commerce. Across the top of the picture is the state motto: Under God the People Rule.

The year 1889 is also written on it, which signifies the year when the state became an official member of the Union. The rays of the sun are depicted to imply the old nickname of South Dakota, which was the "Sunshine State." The South Dakota Flag is extraordinary for its simple yet symbolic seal, which sums ups the features of the state.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior South Dakota flags being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported flags are cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods of printing do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flags made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of South Dakota flag for the future.




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