State Of South Dakota history

Fort Pierre, the first permanent settlement, was established in 1817.

1823: The Arikara Indians attacked the fur trading party: 12 traders were killed and 11 were wounded (click here for more information about the Arikara Indians)

1858: Yankton Sioux Indians ceded their claim to southeastern Dakota to the United States.

Permanent settlements were set up at Vermillion and Yankton in 1859.

The Dakota Territory was created in 1861, when the estimated settler population was no greater than 1,000 and the Sioux population was no more than 25,000.

1863: The first homestead filed in the Dakota Territory

1866: (December 21,) Fetterman massacre.

Despite the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), which guaranteed the Sioux peoples exclusive possession of the land west of the Missouri River, miners swarmed the area.

Sioux war occurred and General Custer and the 7th Calvary were defeated. (Later known as "Custer's Last Stand") 1877: Land closed to settlement by President U. S. Grant.

1879: Land re-opened for settlement by white people.

Present constitution adopted: 1889

1890: Wounded Knee Massacre occurred - 7th Cavalry killed more than 250 Lakota men, women, and children; Sitting Bull killed at Little Eagle; Indian wars ended.

1895 Excess land in the Yankton Reservation thrown open to homesteaders.

In 1898 South Dakota became the first state to adopt the referendum and initiative as electoral devices through which voters could express their wishes regarding government policy or proposed legislation.

1907: Surplus lands in Tripp County opened for homesteads.

1908: Surplus lands on Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Reservations opened for settlement.

1912: Surplus lands in Bennett, Mellette, and Washabaugh Counties opened for homesteads

1944: Congress passed Pick-Sloan Plan for construction of four dams: Fort Randall, Oahe, Gavin's Point and Big Bend

1952: Major flood caused damage all through the state, inundated most of Pierre

1962: Oahe Dam completed, started generating electricity

The highly symbolic occupation of Wounded Knee by members of the American Indian Movement in February 1973 was essentially a call to action for better treatment of the Indian communities.

1987: Lottery began; fire destroyed block in historic downtown area of Deadwood