11 Most Famous South Dakotans How Many Of These Did You Know

South and North Dakota were a unified state of the United States.After it was divided, different tribes captured the South Dakotan lands. The state has a long list of prominent people known all over the world.After Dakota got divided into South and North Dakota, the first native community in South Dakota was formed more than a millennium ago, known as Mandan and Arikara. They started a village-dwelling ancestral community whose economy survived on hunting, farming, and gathering wild fruits. Religion played a significant role in South Dakota history. Most of the churches were formed by European immigrants. The Irish, German, and Czech tribes were responsible for setting up schools and hospitals in the state. By the twentieth century, the state transformed into a predominantly urban society for a rural one. Urban centers have grown mainly in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, and Yankton. For a detailed list of the people of South Dakota, continue reading the article.If you are interested in more such content, then keep on reading the articles on Famous Pennsylvanians In History and famous people from Djibouti facts too.History Of South DakotansSeveral northeast Indian tribes began to settle in their lands by the eighteenth century, which forced the South Dakotan tribes to relocate. The Mandan tribe relocated themselves in the eighteenth century, but Akira stood their ground in South Dakota till 1832.The beginning of 1740 saw the Sioux tribe abandoning the lands of what is presently known as Minnesota and settling in the prairie and great plains of South Dakota. The Yankton people claimed the whole of eastern South Dakota to their own, while the Lakota tribe and the Yanktons resided over the west. The South Dakotans have nine reservations at present, but only half of the Native Americans qualify for the reservations.By the early 21st century, most Sioux people moved out of the state, and they formed only one-tenth of the entire population. Nine-tenth of the population in South Dakota has European origins. At first, British and French traders and later European immigrants from the Midwest and New England arrived there. The tribe of Scandinavian origin consisted of the highest population and formed the largest ethnic group in South Dakota. The remaining population included Africans, Asians, and Hispanics. There was also a small Jewish community that grew when the people from the Middle East started immigrating to South Dakota.Famous South Dakotans In AthleticsSome popular South Dakotans have made a mark in the sports industry. The list of famous athletes and sportspeople may never include all the names, but some notable famous South Dakotans in Athletics are given below.The NBA star and the pro basketball player Mike Miller is a South Dakota resident currently playing for Denver Nuggets. In 2001, he was given the title ‘Rookie of the Year’ while playing for the club Orlando Magic. He was a famous player of South Dakota who played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards throughout his career.Ward Lambert, basketball coach of school leagues, was born in Deadwood.Adam Vinatieri is a well-known football player of South Dakota who won three Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots and one with the Colts. He was given the names Iceman, Mr. Clutch, and Automatic Adam by the media for his exceptional skills to kick under pressure.Chad Greenway is also a known American football player born in Mount Vernon of South Dakota. This pro-footballer is also an active member of charitable funds.Brock Lensar and his family were dairy farm owners in South Dakota. Later he became the four times WWE Champion in the world.Becky Hammon, the assistant coach of San Antonio Spurs, made history by becoming the first female coach in NBA history. Born in Rapid City, Becky is a six-time all-star for San Antonio Silver Stars and New York Liberty.Billy Mills, famous as an Olympic gold medalist in the category of 10,000 m race, is a part of the United States Olympic Hall Of Fame. He took part in the Tokyo Olympics, 1964 and became the only American in history ever to win a gold in this category. His victory is still considered one of the greatest wins in the history of the Olympics.Mark Ells was a renowned baseball player who could effortlessly hammer the ball over the fence. His character was also adapted in the movie ‘Moneyball’ starring Brad Pitt.Famous South Dakotan LeadersSouth Dakota has given birth to many noteworthy leaders in the world who successfully accomplished their purpose and added to the state’s pride. The notable leaders of the state can be identified in more than one field. These famous people are popular in the states and made a mark in the world.Kristi Noem was the first female governor of South Dakota territory and later became the US Representative from South Dakota.Holding the position of the 38th Vice President of the United States, Hubert Humphrey was also from South Dakota. He was previously skeptical about the Vietnam War but supported the President’s decision. There are many buildings in the US after the name Humphrey.Joe Foss, the 20th Governor of South Dakota, was the first commissioner of the American Football League.Touch the Clouds was a Native American Chief who later became an Indian Scout and sergeant in the US army.Another Native American leader, Crazy Horse, was the leader of the tribe Ogala Lakota.The retired Air Force general David C. Jones was the former chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.The American historian George McGovern was an important senator from South Dakota. He held many significant designations in food, nutrition, and agriculture departments and was named World Food Prize laureate to show efforts to reduce world hunger.Famous South Dakotans In Art & LiteratureLike politics and athletics, South Dakota does not lack in the field of culture. Instead, they are the creators of some of the greatest literature and arts in the world.When talking about famous people of South Dakota in the fields of art, we cannot miss out on the name of Gutzon Borglum. Gutzon is the sculptor of the popular tourist destination of the United States, Mount Rushmore, located in Pennington County.Vine Deloria was a lady of many talents. She was an American Indian activist who was also an author, a historian, and a theologian.The famous Native American artist Oscar Howe and the science fiction writer Bill Johnson were born in South Dakota.The Lutheran Pastor K. G. William Dahl and law professor Arthur Larson of Sioux Falls took a keen interest in social advocacy and belonged to South Dakota.Famous South Dakotans In MedicineThe South Dakotans do not lack in the medical field as well. Currently, 975 registered specialist doctors in the state support the health and well-being of the South Dakotans.At present, 116 registered doctors specialize in general surgery. For example, Dr. Harald Aanning of Yankton and Dr. Hassan H. Al-Turaihi of Sioux Falls are experienced general surgeons. There are also 55 emergency medicine doctors, 53 cardiologists, 30 oncologists, and 102 doctors in the psychiatry department. All of them are happy to help every resident of the state.Famous South Dakotans In ScienceSouth Dakota has produced its fair share of famous people in the United States. However, the least talked about people are the South Dakotan scientists whose works have helped develop urban society.The Nobel Price Winning Physicist of Canton, Ernest Lawrence, invented the first cyclotron. Cyclotron that was used to accelerate nuclear particles to disintegrate atoms and form new elements proved to be one of the most important inventions of science.Biochemist Bob Burris contributed significantly to our knowledge of nitrogen fixation.John Mortvedt was the world’s leading expert on micronutrients. He was a soil scientist and agronomist.Famous South Dakotans In EntertainmentThe contribution of South Dakotans to the entertainment industry will never be forgotten. Staring in television and movies, as well as in sports, South Dakotans have never failed to entertain Americans. Some famous people who earned fame all over the world are listed below.The famous actress Cheryl Ladd was born in Huron. She starred in the popular show ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and an episode of ‘Happy Days.‘January Jones is another famous South Dakotan actress born in Sioux Falls. She starred in films like ‘X-Men,’ ‘Mad Men’, and ‘American Wedding.‘Another TV personality native of Sioux Falls was Pat O’Brien, a sports commentator.Tom Brokaw is a famous television journalist from Webster. He is the former anchor of the NBC ‘Nightly News’.Gary Owens is one of the few voice actors born in Mitchell. He was a passionate radio disc jockey and the announcer for Rowan & Martin’s ‘Laugh-I.‘John Miljan was an actor in Lead City.The famous face of Entertainment Tonight, Mary Hart, is from Sioux Falls and Maddison of South Dakota.The South Dakotan cowboy Casey Tibbs was an actor and rodeo performer of Fort Pierre.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘11 most famous South Dakotans people you probably don’t know about’, then why not take a look at ‘51 famous Pennsylvanians in history you should definitely know about’ or ‘11 famous people from Djibouti you want to be like?’

South and North Dakota were a unified state of the United States.