South Dakota, a state celebrated for its iconic Badlands, Black Hills, and the monumental Mount Rushmore, carries a name deeply rooted in the history and language of its Indigenous inhabitants. However, like its northern sibling, the land that would become South Dakota was subject to a series of evolving territorial designations by European powers and the United States before officially adopting the "Dakota" name.
Beyond the Dakotas: Tracing the Origins of South Dakota's Name
There was no single "original name" for the entire region in a colonial sense, but its present name is a direct and lasting tribute to the Indigenous peoples.
The Dakota: "Friends" or "Allies"
The name "Dakota" is derived directly from the Dakota people, a prominent group within the larger Sioux Nation (which also includes the Lakota and Nakota).
- Meaning: In their language, "Dakota" (or "Dakhóta") translates to "friends" or "allies." This term was a self-identifier that emphasized the kinship and alliances among their various bands. Historically, the Dakota people occupied extensive lands across the northern Great Plains, encompassing areas that now include South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and parts of Canada.
Early European and American Territorial Claims
Before the establishment of the Dakota Territory, the geographical area now known as South Dakota was part of several larger, vaguely defined territories claimed by European nations and subsequently by the United States.
- Louisiana Territory (1803): The vast majority of present-day South Dakota was acquired by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France. This enormous acquisition was simply known as the "Louisiana Territory."
- Missouri Territory (1812): Following the organization of the Louisiana Territory, much of the area was incorporated into the "Missouri Territory" starting in 1812.
- Unorganized Territory (1821-1861): After Missouri gained statehood in 1821, a significant northern portion, including present-day South Dakota, became "unorganized territory." Parts of this land were later briefly included in the Wisconsin Territory and Iowa Territory, though its status often remained fluid.
- Nebraska Territory (1854): With the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, the southern half of present-day South Dakota became part of the massive "Nebraska Territory." The northern reaches remained largely unsettled by non-Indigenous populations and administratively fluid.
The Creation of Dakota Territory (1861)
The most crucial step in the naming of South Dakota was the formal establishment of the Dakota Territory.
- Organic Act (1861): On March 2, 1861, the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Act, which officially created the "Territory of Dakota." This territory was immense, originally covering not only modern North and South Dakota but also substantial parts of Montana and Wyoming. The name "Dakota" was a direct tribute to the numerous and influential Dakota people, who were the dominant Indigenous group in the region.
The Division: North and South Dakota (1889)
As the population grew and settlements expanded, the sheer size of the Dakota Territory led to increasing administrative difficulties. Distinct economic interests, geographic centers, and political aspirations emerged between the northern and southern sections, paving the way for division.
- Statehood (1889): On November 2, 1889, the Dakota Territory was formally divided and admitted to the Union as two separate states: South Dakota and North Dakota. The geographic qualifier "South" was added to the well-established territorial name.
The "original name" that directly evolved into modern "South Dakota" was "Dakota," officially designated with the formation of the Dakota Territory in 1861. This name was chosen to honor the Dakota people, the Indigenous inhabitants whose ancestral lands covered much of this vast region. Before this, the area was part of larger U.S. territorial claims such as Louisiana and Missouri. The eventual addition of "South" in 1889 served to differentiate it from its northern counterpart, giving the state the name it proudly bears today.