Those who have never experienced life in South Dakota sure do seem to have a lot of questions. If you’re South Dakota raised or have lived here for a while, then you’ve probably have had to set some out-of-towners straight on their misconceptions or incorrect stereotypes or just educate them a little bit on life in South Dakota. Here is just a small list of some of the topics we have to explain the most:
- We don’t drive horse and buggy.
Tim Ellis / Flickr We’re not sure how many times we need to explain that, yes, we operate cars, just like you.
- We have a bit of a rivalry in our state, and you have to pick which side you’ll devote your alliance too.
Wikimedia Commons Okay, so that was a little dramatic, but the West River / East River competitiveness is ever present.
- “Pop” is the term we commonly use.
Tom Conder / Flickr Stop telling us that pop isn’t a word. It’s the same thing as soda!
- It’s not a big deal if we don’t lock our doors in rural South Dakota.
Lars Ploughmann / Flickr Honestly, there are some places where it’s not necessary one bit.
- Believe it or not, it does get hot in the summer.
Dara123 / Flickr Not every day is a blizzard; we have tank top and shorts weather too.
- We are not North Dakota.
Wikimedia Commons Let us repeat this again: two separate states, people.
- These are not our typical places of residence.
Steve Holmes / Flickr Are we really still explaining this to people?
- We usually prefer to measure distance in minutes or hours as opposed to miles.
Bhanu Tadinada / Flickr “Oh, it’s about 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls” is a type of answer you might get from a South Dakotan.
- Chislic is delicious, and even though you’ve never heard of it, you must try it.
Janelle / Flickr This traditional South Dakota dish is a must try, and it goes great with crackers and seasoned salts.
- It’s normal for us to end a lot of our sentences with “you know?”
OakleyOriginals / Flickr Live in South Dakotan long enough and you’ll start doing it too.
- No, we are not all miserable.
Patrick / Flickr Actually, we think our state is fantastic. We enjoy a low cost of living, low crime rates, no income tax, gorgeous, wide open spaces, and four seasons. Sure, it does get cold during the winter months, but we handle it just fine.
- There is more to South Dakota than just “the faces.”
Robin Zebrowski / Flickr Mount Rushmore is a beloved national memorial, and if you tour South Dakota is its certainly a must-see. But don’t forget about all of our amazing state parks, nature and hiking trails, the beautiful countryside, or our fabulous cities and towns.
What other misconceptions or aspects of our culture do you often explain to out-of-towners?
Tim Ellis / Flickr
We’re not sure how many times we need to explain that, yes, we operate cars, just like you.
Wikimedia Commons
Okay, so that was a little dramatic, but the West River / East River competitiveness is ever present.
Tom Conder / Flickr
Stop telling us that pop isn’t a word. It’s the same thing as soda!
Lars Ploughmann / Flickr
Honestly, there are some places where it’s not necessary one bit.
Dara123 / Flickr
Not every day is a blizzard; we have tank top and shorts weather too.
Let us repeat this again: two separate states, people.
Steve Holmes / Flickr
Are we really still explaining this to people?
Bhanu Tadinada / Flickr
“Oh, it’s about 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls” is a type of answer you might get from a South Dakotan.
Janelle / Flickr
This traditional South Dakota dish is a must try, and it goes great with crackers and seasoned salts.
OakleyOriginals / Flickr
Live in South Dakotan long enough and you’ll start doing it too.
Patrick / Flickr
Actually, we think our state is fantastic. We enjoy a low cost of living, low crime rates, no income tax, gorgeous, wide open spaces, and four seasons. Sure, it does get cold during the winter months, but we handle it just fine.
Robin Zebrowski / Flickr
Mount Rushmore is a beloved national memorial, and if you tour South Dakota is its certainly a must-see. But don’t forget about all of our amazing state parks, nature and hiking trails, the beautiful countryside, or our fabulous cities and towns.
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