From the outside, South Dakota may seem like a strange place. Many people believe we drive tractors to school and have yet to maintain access to indoor plumbing. However, if you're from South Dakota, you know these facts to be untrue, and you also know that the stereotypes that matter only pertain to those of our kind. So, if you're not from South Dakota and you were wondering what exactly goes on inside our borders, here are a few tidbits that might help you understand which stereotypes are true and which stereotypes need to be put to rest.
1. Nobody from South Dakota finds Mount Rushmore that interesting or thrilling.
It's not that we're not patriotic or proud of the large American monument that resides in our state, we've just seen it so many times. It's just not that cool to us anymore. We also appreciate the tourist money that comes from it (disclaimer). And for those of you who haven't been to Mount Rushmore at least twice in your years of living in South Dakota, you're probably not from South Dakota.
2. Contrary to popular belief, we don't drive tractors to school.
I'm going to leave a little space for this one on account of a teacher I knew in high school who drove a tractor to school... Nonetheless, this is a terrible stereotype many South Dakotan's have to put up with. We like our tractors because they allow us to do what we do best: farm. And even though this stereotype is false, it is important to note that we do have tractor runs, tractor races and frequent traffic jams from tractors on the highway. Another disclaimer: the war between John Deere and Case is a very real thing in South Dakota.
3. There is nothing to do in South Dakota.
OK, this one is kind of true. Unless you live in Rapid City or Sioux Falls, your options for leisurely actives are slightly limited. However, if you have an appreciation for wide, open spaces and fresh air, South Dakota may just win your heart. The sunsets are arguably the best asset to this state, and if you live here or have friends from here, you'll probably see the same sunset multiple times as you scroll through your Instagram feed. At least we can appreciate a sunset without tall buildings in the way, am I right?
4. Everyone in the state knows you're either from the west side or east side of South Dakota. There is no in between.
The rivalry is alive and strong, and there are t-shirts to prove it. The Missouri River divides the state into two sides, the "West" and the "East." As the story goes, the theme is that the two sides don't like each other, and each believes their side is better than the other. People from the West are generally pegged as overly conservative, cowboy-like types, while people from the East side are stereotyped as progressive and urban. I would just like to say that neither stereotypes are completely true, and I know many from both sides that prove these stereotypes wrong. I will say, however, that it's a little less likely to find a cowboy on the East side of the state, but I digress.
5. We live by the honor system.
In a state as rural as South Dakota, most people know the people who surround them, especially in the smaller communities (of which there are many). You can expect that people will leave their cars running while they run into a gas station or at least leave their car unlocked. And if you were thinking about heading to SD to steal a car, just know that the entire community, plus a few, will be right behind you to hunt you down. Literally.
6. South Dakotan's relish in the belief that we are, indeed, better than North Dakota.
"At least we're not North Dakota." This is a common line that South Dakotan's will use when SD isn't looking all that appealing. There is no significant reason for this saying, other than the fact that it makes us feel better about ourselves. We might only have two seasons: winter and construction, but at least we're not North Dakota.
7. We get tired of explaining to non-South Dakotan's that we are just like any other state.
The amount of times people have asked me if we have simple things like indoor plumbing or electricity is beyond me. We may hold less than a million people in our state, but we're still up to par with 21st-century technology. However, explaining this to people is not that easy, and we get pretty tired of it after awhile.
8. We're proud of the place we call home.
And if you can't respect this, well, you are more than welcome to leave. South Dakotan's put up with a lot of stereotypes, but ultimately, we would not want to grow up anywhere else.
Proud of growing up in South Dakota? Share with your friends!
