1942: South Dakota

Area and Population.

South Dakota, one of the North Central states, has a total area of 77,650 sq. mi. ranking it fourteenth in size. The Federal census of 1940 listed a population of 642,961, representing a decrease of 49,888 from 1930. This trend of decline has continued since 1940. According to official estimates, at least 50,000 people have been drawn to defense centers of other states, mostly on the Pacific coast.

Fully half the population lives on farms. Only 25 per cent are classified as urban. The leading cities are Sioux Falls (40,832) and Aberdeen (17,105). Other cities with a population of over 10,000 are Rapid City (13,844), Huron (10,843), Mitchell (10,633), and Watertown (10,617). Of the total, 7 per cent, or 44,124 are foreign-born, with Scandinavians and Germans in preponderance. According to the census statistics, 8,708 were born in Norway, 4,361 in Sweden, and 3,721 in Denmark. A total of 8,304 listed Germany, and 6,468 Russia as the place of origin. There is an Indian population of 23,347.

Education.

The decline in population is reflected in a decreasing enrollment in the public schools. The number of inhabitants of school age has declined to 166,960 for the school year 1941-42, as compared with a total of over 216,000 a decade ago. A total of 94,264 were enrolled in 3,073 elementary districts during 1942, while 35,431 were in attendance in 533 high schools. Over $12,000,000 was expended during the year for current school expenditures. The average salaries paid were $716 for elementary teachers and $1,316 for high school teachers, including superintendents and principals.

Agriculture.

Favorable weather conditions and high prices during 1942 have netted a cash farm income considerably higher than for 1941. According to official reports the total cash income for the first eight months of the year was 37 per cent greater than during the corresponding period in 1941. The income from livestock during the same period increased 45 per cent. Corn production was estimated at 103,624,000 bu., twice the production of 1941, with a yield of 35 bu. per acre, the highest on record for the state. Wheat production in 1942 was as follows: winter, 3,620,000 bu., and spring varieties, 42,783,000, including 6,318,000 bu. of durum. The return of a large acreage west of the Missouri River to productive grazing land, and a greater degree of diversification, have been the chief objectives of a more rational land-use program for the state. One-fifth of the farms included in twenty-seven soil conservation districts have been cooperating in developing proper soil and moisture conservation practices.

Industry.

In 1939 products to the value of $81,171,889 were produced by 468 establishments employing 7,485 workers. Ten meat-packing plants, producing products valued at $48,801,630, make up the largest industry. The production of creamery and poultry products, which ranks next in importance, was greatly increased during 1942. Egg drying plants at Mitchell and Yankton and an industrial alcohol plant at Yankton are new industries attributable to the war effort.

Mining.

Production of gold, the leading mineral, amounted to $20,533,170 in 1940, exceeding the production of any other state or territory with the exception of California and Alaska. Gold mining activities virtually ceased in December 1942, by order of the War Production Board, and the Homestake Mining Company, the chief producer, has confined its activities to coal and other minerals more vital to the war effort. In the Black Hills area 41,405 tons of finished bentonite were produced in 1940, representing a greater output than produced in all the rest of the United States.

The chief mining interest is now centered in the extensive deposits of low-grade manganese ore located along the Missouri River in the central part of the state. After extended tests during 1942 by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, methods have been perfected which will make the mining and processing of South Dakota manganese feasible. Plans are underway for a processing plant at Chamberlain.

Political and Other Events.

The outstanding political event during 1942 was the decisive victory of the Republican ticket at the November election. Governor Harlan Bushfield was elected to the United States Senate over former Governor Tom Berry, who had defeated the incumbent, William J. Bulow, for the Democratic nomination. M. Q. Sharpe was elected Governor. The Republicans retained overwhelming control of the state Legislature. There was no legislative session during the year.

While the state felt the war impact in innumerable ways, only three war projects were installed. These include an air base at Rapid City, an ordnance depot at Provo, and a U. S. Army Corps Technical Training School at Sioux Falls.

Finance.

The gradual retirement of the state's bonded indebtedness and the sale of rural credit lands remained the chief financial concern of the state government. During the fiscal year 1941-42 over 275,000 acres of state-owned land were disposed of under a five-year liquidation program. During the same period rural credit bonds to the amount of $2,255,000 were retired. The total state bonded indebtedness on Dec. 1, 1942, was $29,404,000, consisting mostly of rural credit bonds.

Improved business conditions were reflected in declining relief rolls under the social-security program. Assistance for general relief in October, 1942, was 34 per cent less than for the same month in the preceding year. Benefit payments made by the Unemployment Compensation Commission also showed a large decrease. During October, 1942, the sum of $434,693 was expended for public assistance, 65 per cent of which was for old-age assistance.

State Officers.

Governor, M. Q. Sharpe; Lieutenant Governor, A. C. Miller; Secretary of State, Mrs. L. M. Larson; Treasurer, E. V. Youngquist; Auditor, W. W. Warner; Attorney General, George T. Michelson; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. F. Hines.

United States Senators:

Chan Gurney, Harlan J. Bushfield.