November 2 is the anniversary of South Dakota statehood. South Dakota and North Dakota both became states on November 2, 1889. President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the paper before the signed the documents granting statehood to North and South Dakota, so no one knows for if South Dakota was 39th or 40th. However, usually North Dakota is given the first position as it comes first alphabetically. So Happy Birthday, North and South Dakota!!!!
South Dakota's Website