Stand At The Center Of The United States In This One Spot In South Dakota
Leah
Author
Did you know that the center of the U.S. is in South Dakota? All 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, have one single geographical center, and it happens to be in Belle Fourche. You can stand on this center of the U.S. in South Dakota for yourself and then say you’ve been there, which is a bragging right that far too many people have.
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Have you ever been to this spot? Most people probably haven’t, and many from outside of the state may not even know that this important marker is located in South Dakota. Help spread the word, because this is the only place like it in the country.
It makes me pretty proud to know South Dakota gets to carry this honor that makes us the center of it all. What other things make you proud about this state? Here’s a few good reasons!
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Center of the U.S. in South Dakota
Where is the exact middle of the United States? As you just read, the exact middle of the United States (when counting Hawaii and Alaska) is in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. This is a town of just under 6,000 residents that houses not only the monument, but also ample shopping, dining, museums, and outdoor recreation. The geographic center of the contiguous United States (AKA the lower 48), however, lies within the small Kansas town of Lebanon.
Why are South Dakotans proud of their state? Do you have a couple hours? If so, I can fill you in on ALL the reasons! If not, I can give you a quick summary, which includes our good people (I swear the term "Midwest nice" was coined after a South Dakotan!), incredible history (from the original Native Americans to Lewis and Clark to the construction of Mount Rushmore, there is plenty of history to go around!), and one-of-a-kind landmarks you won't find anywhere else.
What are the best attractions in South Dakota? Let's start with the most famous and obvious, which are Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the beautiful Black Hills. While all of these are a must visit, we have a number of lesser-known attractions, too, like Reptile Gardens (the world's largest reptile zoo), Badlands National Park, and the must-see Mammoth Site (the world's largest mammoth research facility). Low on cash? South Dakota even has a number of free attractions, like the world-famous Wall Drug, Dinosaur Park, and Mitchell Corn Palace. As if you really needed more to do, SoDak also offers countless restaurants, antique shops, boutiques, museums, and state parks. Needless to say, you will never run out of fun and exciting things to do around the Mount Rushmore State.