12 Then And Now Photos In South Dakota That Show Just How Much It Has Changed

Since becoming a state in 1889, South Dakota has changed dramatically. What was once a hot destination for miners and cowboys is now a popular tourist destination, which just goes to show how much the times have changed in the last 100+ years! To get a better look at how much SoDak has changed, check out these incredible 12 then and now photos that you have to see to believe:

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1876

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Even before South Dakota became a state, the town of Deadwood was a popular place to be! Founded in 1876, Deadwood was a vital town during the Gold Rush and at one time housed 5,000+ residents. Today, the entire town of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark District and still features many of its original Gold Rush-era buildings.

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1898

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Since the beginning, agriculture has been a vital part of the South Dakota economy, with it still being the state's biggest industry. The only thing to change from the 1898 photo to now? The way we harvest our bounty! (Can you imagine having to harvest without a combine?!)

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1936

Flickr/John B. Kalla

While the picture on top was not the norm, it was a way of life during the Dust Bowl, when the Midwest experienced a terrible drought and dust storm that lasted from the early 1930s through the early 1940s. (Even worse? An estimated 2M people in the Midwest became homeless because of the never-ending storm and its destruction.)

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1905

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What a difference 36 years make! Started in 1927, the Mount Rushmore monument took 16 years to complete and now attracts a whopping 2M+ visitors each year!

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1905

Flickr/Ali Eminov

The town of Vermillion has always had a passion for education! Now home to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion was once home to the state's second-ever schoolhouse, which was first established in 1864.

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1908

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Actually, Sioux Falls does not look all that different from 1908 to now, does it? Probably the biggest difference between 1908 and now, however, is the population, as it is the fastest-growing area in the state and currently houses 183,200.

For even more fascinating history, click on We Will Never Forget These 10 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In South Dakota History.